Walk-in Centre opens to the public as nurse practitioners awarded prescribing rights
Released 18/05/2010
ACT Minister for Health, Katy Gallagher, today announced new prescribing rights for nurse practitioners, as Canberra's nurse-led Walk-in Centre opened for business.
The new clinic located at the Canberra Hospital is Australia's first public nurse-led Walk-in Centre and will provide free treatment for people with minor illnesses and injuries.
"This is an exciting and proud day for the Government and ACT Health which has developed this innovative model of care aimed at reducing pressure on our emergency departments and improving access to primary care," Ms Gallagher said.
"This milestone also underlines the importance of nurses to our health system and recognises the knowledge, skills and expertise of our nursing staff," she said.
The Walk-in Centre aims to offer Canberrans fast, free, one-off treatment for minor ailments such as cuts and bruises, sprains, skin complaints, coughs and colds, and minor burns and infections. People with chronic or more serious conditions will be redirected to more appropriate services such as their GP or the emergency department. The Centre is staffed by specialised nursing staff and will operate from 7am until 11pm seven days a week.
"Today I'm also announcing an amendment to ACT medicines legislation that will now allow nurse practitioners to prescribe controlled medicines," Ms Gallagher said.
"This amendment to the Medicines Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Regulation 2008 will enable suitably qualified nurse practitioners to provide their patients with a wider range of treatment options.
"While the use of controlled medicines such as morphine and oxycodone is strictly regulated by legislation, it makes good sense for a nurse practitioner qualified and working in the field of palliative care to be able to prescribe morphine to a patient to relieve their pain.
"Nurse practitioners will be required to comply with all legislation to the same extent as doctors and dentists.
"This amendment will extend the scope of practice for nurse practitioners in the ACT and bring us into line with established practice in other Australian healthcare jurisdictions," Ms Gallagher said.
http://www.chiefminister.act.gov.au/media.php?v=9543
@-W (and others!) Thoughts?
@-W (and others!) Thoughts?
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: @-W (and others!) Thoughts?
Already do that here
Okay... There's all kinds of things wrong with what you just said.
Re: @-W (and others!) Thoughts?
That's what I was wondering. It makes sense that properly trained nurses should be able to prescribe meds.
I'd trust some of the nurses I work with FAR more than some of the doctors in the system to prescribe to me or mine. (Especially the doctors who have a 'quaint" grasp of English)
I'd trust some of the nurses I work with FAR more than some of the doctors in the system to prescribe to me or mine. (Especially the doctors who have a 'quaint" grasp of English)
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
- SisterMaryFellatio
- Posts: 580
- Joined: Sun Apr 11, 2010 7:24 am
Re: @-W (and others!) Thoughts?
me too.......some Doctors have the "God complex" and lose touch with their patients as they see them for a quick consult and a follow up if the patients lucky. Nurses tend to spend more time with patients therefore noticing symptoms a quick consult can miss.....
NURSES SHOULD EB PAID MORE!!
NURSES SHOULD EB PAID MORE!!
Re: @-W (and others!) Thoughts?
Too right on the pay point SisterMary. Their conditions are arduous due to the nature of the work. The pay is pitiful when you consider the level of care, support, assistance they administer every second they are on the job. Doctors breeze through like the sun is following them and nurses are left with everything else.
Hats off to the nurses!
Hats off to the nurses!
Bah!
Re: @-W (and others!) Thoughts?
I love my NP and see her more often than my actual physician.
“I ask no favor for my sex. All I ask of our brethren is that they take their feet off our necks.” ~ Ruth Bader Ginsburg, paraphrasing Sarah Moore Grimké
Re: @-W (and others!) Thoughts?
So Do I.
Okay... There's all kinds of things wrong with what you just said.
Re: @-W (and others!) Thoughts?
I thought you were a nurse practitioner Gob, don't you prescribe psych drugs? But somewhere I read you described as an occupational therapist which is something completely different here.
Re: @-W (and others!) Thoughts?
I thought he was the cleaner?
Why is it that when Miley Cyrus gets naked and licks a hammer it's 'art' and 'edgy' but when I do it I'm 'drunk' and 'banned from the hardware store'?
Re: @-W (and others!) Thoughts?
Nah he's the Turn Key at the Looney Bin.
That or an inmate I can't remember which.
That or an inmate I can't remember which.
Okay... There's all kinds of things wrong with what you just said.
Re: @-W (and others!) Thoughts?
I did not realize that crackpot was a sock for Editec.
Re: @-W (and others!) Thoughts?
Be hard to prescribe drugs until the legislation permitting that to happen is brought in, see the OP.@meric@nwom@n wrote:I thought you were a nurse practitioner Gob, don't you prescribe psych drugs? But somewhere I read you described as an occupational therapist which is something completely different here.
Oh, but I could do you a deal on some good E's.
That's the job I'm least qualified to do....Sean wrote:I thought he was the cleaner?
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: @-W (and others!) Thoughts?
Yes yes, except I had no idea we were so far ahead of Oz on that point. And I thought you prescribed drugs. (Hey it's better (as in more flattering) than thinking you are an orderly.)Be hard to prescribe drugs until the legislation permitting that to happen is brought in, see the OP.
Re: @-W (and others!) Thoughts?
Have you had your sense of humour removed?@meric@nwom@n wrote:I did not realize that crackpot was a sock for Editec.
- SisterMaryFellatio
- Posts: 580
- Joined: Sun Apr 11, 2010 7:24 am
Re: @-W (and others!) Thoughts?
Australia is way behind the rest of the world! great in some respects.....not so much in others.@meric@nwom@n wrote: Yes yes, except I had no idea we were so far ahead of Oz on that point. And I thought you prescribed drugs. (Hey it's better (as in more flattering) than thinking you are an orderly.)
Re: @-W (and others!) Thoughts?
As the self-proclaimed crazy person: yer-all whacked!