The aim of the Nursing in General practice NiGP program is to support and build the capacity of the nursing workforce within general practice.With an increase emphasis on the values of the role nursing plays in primary health care, including multidisciplinary, collaborative care the optimal use of the nursing workforce needs to be encouraged when implementing these activities. NWQPHC aims to meet the program requirement through the following objectives:

Practice Support Officers in each place deliver support services for practice nurses including the recruitment and retention of nurses in general practice and coordinate and fund educational and professional development opportunities for practice nurses. In meeting these objectives, the program aims to target:

a) Regions across Queensland with:

• limited nursing support programs;
• low uptake of the Practice Nurses Incentive under the Practice Nurse Incentive program (PN PIP); and
• large numbers of smaller and more remote practices(to remove barriers to employing nurses and/or utilising their services.

b) Rural and remote practice nurses to provide opportunities to overcome barriers to access education and professional development that are central to their role.

To date, NWQPHC has provided the following support to General Practices and their Practice Nurses through the NiGP program:

• Assistance with implementing the PN PIP
• Purchasing of relevant resources/text book
• Accreditation Assistance
• Implementing effective recall and reminder systems
• Recruitment Assistance
• Chronic Disease Management
• Access to Allied Health and Specialist Services

And have provided financial subsidies for the following education and professional development opportunities:

• NWQPHC Practice Nurse Boot Camp
• Wound Care Management
• Pap Smear Provider Course
• Immunisation Endorsement Course
• First Aid Training
• Practice Nurse Clinical Education (PNCE)
• Medical Software Training
• AGPN Orientation Program for Nurses New to General Practice
• e Learning Training Package to Support Medicare Item 10997

Talk with your Practice Support Officer about your professional development needs today!

Employment Opportunities for Practice Nurses

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Would you like to advertise a vacancy? Please contact: Heidi Balderson, NWQPHC Practice Support Coordinator

Useful Links for Nurses:

• AUSMED
• Asthma Queensland
• Queensland Nurses Union
• Royal College Nursing Australia
• General Practice Qld: NiGP
• AHPRA - Nursing & Midwifery Board of Australia
• Council of Remote Area Nurses Australia (CRANA)
• APNA Online Learning

Updated April 2012