As Jasper progresses through his Nurse Practitioner Internship, an important question has been raised by our patients…
...what is a nurse practitioner?
A mātanga tapuhi/nurse practitioner*:
Has advanced education, clinical training, and competence
Has the legal authority to practice beyond the level of a registered nurse
Is a regulated and autonomous healthcare professional
Works collaboratively with colleagues in their team and in other disciplines
Can provide a full range of assessment and treatment services and make diagnoses
Assumes full clinical responsibility for healthcare when providing care to you, including ordering diagnostic tests and prescribing medications within their scope
Is qualified to provide many of the same services and level of care as a GP
You can read Te Kaunihere Tapuhi o Aotearoa/Nursing Council of New Zealand's description of a nurse practitioner here.
Nurse practitioners in Aotearoa NZ
Nurse practitioners fulfil unique roles in Aotearoa NZ’s healthcare system: there are less than 800 nurse practitioners working across the motu, and their areas of practice range from GP services to emergency departments, and from residential care providers to private hospitals. They are an invaluable asset to our health system!
*Information obtained from the Nursing Council’s “Nurse Practitioners” document.
