Australian Capital Territory
Health (Nurse Practitioner Positions) Approval 2008 (No 3)
Notifiable instrument NI2008-221
made under the
Health Regulation 2004 - section 8 (approval of Nurse Practitioner Positions) 

1	Name of instrument

This instrument is the Health (Nurse Practitioner Positions) Approval 2008 (No 3)

2	Commencement

This instrument commences on the day after notification.

3	Scope of Practice for nurse practitioner positions

Under section 8, approval of nurse practitioner positions, I have approved the establishment of a Mental Health Consultation and Liaison Nurse Practitioner position within Mental Health ACT and Calvary Health Care ACT.

The scope of practice for the nurse practitioner position is attached.
As this is a new position, the clinical practice guidelines and medication formularies are a work in progress and may change. These will be finalised within the first three months of the position being established after they have received the endorsement of the ACT Nurse Practitioner Clinical Practice Guideline Development Standing Committee.

Mark Cormack 
Chief Executive
16 June 2008

SCOPE OF PRACTICE

Mental Health Consultation Liaison Nurse Practitioner

   
   The provision of high quality, timely accessible, flexible and appropriate mental 
   health care continues to challenge health services across Australia.  There is a 
   need to address the ongoing lack of public awareness about mental disorders; to
   improve education, health promotion and disease prevention, early diagnosis and 
   intervention strategies; and to help people to come to terms with life events that 
   may affect their mental health.  

The Mental Health Consultation Liaison Nurse Practitioner will work within a multi-disciplinary, collaborative team environment to provide expert, timely, flexible, and appropriate primary mental health care.  Services provided will include the assessment and treatment of mental health consumers located in mainstream clinical areas of Calvary Hospital, including the Emergency Department.  

The nurse practitioner scope of practice will include the full and accurate assessment of each consumer’s mental health history and problems; timely and appropriate access to treatment that may not have otherwise occurred, or which may have been delayed; the development of complex care plans; the timely ordering of appropriate diagnostic tests; the timely referral of consumers to relevant health care professionals; and the timely prescribing of pharmacological therapies within certain parameters.     

The mental health Consultation Liaison Nurse Practitioner will:

•	Provide clinical leadership and role modelling to all members of the multi- disciplinary team in relation to advanced evidence-based mental health care.   
•	Play a key role in the development of contemporary primary mental health care strategies in relation to mental health treatment, promotion, prevention and early interventions.
•	Play a key role in the provision of professional development and education for mental health colleagues and generalist clinicians, including GPs.  
•	Play a key role in the provision of primary mental health care, including education, to consumers, carers and community groups.   

The mental health consultation liaison nurse practitioner model of care at Calvary hospital will improve the health outcomes and satisfaction levels of consumers who present to the Emergency Department with a mental health condition or who are admitted to a general ward area with a co-morbid mental health problem. 

The model is consistent with the ACT Health Clinical Services Plan 2004 -2011 and the ACT Mental health Strategy and Action Plan 2003 – 2008.