Australian Capital Territory
Health (Scope of Practice for Nurse Practitioner Positions) Approval 2008 (No 1)
Notifiable instrument NI2008—39
made under the
Health Regulation 2004, section 11 (Scope of practice for nurse practitioner positions)

1	Name of instrument

This instrument is the Health (Scope of Practice for Nurse Practitioner Positions) Approval 2008 (No 1).

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 an Emergency Nurse Practitioner position within The Canberra Hospital Emergency Department.  

Under section 11 (Scope of practice for nurse practitioner position), I approve the scope of practice for the Emergency Nurse Practitioner position.   

The scope of practice for the nurse practitioner position is attached.
As this position is ‘new’, the clinical practice guidelines and medication formularies are to be developed. These will be finalised within the first four 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
4 February 2008

The Canberra Hospital Emergency Department Nurse Practitioner
Scope of Practice Statement
Position Details
Local Title	Nurse Practitioner	
Classification	Registered Nurse Level 4.2	
Department/ Ward	Emergency Department, The Canberra Hospital 	
Position number(s)	new	Type		Fortnightly hours	76	
		Ins. No.	01/07	APPN Code	8801	
Reporting Details
Supervisors		Line responsibility / authority / 
accountability	Operational:     Director of Nursing, Emergency Department 
Professional:    Director of Nursing, Emergency Department 
Clinical:             Staff Specialist, Emergency Department
                           Director of Nursing, Emergency Department
Legislative:        ACT Nursing and Midwifery Board
	
Emergency Nurse Practitioner
Role
	•	A nurse practitioner is a Registered Nurse with advanced knowledge, skills and recognised clinical competence, authorised by the ACT Nursing and Midwifery Board.  
•	The Emergency Nurse practitioner at The Canberra Hospital will work as a member of a multi-disciplinary team to provide high quality health care, within the agreed extended scope for advanced nursing practice for nurse practitioners, to a range of patients presenting to the Emergency Department. 
•	The position will provide clinical nursing leadership that facilitates the ongoing development of evidence-based practice.  The key focus of  
 clinical practice for this position will be on less-complex and non-emergent presentations.  
•	The Nurse Practitioner will initiate/utilise research findings in providing clinical services, contribute to the development and delivery of specialty related education programs, policies and participate in strategic and operational planning processes within the Emergency Department.   
•	The Nurse Practitioner has the knowledge and expertise to support referral to other health care professionals.
•	The role will be continually evaluated and developed to meet organisational needs.  	
Aim
	•	To deliver an effective model of service delivery that provides timely access to care for patients who present to Emergency with less complex and non-emergent illnesses and injuries.  Timely assessment, diagnosis and management of these patients, within approved Clinical Practice Guidelines, will streamline and expedite their care and disposition.	
Service Director	Joy Vickerstaff