Australian Capital Territory
Health (Nurse Practitioner Position and Scope of Practice) Approval 2009 (No 3)*
Notifiable instrument NI2009-457
made under the
Health Regulation 2004 - section 8 (approval of Nurse Practitioner positions)
Health Regulation 2004 – section 11 (scope of practice). 

1	Name of instrument

This instrument is the Health (Nurse Practitioner Position and Scope of Practice) Approval 2009 (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 four Walk-In Centre Nurse Practitioner positions within Ambulatory and Medical Services, The Canberra Hospital.    

The scope of practice statement for the Nurse Practitioner position is attached.
As this position is ‘new’, the clinical practice guidelines and medication formularies are a work in progress.  These will be finalised within the first three months of the position being established and endorsed by the local Clinical Practice Guideline Advisory Committee.  The endorsed Clinical Practice Guidelines will then be submitted for final approval and endorsement by the Chief Nurse and Chief Executive ACT Health.

Mark Cormack 
Chief Executive
9 September 2009

Walk-In Centre Nurse Practitioner – Scope of Practice Statement

The Walk-In Centre Nurse Practitioner will work autonomously within a multidisciplinary, collaborative team environment to provide episodic, timely, expert health care for clients presenting to the ACT Health Walk-In Centre with minor illnesses and injuries.  

The scope of practice for the Nurse Practitioner in the Walk-In Centre includes the full and accurate assessment of each client’s presenting complaint, diagnosis, health care planning, intervention and advice. This includes, when appropriate, the prescribing of medications as approved within the relevant Clinical Practice Guidelines, and ordering and interpretation of plain film X-rays.  Additionally, the provision of opportunistic health promotion and education is included in this role.

The role of the Walk-In Centre Nurse Practitioner also includes the ongoing support and education of Advanced Practice Nurses.  The Nurse Practitioner is a clinical leader and role model for all members of the multidisciplinary team. 

Clients excluded from this service include the following:

o	Clients presenting for treatment and/or management of complex or chronic conditions;
o	Clients presenting for treatment and/or management of recurrent conditions;
o	Clients presenting with serious, acute conditions;
o	Clients with mental health conditions;
o	Children under 2 years of age.   

Clients presenting with the above conditions will be referred in accordance with well-defined referral pathways.