Australian Capital Territory
Health (Nurse Practitioner Positions) Approval 2010 (No 2)
Notifiable Instrument NI2010–69
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 Positions) Approval 2010 (No 2).

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 two Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner positions within Capital Region Cancer Services, ACT Health.    

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.

Dr Peggy Brown 
Chief Executive

15 February 2010

Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner – Scope of Practice Statement

The core business of the PCNP is to appropriately assess and autonomously manage patients with symptoms associated with a life limiting illness. Life limiting illness includes but is not limited to end stage cancers, neurodegenerative disorders, dementia, renal, cardiovascular and chronic respiratory conditions.  
The PCNP’s will focus on developing, implementing and evaluating innovative service delivery models to increase access to palliative and supportive care by patients/ clients and their families.  
Routine management of patients by the PCNP includes: 
•	Physical assessment;
•	Ordering and evaluation of diagnostic procedures;
•	Formulation of differential diagnoses;
•	Planning and implementation of nursing care; and
•	Prescribing of medications approved in the PCNP clinical practice guidelines.
The PCNP’s practice requires:
•	Collaboration with the other members of the multidisciplinary healthcare team;
•	Developing co-operative partnerships with internal and external government and non-government organisations engaged in the provision of Palliative Care across the ACT; and 
•	A flexible approach in order to enable effective responses to evolving national and territory strategic priorities in Palliative Care.