Australian Capital Territory
Health (Nurse Practitioner Position and Scope of Practice) Approval 2015 (No 5)*
Notifiable instrument NI2015-173
made under the	
Health Regulation 2004 - section 8 (Approval of nurse practitioner positions) 

1	Name of instrument

This instrument is the Health (Nurse Practitioner Position and Scope of Practice) Approval 2015 (No 5).

2	Commencement

This instrument commences on the day after notification.

3	Approval

Under section 8, approval of nurse practitioner positions, I have approved the establishment of a new nurse practitioner position within Oncology/Haematology Outpatients, Cancer Ambulatory & Community Health Support – Canberra Hospital & Health Services. The scope of practice statement for this 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 and endorsed by the local Clinical Practice Guideline Advisory Committee within the first three months of the position being established.  The endorsed Clinical Practice Guidelines will then be submitted for final approval and endorsement by the ACT Chief Nurse and Director-General ACT Health prior to being posted on the ACT Nursing & Midwifery Office website. 

Dr Peggy Brown
Director-General

16 February 2015

Scope of Practice
 Nurse Practitioner position - Oncology/Haematology, Canberra Region Cancer Centre

The Nurse Practitioner will work autonomously with a multidisciplinary, collaborative team environment to provide timely, expert health care for patient requiring assessment and treatment for symptom management.

The scope of practice for the Nurse Practitioner includes the full and accurate assessment of each patient’s presenting complaint, diagnosis, health care planning, intervention and advice.  This includes, were appropriate, the prescribing of medications approved within the relevant Clinical Practice Guidelines, and ordering and interpretation of restricted imaging tests and pathology tests.  

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