Practice nurses in the Waikato, 1991-1992, I: Occupational profile

To describe the personal characteristics, working conditions, clinical activities and professional development of a representative sample of practice nurses in the Waikato during the period 1991-1992.

The data are from a survey of practice nurses drawn from a larger study of general practice carried out in the Waikato (the WaiMedCa Study). Eighty-nine percent of the 107 practices in the region participated in the study. The practice nurse survey was carried out on the 189 nurses working in these practices. Of these 149 replied, representing a response rate of 79%.

On average, there was one nurse for each solo practice and two in most other practices. Only two practices--both solo--did not employ a nurse. Practice nurses were female and aged between 30 and 50. While only one-third had received a postgraduate qualification, two-thirds had been to recent professional development courses. The majority had worked as a practice nurse for between one and ten years. Nurses averaged just under 15 telephone contacts a day and 28 face-to-face contacts a week. Nurses' workload comprised general measurements and assessments, monitoring and surveillance procedures (such as diabetes, asthma and child development), and counselling and women's health activities.

Practice nurses are an accepted and essential part of primary health care in New Zealand. However, their potential is probably underdeveloped and they could be more fully utilised for a wider range of nursing functions.