Practice activities of privately-practicing nurse practitioners: Results from an Australian survey

To facilitate expansion of privately-practicing nurse practitioners in community and primary care settings, a legislative amendment in 2010 made privately-practicing nurse practitioners eligible to provide services subsidised through the Medicare Benefits Schedule and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. To evaluate their practice activities, a national survey of privately-practicing nurse practitioners in Australia was conducted, and data analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis (n = 73). As part of their role, 96% (n = 70) participants reported undertaking direct patient care, 95% (n = 69) patient education and health promotion, 95% (n = 69) prescribed medications, 92% (n = 67) referred patients for diagnostic investigations, and 88% (n = 64) reported making a diagnosis. Over 50% of participants saw up to 15 patients daily, and 80% (n = 58) treated the same patients on a regular basis. Of the participants, 59% (n = 43) perceived that they worked to their full scope of practice. The mainstay of privately-practicing nurse practitioner services is provision of direct patient care in community and primary healthcare settings, suggesting they have emerging potential in addressing the ever-increasing demand for healthcare in Australia.