The Development of the Advanced Role of Rural Nurses in New Zealand

Abstract

This paper offers an informative insight into the development of the advanced role of rural nursing practice in New Zealand. Provided is a futuristic vision of nurses' contribution for the provision of primary rural health care. The concept of advanced nursing practice will be discussed within the context of the interdisciplinary healthcare team. It is argued that as nurses take on advanced practice, it is essential they receive appropriate clinical and theoretical skills to ensure they are in a position to provide competent and clinically safe, effective health care in an ethical, efficient manner. A description of a survey, undertaken by the author, studying rural nurses' skills provides the recommendation for the development of an appropriate postgraduate course at Masters level, designed specifically for primary rural nurses for the advanced role. The provision of this advanced education together with preparation and support, can pave the way for the highly skilled and knowledgeable nurses of the future working in collaboration with the interdisciplinary rural healthcare team and rural community.

Educating for rural nursing practice

“…Most rural hospitals lack on‐site medical staff, and much of the literature focuses on rural nurses taking on advanced and extended practice roles such as radiography, medication prescribing, advanced assessment, and management of trauma and emergencies because of the absence of other health professionals (Robbins 1994, Hegney et al. 1997a, Keyzer 1997, Hegney 1998, Ross 1999, Hegney & McCarthy 2000).…”

Patient education and consumer medicine information: a study of provision by Queensland rural and remote area Registered Nurses

“…1999). In rural and remote Australia, like other similar countries where there are few other health professionals (Ross 1999, Rennie et al. 2000, Bushy 2002), it is the nurse who administers and supplies the medication to the client.…”

“…1997), Canada (Rennie et al. 2000), New Zealand (Ross 1999) and the US (Bushy 2002). All of these studies found that rural and remote RNs work in an expanded practice role.…”

Role Development of Nurses Supervising Exercise Tolerance Tests

“…Areas where cardiac nurses have shown initiatives include chest-pain clinics, angiography laboratories, cardiac rehabilitation and exercise tolerance testing (Pottle, 2005;Smith, 2002;. Outside cardiovascular nursing, rural primary health initiatives are one example where nurses in New Zealand have advanced in their roles to fill a unique gap (Ross, 1999). Rural isolation and workforce issues have created opportunities for many of the nurse-led initiatives within New Zealand.…”