Nurse practitioners:
An insight into their integration into Australian community pharmacies
Background
Nurse practitioners (NPs) are independent health professionals with prescribing rights, and have recently established primary care roles in pharmacies.
Objective
To describe the roles of pharmacy-based NPs in Australia.
Methods
Semi-structured interviews were undertaken onsite or by telephone, with 28 staff of all 9 Revive NP Clinics in Western Australia. Participants comprised NPs representing 6 practices and pharmacy staff of all 9 practices. Questions explored the NPs' scope of practice and staff collaboration. Data are descriptively reported.
Results
The NPs undertook a range of services, including medication prescribing according to clinical guidelines, provision and ordering of diagnostic services, vaccine administration and provision of medical certificates. Community pharmacists reported to continue ensuring the safe and quality use of medicines and to counsel clients. Both pharmacists and NPs provided consumer medicine information leaflets. NPs are authorized to write prescriptions for Pharmacist-Only (S3) Medicines.
Conclusions
NPs' primary healthcare roles appear to complement roles of community pharmacists. Potential exists for further collaboration and interdisciplinary care in health promotion and screening services. Clarification is needed with respect to prescribing and provision of Pharmacist-Only Medicines, and offering consumer medicines leaflets.
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