Lara Giddings, MP 
Minister for Health
Friday, 20 March 2009

Health Minister Lara Giddings today welcomed the Nursing Board’s authorisation of Tasmania’s first nurse practitioners.

“This is an exciting day for the future of nursing in Tasmania,” Ms Giddings said.

“Establishing the role of the nurse practitioner is part of the Tasmanian Government’s commitment to building a strong and sustainable nursing workforce.

“It is also an integral part of Tasmania’s Health Plan and a range of legislative and regulatory changes have been completed to support the implementation of the new role.

“Three new positions will now be advertised in the next few weeks for mental health nurse practitioners to being work in the State’s North, South and North West.

“Not only will there be benefits for the nursing workforce, clients of Mental Health Services will benefit from easily accessible, knowledgeable and prompt advice and assessment,” Ms Giddings said.

Ms Giddings said she was delighted that Catherine Schofield who is currently working as the Strategic Nurse Coordinator of Ward 1E in Launceston had been successful in her application to be licensed in the new role.

Ms Giddings said she also wanted to congratulate interstate applicant, Timothy O’Maley, who was also authorised by the Nursing Board yesterday and who has had a successful career working in the multiple sclerosis area interstate.

Tasmania’s Chief Nurse, Associate Professor Fiona Stoker, said the nursing practitioner role offers a clear new clinical career pathway for more highly skilled nurses to remain in clinical practice.

Ms Stoker said the Board’s endorsement of Catherine Schofield was recognition of her clinical focus and years of hard work in gaining the necessary qualifications and experience.

“We envisage that this new role will enhance nursing recruitment and retention, by offering young nurses another exciting career pathway.

“Today is the culmination of many years of hard work and I am very excited about the future of nurse practitioners in this state,” Ms Stoker said.

The CEO of Mental Health and Statewide Services, Dr John Crawshaw, said he was delighted that his area was leading the way on progressing careers for nurses as well as providing positive benefits for clients.

“The nurse practitioner role has the potential to deliver a large number of benefits to Mental Health Services.

“The Nurse Practitioner (Mental Health) Scope of Practice allows nurse practitioners to prescribe and dispense medications from an authorised medication list.

“We would expect the client to benefit from prompt and attentive care at the same time as the skills within our community teams are expanded,” Dr Crawshaw said.

To be licensed as a Nurse Practitioner in Mental Health, applicants must have successfully completed a clinical masters degree in Nursing and additional training in pharmacology and medical diagnostics.

They must also have at least five years experience in the practice for which they are applying.

Dr Crawshaw also congratulated Catherine Schofield who has worked as a Clinical Nurse and Registered Psychiatric nurse in Mental Health services for nine years prior to filling a number of senior management positions.