6 Minutes.com.au April 2009

Nurse prescribing Hooray, the Australian government is recognising that nurse practitioners who are educated at Masters-level in diagnosis and prescribing have been working with one hand tied behind their back by having no access to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Let's hope access to PBS for nurse practitioners is opened up beyond the small-minded idea of 'doctor shortage' though, and is oriented to allow choice and access for patients living in all geographic areas and regardless of socioeconomic status.

Now we need a Medicare system that provides a patient reimbursement for diagnostic tests done by nurse practitioners and which supports their high level clinical decision making and prescribing practices.