Australian General Practice Nurse Research Study

The Australian General Practice Network (AGPN) in conjunction with The Australian National University (ANU) has completed a three year study investigating the role and contribution of Practice Nurses to Australian general pracitce. This is the first such study of its kind. The research team led by Dr Christine Phillips had members from the Network, The Australian National University, the University of Melbourne and Manchester University in the United Kingdom.

Funded by the Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute the project identified ways of expanding, or changing, PN roles to improve primary health care delivery. The research gathered information on a number of areas including:

  • How nurses operate within general practice
  • Which factors influence the activities undertaken by nurses in different general practice settings
  • The contribution that practice nurses make to safety and quality in general practice; and
  • Ways in which the introduction of new models of practice nursing can be facilitated.

A copy of the research findings titled 'Examining the expanded roles for nurses in general practice' is avialable at:  http://www.anu.edu.au/aphcri/Spokes_Research_Program/Stream_Three.php