Australia will be healthier if 96,000 Primary Health Care nurses are better utilised
On Primary Health Care Nurses Day, APNA Workforce Survey data shows almost one third of primary healthcare (PHC) nurses (31%) in Australia are still unable to work to their full scope of practice.
The Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA) is calling on policymakers to better utilise nurses, the largest workforce in PHC, as they reform the health system.
Nurses are safe, highly skilled, regulated and trusted. Its time our health system allowed them to use their full skills and experience to improve the health of Australia, APNA President Karen Booth said.
Nurses have a sophisticated skill set and we know that enabling them to work to their full scope of practice will improve access to care and help tackle health workforce shortages across Australia.
New survey figures released today show that PHC nurses are capable and willing to tackle chronic disease and prevent illness, but are held back, due to funding restrictions and other key systems and structural barriers.
Ms Booth said Primary Health Care Nurses Day is a chance to recognise the critical work PHC nurses do as science-based health professionals and celebrate Australias PHC nurses right across the country.
PHC nurses are safe, highly skilled, regulated and trusted. They are also ready, willing, and able to do more for the health of Australia if they are supported by the right policy changes, Ms Booth said.
APNA looks forward to working with the Albanese Government to implement policies that enable nurses to work to their full scope of practice to support and improve the health of the Australian community,
Ms Booth said.