THE CHANGING FACE OF NURSES IN AUSTRALIAN GENERAL PRACTICE

Objective: To describe the workforce characteristics and current responsibilities of nurses working in Australian general practice settings. Design: Survey research combining qualitative and quantitative data collected through telephone interview. Subjects: 222 enrolled (RN Division 2 in Victoria) and registered nurses (RN Division 1 in Victoria) working in general practice in rural and urban areas of Australia. Results: General practice nurses in Australia are likely to be RNs (84.7%) who work on a part-time basis (75.3%) in a medium to large practice (93.7%). Often the nurse has worked less than five full time equivalent years (52.3%) in a general practice environment and is likely to work in a practice where at least one other nurse works (64.4%). The nurse is likely to have some post-basic formal education (65.9%), and to have participated in professional development in the past two years (94.9%). The nurse performs a diverse range of activities within the general practice. No substantial differences were found in the workforce characteristics or role of urban and rural general practice nurses. Conclusion: It appears that nurses working in general practice are no longer the 'handmaiden' to the doctor but are professionals who perform a vast range of clinical, administrative and organisational responsibilities within the general practice primary health care setting.