Nurse Practitioners in New ZealandResources Nurse Practitioner Employment and Development Working PartySector Consultation Day , 20 February 2006 The Ministerial Working Party held a sector consultation day in Wellington, which was attended by over 60 people. Representatives from Non Government Organisations, Primary Health Organisations, non health funded Government Departments, District Health Boards, professional organisation representatives and other interested bodies, came together to learn about and discuss how to maximise the value of Nurse Practitioners. In welcoming attendees Kim Tito, General Manager, Planning and Funding and Maori Health with the Northland District Health Board and Chair of the Working Party (established in August 2005) emphasised that chronic disease management, access to affordable health services, the aging population, are health issues of international importance which Nurse Practitioners have an important role in addressing. Presentations by Nurse Practitioners from a variety of New Zealand practice settings emphasised that Nurse Practitioners prefer to work ‘seamlessly’ across all sectors of health, following people rather than systems; many work in areas of deprivation improving access to health care services; in chronic disease management; and within the disability sector, including mental health. Health promotion and disease prevention are integral aspects of their work. A number of these Nurse Practitioners are credentialed to prescribe medication and refer people to diagnostic services. International experience supports that Nurse Practitioners result in “Win Win” situations for the public through adding value by complementing existing current workforce delivery systems. Discussion groups gave attendees an opportunity to debate and deliberate on the presentations, especially as they affect the organizations they represented, to identify the potential for Nurse Practitioners in their organization, to identify any perceived barriers to employment, and to suggest strategies that might be adopted to overcome these barriers. There was much discussion around the need for alignment of the Nurse Practitioner roles to fit in with the requirements of potential health partners eg Ministry of Social Development, Accident Compensation Commission, Non Government Organisations. The sector is keen and interested, but still sees purchasing, funding, contracting and structural barriers to implementing employment opportunities for Nurse Practitioners. The Working Party will be addressing and reviewing these issues and barriers in order to achieve its goals and objectives. Dr Karen Poutasi, Director General of Health and Dr Colin Feek, Deputy Director General, Clinical Services Directorate attended the meeting, lending their full support to the nurse practitioner initiative in New Zealand. They noted that Nurse Practitioners would add value particularly in the areas of chronic disease management and primary health care. The importance of looking ahead 10 years for planning, and the tremendous importance of grasping the opportunities presented now through knowledge based development which is people centred yet system minded, was stressed. Regardless of the health gains already made, there is still a ten year difference in life expectancy related to gender, ethnicity and wealth. Chair, Kim Tito, summarised the day and reaffirmed that to reduce inequalities and manage chronic disease, there has to be a fundamental shift in the way the health and disability sector works together. The debate on professional boundaries, whilst important, is not appropriate to this task of the Working Party which is focussed on analytical work to assist the sector, and to effectively challenge those barriers identified which might impede ongoing development and funding opportunities for Nurse Practitioners.
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