The Australian College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP) is the peak body representing nurse practitioners in Australia. Nurse practitioners provide a range of high-quality services to patients in diverse settings, including public hospitals and primary healthcare. In private healthcare settings nurse practitioners' scope of practice is constrained by a number of systemic factors. The Australian College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP) engaged Bridgeway Global to develop a proposal to government outlining opportunities to increase access to nurse practitioner services in private healthcare settings.
Bridgeway Global engaged with nurse practitioners, including the ACNP Board, private hospitals and peak bodies to explore current challenges and opportunities for nurse practitioners to work in private health settings. We undertook policy analysis, explored potential solutions and their implications. Four policy options were identified and presented to the ACNP Board for consideration
With Board approval, we developed a proposal to government with two key policy opportunities. The proposal features a clear description of the problem and outlines two key policy recommendations addressing the issue, including likely impacts on the patient, health workforce and broader health system. Supporting case studies provided practical examples of the current situation and opportunities for reform. The proposal will be used by ACNP to advocate to government on reform required to increase access to nurse practitioners services in private health settings.
