Article for division newsletters - Pap tests by Practice Nurses
Dr. Chris Hogan and Ms. Sandy Anderson have written this article about standards required for practice nurses to be able to perform Pap tests in Victorian General Practices. The article also shows how employing a nurse to perform Pap tests may increase access for females to tests and relieve the GP of workload and stress.
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Pap tests by Practice Nurses
(12KB)
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State Legislation/Regulation Affecting Immunisation by Practice Nurses in General Practice 
(41KB)
Example Position Description - Practice Nurse
An example of a position description that can be tailored by practices looking to employ a practice nurse. The practice will need to do some pre-thinking about what kind of work they envisage the nurse doing, and therefore what kind of experience they are looking for in a potential candidate.
Resource:
Example Position Description (36KB)
Examples of Questionnaires to Practices
To better meet the needs of practice nurses in their areas, many divisions have sent questionnaires out to all practice nurses (or practice managers) to gain a greater understanding of nurses' profiles, current skill levels, current duties, needs etc.
Resources:
Example Questionnaire to Practice Nurses and Practice Managers (33KB)
Example Questionnaire to Practice Nurses (19KB)
Example Questionnaire Practice Managers/Practice Principals (12KB)
Systems Thinking Audit Tool
A checklist developed for use by division staff when visiting practices. Based on the outcomes of the GPDV Chronic Disease & IMIT workshop (24 April 2002) and on the "systems thinking" approach developed by Monash University. It allows divisions/practices to audit their practice systems that support the employment of a practice nurse.
Resource:
Systems Thinking Audit Tool (103KB)
Scoping Studies - Nurses in Australian general practices
An ADGP scoping study, designed to ascertain the extent to which GPs currently employ practice nurses, the type of duties performed by practice nurses, and the level and range of support functions provided by divisions of general practice to assist practices and practice nurses. The questionnaire was developed in collaboration with the (then) Department of Health and Aged Care (DHAC).
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