College of Nurses Aotearoa and Nurse Practitioner NZ response to RNZCGP NP statement

Mātanga tapuhi /nurse practitioners (NP) have been providing highly skilled care to patients and whanau for over 20 years – many choosing to work in primary and community care. More and more New Zealanders are now enrolled with an NP as their primary health care provider.

The release of a revised statement from the Royal NZ College of GPS that continues to demonstrate a limited understanding of the scope and capability of the Nurse Practitioner role is disappointing.

The offer by NPNZ to collaborate with RNZCGP to produce a more accurate statement was not effectively taken up – with mere lip service being paid to the NPNZ – who represent the vast majority of the growing number of Nurse Practitioners in Aotearoa.

The document, while having some improvements, still misses the mark. Rather than accurately explaining or clarifying the role of NPs in healthcare delivery, this document seeks to compare and contrast the roles of GP and NP.

Many NPs have collaborative working relationships with GPs who recognise and affirm the autonomous role that NPs have in delivering healthcare. It is unfortunate that this document isn’t willing to acknowledge the full scope of NP practice.

One of the key features of the new legislation is provide a choice of quality services, tailored to people needs. This RNZCGP document wholly misses the point. It undermines and devalues the role of Nurse Practitioners – perhaps based on a misapprehension that NP and for that matter RN are working under the direction, delegation, or supervision of GPs – which is NOT the case.

NP and RN are accountable for their own practice under the same legislation as GPs – the Health Practitioners Competency Assurance Act – which protects the public by ensuring all health practitioners are adequately prepared and educated to provide safe and appropriate care to patients.

Workforce issues are becoming increasingly critical, and NPs have shown their value as an independent, safe and vitally needed component. It is essential that position statements clarify rather than confuse the health sector.

The aim of Pae Ora is to work to protect and promote health and wellbeing – this is best done in a patient and whanau centred way – with the patient at the centre and services and those who provide them being tailored to their needs – not dictated by long held and out dated beliefs about who is better placed to provide or lead care in the current health care environment.

The College of Nurses Aotearoa (NZ) and NPNZ have no choice but to again request a withdrawal of this document until it has been properly written as per the request of the NPNZ to more accurately reflect the role and worth of the NP.