Nurse Practitioner Week is a chance for us to celebrate one of the vital ingredients that makes our Emergency Department run as smoothly as possible.

The Australian College of Nurse Practitioners marks Nurse Practitioner Week from 11 to 17 December this year to recognise this vital and highly specialised ED role.

Nurse practitioners like Nelly Counihan (left) and Annalise Brown, a nurse practitioner candidate. strive to give patients an outstanding level of holistic care.

Nurse practitioners specialise in this field of nursing and have extensive knowledge and a higher level education that allows them to work autonomously when caring for their patients.

“Having nurse practitioners within the ED allows for patients to be seen and discharged quickly while giving them thorough and holistic provision of care,” Nelly said.

This means we aim to assess, treat, investigate and refer all patients under our care in a safe and timely manner to ensure positive patient outcomes.”

Nurse practitioners fit into one of two categories.

Nurse practitioner candidates are studying masters-level tertiary studies in Advanced Clinical Practice. They work alongside senior medical and endorsed nurse practitioners to discuss assessment findings, decipher diagnosis and formulate treatment options. At this level;, they cannot prescribe drugs.

However, an endorsed nurse practitioner has completed a Master of Advanced Nursing Practice (or equivalent) and can work autonomously to assess, diagnose, treat and refer patients.

They have the right to prescribe and can autonomously request investigations such as pathology and radiological investigations, and they make referrals. The also mentor nurse practitioner candidates.

In the hurly-burly of life in the ED, nurse practitioners are important to the continued efficient operation of the front line of our health service.