RESEARCHING THE SEXUAL HEALTH NURSE PRACTITIONER SCOPE OF PRACTICE: A BLUEPRINT FOR AUTONOMY
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Keywords
nurse practitioner, sexual health nurse practitioner, scope of practice, clinical protocols, health service, sexual health outreach
Abstract
The nurse practitioner role substantially extends the career path for clinical nurses and recognises and values clinical nursing skills. This new type and level of health service promotes the use of a nursing model of care, demonstrates a high level of autonomy, and utilises expert nursing skills in the diagnosis and treatment of complex problems in the patient, the carer, and the family. This paper reports on the investigation of a sexual health nurse practitioner trial of practice. The study outcomes included findings that support the feasibility of the role in terms of improved patient outcomes and the development of clinical protocols that define the parameters of the scope of practice for the sexual health nurse practitioner.
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Elissa J. O’Keefe, RN, BAppSci (Nursing), GradCert (Sexual Health and Related Communicable Infections)
Outreach Sexual Health Nurse, The Canberra Sexual Health Clinic, The Canberra Hospital, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Glenn Gardner, RN, PhD
Professor of Clinical Nursing, The Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and Queensland University of Technology, Queensland, Australia