This page contains links to resources, education and information for nurses new to the General Practice setting.
This guideline was developed by DoHA and RCNA, it has information about the role of the Practice Nurse, the scope of practice and supervisory requirements. Some aspects of the guidelines will be out of date but this is still a useful start.
General Practice Nursing is the first textbook written specifically for Australian practice nurses, a milestone in the development of practice nursing as a specialty. This textbook offers practice nurses information on a range of clinical and professional topics in a concise, easy to read format. General Practice Nursing offers evidence based, contextual information supported by case studies to assist nurses in applying theory to practice. Clinical topics such as immunisation, triage, mental health, wound management, pharmacology and chronic disease management will be coupled with more broad, general topics such as the role of the practice nurse, the Australian health system, the scope of general practice, building research capacity, evidence based practice, continuing professional development and nurse led care. A discount is available to APNA members but the book is available through many book sellers.
Royal College of Nursing, Australia (RCNA) is Australia’s peak professional nursing organisation and is the Australian member of the International Council of Nurses (ICN). RCNA is a national membership organisation open to nurses and nursing students in all areas of the profession.
The Australian Practice Nurses Association (APNA) is the peak professional body for nurses working in general practice and most recently primary health care. This body is funded by membership. Member’s Benefits include discounted professional indemnity insurance, discounted access to the APNA national conference, online learning, member’s magazine and regular online e news and other benefits.
The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia has established State and Territory Boards to support the work of the National Board in the national scheme. The National Board will set policy and professional standards, and the State and Territory Boards will continue to make individual notification and registration decisions affecting individual nurses and midwives.
The frequently asked questions page on this website is useful and includes a page on the Continuing Professional Development requirements. In addition, this website houses the Competency Standards, Professional Guidelines, Codes of Ethics and other important information for nurses.
GPV's mission is to work at the state level to support Victorian divisions of general practice, to integrate general practice into the state health system, and to strengthen relationships with stakeholders at all levels of government. The website contains many useful links for Practice Nurses, including details about the Orientation to General Practice Workshops.
The Australian General Practice Network (AGPN) represents a network of 111 local organisations (general practice networks) along with eight state based entities. More than 90 percent of General Practitioners and an increasing number of Practice Nurses and allied health professionals are members of their local general practice network. AGPN recognizes the contribution that nurses can make to general practice and primary care. AGPN offer an Online Orientation to General Practice Program at a cost of $120. This program is endorsed by RCNA and was developed by AGPN, RCNA, APNA, The Australian National University, GPV and the University of the Sunshine Coast.
Nurses join the ANF branch in the state or territory where they work. ANF branches provide a range of services to members, including: resolution of workplace disputes, industrial representation, legal representation, negotiating awards and enterprise bargaining agreements, information about wages and conditions of employment, information and representation on workplace issues such as occupational health and safety, education and training services, library and information services.
This software can integrate with most clinical software used in Australian GP Practices. It allows users to analyse their Practice’s patient data base. It is used to identify populations with specific demographics and risk factors in order to deliver targeted health promotion and chronic disease management through activities such as, health assessments, and recalls and reminders. MGPN has purchased the software licences for this product and offers training and installation of the PEN Clinical Audit Tool free of charge to MGPN Practices. Contact our Program Officer: Information Management, Samantha Smorgon for more information.
In many cases, Practices can invoice Medicare for the activities of the Practice Nurse. Invoices are sent to Medicare in the form of Item numbers, the Medicare Item numbers relate to specific activities conducted by specific practitioners in specific locations. The MBS website has a search feature and provides the latest information and detail on the requirements for each item number. MGPN also provides support in working with the MBS with updates to recent amendments – May 2010 Changes and November 2010 Changes.
South City GP Services, (one of our neighbouring Divisions of General Practice) has produced a helpful wall chart with a list of common health assessment and chronic disease-related item numbers including scheduled benefits, brief description of the items, item requirements and claiming frequency.
The resources below will help in your understanding of the MBS item numbers relating to Health Assessments.
November 2010 saw some changes to the MBS Health assessment item numbers, our Program Officer for Chronic Disease Management; Jessica Holman; has provided some tips based on the changes, including requirements around making annotations on your claim forms for health assessment item numbers.
MBS Health Assessments – item numbers 701,703,705,707,715 and 10986 Fact Sheet – this document is produced by the Department of Health and Ageing and is good overview.
Associated Notes for Items: 701-732 – available on the Department of Health and Ageing website provides a compilation of the MBS notes on the Health Assessment item numbers.
The Department of Health and Ageing Health Assessments Resource Kit, contains fact sheets, questions and Answers and proformas for all the MBS Health Assessments. You can either download the required fact sheets contained in this resource kit or order the kits: To order a resource kit please email health@nationalmailing.com.au or phone National Mailing and Marketing on 02 6269 1060.
The Healthy Kid Check resource Kit contains information for medical practitioners, practice nurses and registered Aboriginal health workers concerning the Healthy Kids Check for 4 yr old children. The kit contains fact sheets, a checklist and ‘Get Set 4 Life – habits for healthy kids’ guide. You can either download the required parts this resource kit or order the kit: To order a resource kit please email health@nationalmailing.com.au or phone National Mailing and Marketing on 02 6269 1060.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples MBS Health Assessment Resource Kit contains a fact sheet and proforma providing information on health assessments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The kit also includes fact sheets concerning the follow-up service items for practice nurses/ registered Aboriginal health workers and allied health professionals. You can either download the required parts this resource kit or order the kit: To order a resource kit please email health@nationalmailing.com.au or phone National Mailing and Marketing on 02 6269 1060.
