Aims of the Practice Nurse Network

Melbourne Network'sPractice Nurse Program aims is to increase employment and utilisation of nurses within the Network's general practices. The Network can showcase to practices the areas in which nurses can best be utilised to provide greater access for patients to primary health care. Our aim is to help practices to improve health outcomes for patients through the employment of a nurse, in a financially viable way.

The program also aims to support and enhance the valuable work of practice nurses whom are already employed by offering various forums for education and professional support.

What can the program offer your practice

The practice nurse program offers support with all aspects of practice nurse employment.
If you are contemplating employing a practice nurse:

• The Network suggests you contact the program officer to arrange a visit. At the visit we can discuss 
  - The issues that may be preventing the practice from engaging nurses 
  -Discuss the practice's needs, and capacity to employ a nurse 
  
•  After the initial visit, you can decide which aspects (if any) you would like assistance with in the employment process. It is important every aspect of the employment is considered to ensure a successful outcome. This includes: 
  - Preparing the position description 
  - Advertising the position 
  - Assessing applications 
  - Arranging the interview (preparing questions, the interview panel, inviting candidates for an interview) 
  - Ranking candidates post-interview 
  - Communicating with candidates post-interview 
  - Formalising an employment contract 
  - Inducting / orienting the new nurse, including organizing a "buddy nurse" mentor for your new nurse 
  - Integrating nursing services into the practice 
  - Supporting the nurse through Network's network meetings, continuing professional development sessions and placing the nurse on the Network's e-mail communication list
  

If you require assistance or advice in any of these areas, please contact Jessica Holman. 

What you can offer the program.

An effective and valid program depends on information and feedback from the users. A current database of the practice nurses working in the division is crucial for the implementation of the program. We would be grateful if you could notify us of any new employees so that we can keep our database updated.

If you are a practice nurse, we would be grateful if you could 

• Let us know if you are not receiving any information - we can add you to the database 
  
• Provide any feedback or suggestions on the services the program offers. We are committed to providing a quality program that is of value to our consumers and enjoy hearing the good and bad aspects of the services so don't be shy 
  
• Let us know about topics for the Network meetings
  
• Respond to the Network's surveys to help us plan services

To make any comments or to be placed on the database please e-mail jessica.holman@mgpn.com.au

Links for Nurse Employment

• AGPN business case studies for employing a Division I nurse.
  
• The following link provide a recruitment and orientation resource for general practice and nurses.  http://www.agpn.com.au/nigprecruit
  
• The RCNA site has a number of publications regarding general employment information in general practice . Search for "General Practice" at http://www.rcna.org.au  
• Other links of interest for nurses
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Seek and Share

This section is open to nurses to post any helpful tips, ideas and links they have found useful within their practice. It's a great way to share information let other nurses know what has worked for you it can save others a lot of time and trouble.

You can also post seek ads for information required. Just e-mail Jessica.Holman@mgpn.com.au anything you would like to be posted here