Victorian Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner Program

1. Victorian Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner Program Jackie Kearney Cancer & Palliative Care Department of Health Collaborative Forum – 18/03/2010

2. Overview • Potential NPCs and locations • Scholarships • NP Candidate Support Packages • Common elements – clinical and management

3. Metropolitan Potential Nurse Practitioner Candidates Outreach from practice locations

4. Rural NP Rural Auspicing agency Potential Nurse Practitioner Candidates Outreach from practice locations

5. Scholarships • Up to $6,000 per NPC per annum for maximum 2 years • Metro – NPB • Rural – Palliative Care • ‘Ring-fenced’ for rural NPCs • 5 rural PC scholarships offered in 2010 NPB round

6. NP Candidate Support Packages • Available to employing agency • Assist with costs of clinical and professional supervision • ‘Tagged’ to a specific NP candidate • Paid on recruitment/appointment • Confirmation required – Letter of Offer, Variation of Appointment, etc • $8,000 first NPC, $10,000 second NPC

7. Interim reportsCommon elements - clinical • Triage criteria • Referral criteria/pathways e.g. high complexity • Assessment and care planning – tools and measures • Scope of practice • Clinical learning plans

8. Interim reportsCommon elements - management • Curriculum – RACP Clinical Diploma in Palliative Medicine • Policies, protocols, practice guidelines • Clinical governance • Project governance • Terms of Reference for committees, etc • Position Descriptions • Memoranda of Understanding • Project evaluation

9. Contact details and links • Palliative Care, DH http://www.health.vic.gov.au/palliativecare/nurseprac.htm • Nurse Policy Branch, DH http://www.health.vic.gov.au/nursing/furthering/practitioner • Victoria’s Cancer Action Plan, DH http://www.health.vic.gov.au/cancer/vcap.htm • Victorian Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner Collaborative http://www.vpcnpc.unimelb.edu.au/about/overview.html