Proactive recruitment aims to bring nurse practitioners to all corners of the NT

One of the Territory’s top nurses thinks the number of nurse practitioners in the Territory needs to grow from a handful of positions to thirty per cent of the workforce. Read why.

Health Minister Selena Uibo said more nurse practitioners in the NT would provide crucial expertise and support to stretched-thin services. Picture: Fia Walsh

A new way for nurses to apply for senior roles in the Territory has launched in an attempt to address chronic staff shortages continuing to plague the health sector.

An online register of interest allows nurses and nurses interested in upskilling to proactively apply for roles across all regions of the NT without having to wait for positions to be advertised.

NT Health Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer Mish Hill said more nurse practitioners could help reduce the pressure on frontline services.

“All jurisdictions around the nation are challenged by not just the shortages that we have, but substantially by the access of care post-Covid, and people with chronic diseases being unable to access care,” she said.

“Nurse Practitioners provide that mentorship and that clinical support within our people areas.

“When we’re working at our highest level, we’re really delivering patient-centred care … it means that we can sometimes provide the most gentle care that person needs at that particular time.”

Health Minister Selena Uibo and Nurse Practitioner Cherie Whitbread welcomed the new recruitment strategy. Picture: Fia Walsh

The most senior and independent clinical nurses, nurse practitioners undertake additional qualifications to be able to diagnose and treat people across a variety of specialist fields.

There are currently 22 nurse practitioners and 13 nurse practitioner candidates in the NT Health system, out of 55 possible positions.

One of the NT’s most experienced nurses in the role, Cherie Whitbread, said she would like to see the number grow to 30 per cent of public hospital health practitioners.

“This is about promoting a really high standard of nursing,” she said.

Ms Whitbread said her workforce had been “very, very small” but had grown significantly in recent years thanks to efforts from clinical nursing leadership.

“We’ve gone from hardly any positions, maybe three, to 55 positions now – and we’re working really hard to fill those positions,” she said.

Health Minister Selena Uibo said optimising the senior clinical nursing workforce was an important part of improving the Territory’s health service.

“Nurse practitioners can help reduce preventable hospitalisations and improve patient health outcomes as well as access to services for high-needs populations,” she said.

Originally published as Proactive recruitment aims to bring nurse practitioners to all corners of the NT