No Logic in Substituting Nurses for Doctors in Hospitals
Pillaging the ranks of the nation's nurses to plug gaps left by a doctor shortage would simply exacerbate the nurse shortage, AMA Vice President, Dr Choong-Siew Yong, said today.
"Addressing a workforce shortage by creating another workforce shortage is neither a sustainable nor a sensible way to approach Australia's medical workforce shortage," Dr Yong said.
"Australia has significant nursing shortages, so proposals to allow nurses to take over the role of doctors make no sense at all."
At the weekend national Conference in Adelaide, the AMA's Federal Council endorsed a team-based approach to care in the public hospital system.
"We recognise the integral role that nurses and other allied health professionals play in hospitals and that many are highly trained in specific fields - allowing them to work with limited supervision," Dr Yong said.
"And the AMA believes that nurses and other allied health professionals equally value the work of doctors and recognise the essential role that medical practitioners play in overseeing the care of patients.
"Workforce changes must be driven by quality and safety and enhance the efficiency of the existing health workforce, not simply shuffle it around.
"It is therefore imperative that the medical practitioner remains at the centre of the health care team and has ultimate responsibility for the care of the patient."
The AMA recognises that over time the roles of doctors, nurses and other allied health professionals will evolve in response to the changes in the delivery of health care.
The AMA supports nurses and allied health staff working in expanded roles, under the supervision of a medical practitioner, provided the following principles are adhered to:
- Expanded roles must enhance patient outcomes;
- Role expansion and appropriate training programs for nurses and other allied health professionals should be achieved by consensus;
- There should be ongoing monitoring and feedback processes to assess the impact on patients;
- A medical practitioner must remain responsible for coordinating patient care;
- There should be a strong commitment to a team based approached to health care, rather than the creation of new independent roles;
- Opportunities for medical students and doctors to learn and practice essential clinical skills must be maintained;
- All health professionals should have access to appropriate administrative support services; and,
There should be a professional and courteous relationship between doctors, nurses and other allied health professionals with mutual acknowledgment of, and respect for, each profession's contribution to patient care.