ABSTRACT:In June, 1992, the NSW Health Department released their Discussion Paper on ‘The Role and Function of Nurse Practitioners in NSW’. The paper recommends legislative changes to enable nurse practitioners to initiate certain diagnostic tests, prescribe from a limited list of drugs, refer directly to specialist medical officers in certain circumstances and be reimbursed for some of the services they provide. Strict criteria for accreditation and evaluation are also recommended. Overseas literature confirms that nurse practitioners provide a safe, competent and cost effective service, which is well accepted by consumers. Opponents of the nurse practitioner concept in Australia have argued that it would be ‘dangerous practice’ and a ‘duplication of services’ to implement the Discussion Paper's recommendations. These arguments can not be substantiated. Of more concern is the attempt to divide nurses and nursing on the issue. To suggest that it is acceptable for nurse practitioners to provide services where doctors don't choose to practice or to provide service to disadvantaged groups of people, with whom doctors don't choose to work is unacceptable to nursing. Nurses provide nursing care, they do not provide medical care. Wherever nurses happen to be located, nurses are nurses and do nursing. Whether or not there is a doctor available is not the issue. Nurses do not seek to be doctors. Nurses do not seek to practice medicine. Nursing as a profession stands alone. This paper discusses the nurse practitioner concept as it is proposed for NSW, the implications for urban, rural and remote area nurses, the deliberate attempts to create division amongst nurses on the issue and the need for nurses to stand together to protect, validate and legitimise nursi
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