Working relationships between practice nurses and general practitioners in Australia: a critical analysis

Abstract

Working relationships between practice nurses and general practitioners in Australia: a critical analysisThis research set out to explore shared care between practice nurses and general practitioners in South Australia. Nine practice nurses (PNs), two nurse practitioners and 10 general practitioners (GPs) were interviewed in urban and rural practices in order to build up a picture of how GPs and PNs worked together. The interviews showed that shared care was not a reality, although practice nurses were very busy, enjoyed their work and were no longer performing as receptionists doing a little nursing on the side, but as highly skilled nurses. Questions that emerged included whether or not practice nurses are specialists or generalists; their relationship to nurse practitioners; the extent to which the doctor-nurse game explains the relationship between practice nurses and general practitioners; and the potential for expanding the practice nurse role.

An integrative review of facilitators and barriers influencing collaboration and teamwork between general practitioners and nurses working in general practice

“…Paradoxically, some doctors viewed nurses in general practice as a resource and complementary to their services, but did not accept the nurse as a peer with whom to engage in shared care (Willis et al . , Pullon ).…”

A qualitative study of collaboration in general practice: understanding the general practice nurse's role

“…While older literature has described a handmaiden type role (Willis et al . ), more recent literature presents the general practice nurse in an expanded and professional role (Pascoe et al . , Mills & Fitzgerald , Halcomb et al .…”

Nursing in general practice: organizational possibilities for decision latitude, created skill, social support and identity derived from role

“…Indeed, nursing has been described based on inter‐personal and professional relationships, with these having a strong effect on how nurses carry out and feel about their work (Cochrane & Jowett 1994, Tovey & Adams 1999). It has been suggested that the structural composition of general practice with the nurse as ‘client partner to medicine’ has the potential to tarnish how nurses identify with their role (Willis et al. 2000, Timmins & Mccabe 2005a,b).…”