ADVANCED NURSE PRACTITIONER
We now have Advanced Nurse Practitioners on our team
The role of the Advanced Nurse Practitioner was developed in 2001 as a means to assist the NHS in A+E and walk in Centres by providing staff who were able to assess, diagnoses and treat illnesses and injuries. In 2003 it became mandatory that this qualification was recorded and included advanced assessment and non medical prescribing so that the ANP had more skills and was able to work independently of a DR.
The role has expanded over the years and now GP surgeries are using ANP‘s to provide more appointments and access to care for the patient. All ANP‘s are highly trained and experienced nurses who have completed many years of training and who are able to offer a service very similar to that of a GP. Some of the things an ANP can help with are:
* assessing, diagnosing and treating illness and injury
* medication reviews and requests
* ordering and interpreting tests and investigations
* organising referrals
* Health advice and promotion.
Some ANPs have specific areas of expertise but you can expect a high level of care and attention from an ANP as much as you would expect from any health care professional. It is important to note that the ANP role differs from that of a practice Nurse and are able to prescribe medication.
Members of the team are:
Chelsea Blake
Advanced Nurse Practitioner
PRACTICE NURSE
Practice nurses are qualified and registered nurses. They can help with health issues such as family planning, healthy living advice, blood pressure checks and dressings. The practice nurses run clinics for long-term health conditions such as asthma or diabetes, minor ailment clinics and carry out cervical smears.
