Nurse practitioners and medical practice: opposing forces or complementary contributions?
OBJECTIVE
The medical profession in Australia has expressed concern about the expansion of nursing practice into areas that are traditionally the domain of medicine. Particular apprehension is raised in relation to the prescription of medications. This paper will consider and critique the argument that the standard of care provided by a nurse practitioner would be of lesser quality than that provided by a medical practitioner.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the medical profession's opposition for nurse practitioner roles, there is little evidence suggesting that the quality of services offered by a nurse practitioner would be inferior.


CONCLUSIONS
Available evidence suggests that care and treatment from nurse practitioners in primary health care is equal to that provided by medical practitioners.
Elsom
Stephen
S
Centre for Psychiatric Nursing, University of Melbourne, Carlton, Victoria, Australia.
Happell
Brenda
B
Manias
Elizabeth
E
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D005194:Family Practice / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000193:education / Q000639:trends*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D019555:Physician-Nurse Relations; D055656:Prescriptions / Q000451:nursing*; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000639:trends*