Urgent care in Australia: Unblocking nurse practitioner capacity to address systemic access issues
Abstract
• Australia faces patient access challenges, in regional and rural areas, due to mandatory on-site doctor requirements. • Australian NPs are qualified, nationally regulated, autonomous practicing consistent with international advanced nursing standards. • International professional bodies support revising policies to enable NP-led access models, which have proven successful internationally. • Policy reform is critical to unlocking the full potential of the NP workforce and addressing healthcare system pressures in Australia and globally.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Nursing Roles and Practices
Nursing Education
Practice
and Leadership
Emergency and Acute Care Studies
Publication details
- Journal / source
- International Emergency Nursing
- Volume
- 85
- Pages
- 101741–101741
- Publication date
- 16 January 2026
- Language
- EN