Nurse Practitioner Candidacy Program Funding guidelines and application
Contents Western Australian Nurse Practitioner Candidacy Program (WA-NPCP)... 2 Criteria for application... 4 Basis of priority... 4 Nurse practitioner candidate financial assistance package... 6 Managing a nurse practitioner candidate position... 7 Health service:... 9 NP candidate:... 9 Scholarships... 9 Application for funding... 10 1
Western Australian Nurse Practitioner Candidacy Program (WA-NPCP) The Department of Health (WA Health) Western Australian (WA) is seeking applications from health services to introduce and integrate sustainable Nurse Practitioner (NP) models across the WA Health System. A Western Australian Nurse Practitioner Candidacy Program (WA- NPCP) aims to support the formation of a critical mass of NP service models. Funding will be directed to public health services to progressively deliver cohorts of NPs in select clinical areas that are aligned with key National Hospital and Health Reform agendas. This document provides the rationale and framework for this initiative, selection criteria for funding of services, funding deliverables and requirements for support and endorsement of applications. The WA-NPCP provides financial assistance to public health services seeking to operationalise NP models of care. This assistance supports registered nurses (RNs) educational and clinical preparation requirements that lead to NP endorsement with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA). Increasing NP models of care across WA Health aligns with WA Health s objective of changing the way it delivers care under the WA Health Clinical Services Framework 2010-2020. The aim is to ensure greater numbers of patients receive timely, quality care closer to home. NP models of care also potentially increase successful integration with primary health care providers. Developing NP candidacy programs to foster the attainment of a critical mass of NPs have been shown in other Australian states to be effective, in both developing viable NP practice models across health systems, as well as delivering a significant number of RNs successfully prepared for endorsement with the NMBA in a timely fashion. This approach also creates opportunities for the sharing of resources, reduced duplication of efforts and the rapid building of capacity for candidates to be supervised by NPs. The funding model aims to support the growth and development of NPs in the Public Sector, through provision of scholarships and funding for the NP candidate s clinical experience. Applications for funding must be made using the WA-NPCP application template. 2
Diagram 1: Diagrammatic representation of a nurse practitioner candidacy program 3
Criteria for application Western Australian public health services: o Metropolitan o Regional o Rural and remote. Priority contracted services/organisations will be considered for funding to implement a Nurse Practitioner Candidacy (NPC) model on receipt of: o a letter of support, or o collaborative agreement with a public health service that demonstrates a record of implementing NP positions, or commitment to implementation of the role, and o commitment to allow for clinical placement within their organisation for Department of Health NP candidates (as applicable). Collaborative or consortia models are welcomed, providing the lead service and fund holder is an eligible service (as above). Incomplete submissions will not be accepted Basis of priority A limited number of health services can be supported. Successful applicants will be able to demonstrate the following criteria: commitment to develop and expand NP roles within the service, including appointment of at least one NP candidate in a targeted area within a nominated period demonstrated capacity to successfully manage workforce initiatives of this size/type and experience in service development alignment of proposed NP role and position in targeted areas within the organisation along with evidence of support for the initiative by executive management and specific clinical sponsors (who are considered clinical leaders) willingness and commitment to engage with stakeholders, consumers and the community in model development and implementation, and ongoing evaluation of the process evidence of clear project management roles and governance structures (including roles and responsibilities for all sites if a collaborative model) ability to provide project support when collaborating with other health services and participate in a NP collaborative in the course of developing the NP model (See Diagram 2). 4
Diagram 2: Example one: private/public collaboration for clinical experience in palliative care setting Diagram 3: Example two: WA Country Health Service (WACHS) cross regional collaboration clinical experience 5
Nurse practitioner candidate financial assistance package Health services successful in the application process will receive financial assistance for the implementation of a NP Candidacy Program. The health service is required to appoint a NP candidate and establish a NPC support program. The program will bridge the clinical requirements of the academic program with any specific skills and competencies that will be required in the service model in which the nurse will be employed as a NP. The package is to support: clinical supervision specific skills acquisition professional supervision/mentoring nurse leadership mentoring. The NP Candidate Financial Support package is a contribution towards the costs of providing clinical and professional supervision and support for a NP candidate in targeted clinical areas of service delivery. Funding is tagged to a specific individual who has been appointed. Like any other professional qualification or authorisation, being endorsed as a NP does not automatically result in a position being created. However, given the investment by a health service and the Nursing and Midwifery Office (NMO) in this program, a position should be created and advertised. Financial assistance will be in the form of an annual funding contribution of up to $10,000 through a budget transfer authority (BTA), intended to provide clinical and professional supervisory support for a NP candidate in a targeted clinical area. The health service will be required to apply for funding on an annual basis and the funding will be dependent on the NP candidate making progress towards endorsement as evidenced through the biannual program reports forwarded to the NMO. Applications must be made using the WA-NPCP application template available on www.nursing.wa.gov.au or included in this document. Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application. WA-NPCP model development funding is to be used for a number of activities, however the following are excluded: postgraduate tertiary education costs for NP candidates (see scholarships) patient related costs (patient care consumables, tests/investigations etc) that are included as current activity payments to health services costs directly associated with WA-NPCP application for endorsement as a NP case consultation and other activities considered part of regular health care process medical/clinical equipment refurbishment, capital works and general infrastructure. 6
Managing a nurse practitioner candidate position To facilitate health services engagement in supporting NP candidacy opportunities, and avoid the necessity to create a new position, an associated job description and an increase in FTE, it has been determined that providing a NP candidate with supernumery time - dedicated to professional supervision and skills acquisition - will eventuate in the NP candidate being equipped to meet the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Councils (ANMAC) rigorous standards for NP endorsement. Therefore, development of the Health Care Network approved code SNPC - supernumery nurse practitioner candidate is entered into RoStar at a site/service by nurse managers where candidates are employed. The new code - SNPC will be entered into Nursing Hours per Patient Day (NHpPD) to exclude the NP candidate s supernumery shifts being included in NHpPD numbers. Diagrams 4, 5, 6 and 7 below demonstrate how the nurse manager includes the candidate s supernumerary practice onto RoStar to exclude them from the NHpPD and how to check this. To exclude the nurse practitioner from the NHpPD, a designation code needs to be included in the administration unit by the nurse manager. Diagram 4: The SNPC code as included in the administration unit 7
By including SNPC code in the job code of the shift or hours the candidate has worked will exclude these hours from the NHpPD, but still capture the hours worked by the candidate for reporting purposes. Diagram 5: The SNPC code as included in job code Diagram 6: The SNPC code as it will appear on the roster By viewing the NHpPD automated program screen the NM can check to ensure the candidate has been excluded from nursing hours. Diagram 7: To check the NPC has been excluded from the NHpPD go to this screen 8
Reporting and evaluation of funded nurse practitioner candidacy program In addition to being linked to ongoing funding, it is crucial that health services evaluate their program to inform the future direction of the NPCP. Evidence should be garnered about NP models of care exploring the effectiveness of the role and methods identified, to ensure the sustainability and expansion of the role into new domains. The information will inform state-wide application relevance and transference of NP models of care. Health service: Evaluation of the program should include but not be limited to the following: overview of the program plans to date overview of the candidate s progress in line with health services strategic plans satisfaction of clinical support and development supervisors/mentors with program outline the uptake of the model / impact of the NP role within the health service. NP candidate: Evaluation of the program from the candidate s perspective may include, but not be limited to, the following: satisfaction with the clinical support and development received overview of progress in line with ANMAC National competencies leading to endorsement outline the uptake of the model/impact of the candidate s role within the health service identify how the role can be expanded in areas other than an acute care setting. The submission of these two evaluation reports should be independent of the other. Scholarships Funds for registered nurses undertaking courses leading to endorsement as a NP are offered through the Nursing and Midwifery Office Western Australia on an annual basis. Information regarding scholarship funding is available via the WA Nursing and Midwifery website 9
Application for funding Application is made by the health service, NOT the candidate. Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application within four (4) weeks of submission. Health Service Key contact for submission - Full name Position/Title Postal address Post code Telephone Number E-mail Targeted Area - Clinical Specialty Complete separate application for each area/specialty Service Service Service Overview of proposed model Briefly describe the proposed model of care that a Nurse Practitioner role will support. a. What specific service gaps does the proposed model and specific Nurse Practitioner role address? b. How does this align with relevant key strategy or policy directions? 10
Specific Department of Health selection criteria Provide summarised information that demonstrates the organisation s capacity to successfully manage workforce initiatives of this size or type, or previous experience in service development initiatives. 1. Provide brief information about the organisation s commitment to developing and expanding Nurse Practitioner services (to date and current). Please include appointment of Nurse Practitioner Candidate in targeted area or specialty. 2. Will the service be seeking a second Nurse Practitioner Candidate support package for the same area/specialty? 3. Describe the level of support from both executive level and the specific clinical sponsors (who are considered clinical leaders in area), and their roles within the organisation for this initiative. 4. Describe the extent that your organisation is committed to collaborating with other health services or organisations for cross institutional collaboration in developing the Nurse Practitioner model. 5. Briefly describe the processes that will be used (existing or new) to engage stakeholders, consumers and the community in model development. 11
6. Describe how you will support the appointed candidate or endorsed Nurse Practitioner to manage any barriers to practice and ensuring the model remains responsive to the needs of the organisation and its clients. a. If your organisation utilises a steering committee for this purpose, a copy of the Terms of Reference describing membership and frequency of meetings would be a highly valued additional attachment. 7. Describe the proposed governance arrangements, including project management roles and governance structures (including roles and responsibilities for all sites if collaborative model). An example would be a Memorandum of Understanding. 8. If a collaborative model, the details of all collaborating sites and evidence of the agreement for all sites must be provided. Any other information in support of this application. 12
Required attachments Letter of support (collaboration agreement) from public health service employing Nurse Practitioner Candidate Chief Executive Officer of health services involved are required to sign forms Declaration by health service In submitting this application, the signatory to the application confirms having read the application and declares that the information contained in the application, including all attachments, is to the best of their knowledge true accurate and complete in all material particulars. Name Signature Date Submission of application Please mark application: Attention Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer Submit: via nursingwa@health.wa.gov.au or Nursing and Midwifery Office Department of Health PO Box 8172 Perth Business Centre WA 6849 13
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This document can be made available in alternative formats on request for a person with a disability. Department of Health 2014