Lightfoot R, Davis P, Finn E, Lay-Yee R, Gribben B, McAvoy B
Centre for Health Services Research and Policy, University of Auckland.
N Z Med J. 1999 Feb 12;112(1081):26-8.
To describe the personal characteristics, working conditions, clinical activities and professional development of a representative sample of practice nurses in the Waikato during the period 1991-1992.
The data are from a survey of practice nurses drawn from a larger study of general practice carried out in the Waikato (the WaiMedCa Study). Eighty-nine percent of the 107 practices in the region participated in the study. The practice nurse survey was carried out on the 189 nurses working in these practices. Of these 149 replied, representing a response rate of 79%.
On average, there was one nurse for each solo practice and two in most other practices. Only two practices--both solo--did not employ a nurse. Practice nurses were female and aged between 30 and 50. While only one-third had received a postgraduate qualification, two-thirds had been to recent professional development courses. The majority had worked as a practice nurse for between one and ten years. Nurses averaged just under 15 telephone contacts a day and 28 face-to-face contacts a week. Nurses' workload comprised general measurements and assessments, monitoring and surveillance procedures (such as diabetes, asthma and child development), and counselling and women's health activities.
Practice nurses are an accepted and essential part of primary health care in New Zealand. However, their potential is probably underdeveloped and they could be more fully utilised for a wider range of nursing functions.
描述1991 - 1992年期间怀卡托地区执业护士代表性样本的个人特征、工作条件、临床活动及职业发展情况。
数据来自于对怀卡托地区全科医疗的一项更大规模研究中抽取的执业护士调查（怀卡托医疗研究）。该地区107家诊所中有89%参与了此项研究。对这些诊所中工作的189名护士进行了执业护士调查。其中149人回复，回复率为79%。
平均而言，每个单人执业诊所配备一名护士，大多数其他诊所配备两名护士。只有两家诊所（均为单人执业诊所）未雇佣护士。执业护士为女性，年龄在30至50岁之间。虽然只有三分之一的人获得了研究生学历，但三分之二的人参加过近期的专业发展课程。大多数人担任执业护士的时间在一至十年之间。护士平均每天有近15次电话联系，每周有28次面对面接触。护士的工作量包括一般测量和评估、监测程序（如糖尿病、哮喘和儿童发育）以及咨询和妇女健康活动。
执业护士是新西兰初级卫生保健中被认可的重要组成部分。然而，他们的潜力可能尚未得到充分开发，并且可以在更广泛的护理职能中得到更充分的利用。
