Dr Brendan O’Shea discusses challenges and alternatives with former IGPNEA chair Rita Pender
Rita Pender has not too long ago stepped down as IGPNEA Chair to grow to be interim Director of Nursing Schooling inside the Affiliation and can proceed as Lead for GP Nursing on the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Eire, inside NMBI’s (Pilot) Skilled Competency Scheme.
In dialogue with Dr Brendan O’Shea, she describes the panorama of Group Nursing, significantly GP Nursing, together with the challenges and alternatives, that are essential for the expansion of GP Groups, all through the Irish well being system.
Rita notes that, because of an ageing inhabitants and Sláintecare coverage, her present function is very well timed.
Rita Pender. Pic: Dr Brendan O’Shea
She highlights a scarcity of not less than 600 Public Well being Nursing positions, which impacts GPNs in affected communities. As considered one of 37 Nursing Sub Self-discipline Leads within the NMBI Pilot CPD scheme, she leads 16 GPNs trialing the NMBI competence software for recording of a range high-quality postgraduate studying.
By 2030, NMBI goals to make this CPD necessary for all registered nurses and midwives, which can considerably have an effect on observe for each GPN’s and normal practices.
Rita has greater than 30 years of expertise as a Registered Common Nurse, Registered Midwife, Public Well being Nurse, and Common Follow Nurse. Her profession contains positions as a GP Nurse with Dr Des Cody and Dr Andrew Cody in Tallaght, Dr Jim McCarthy, and Dr Anthony McCusker in Clondalkin.
She later retrained as a Public Well being Nurse, and labored on this function for over seven years earlier than returning to normal observe nursing. Rita subsequently labored in her house county of Kildare, then on the UCD Coombe Household Follow and Rialto Medical Centre Hospital, (each positioned in Dublin 8).
She says that GP Nursing provides all kinds of affected person interactions and a particular degree of mutual belief and continuity inside GP groups, which she considers distinctive inside the well being service.
‘I’m enthusiastic when encouraging youthful nurses to contemplate normal observe, a rising nursing specialty that gives various affected person interactions and alternatives for group influence, though not as but a recognised subdivision with the NMBI.’ The ESRI report (June 25) initiatives that GPN positions in Eire might want to improve by 33 per cent to 38 per cent to satisfy future demand by way of 2040.
‘Girls’s Well being provides particularly rewarding care, as sufferers belief GPNs and sometimes share their considerations simply and overtly. This enables for holistic care and precious alternatives to establish outstanding points throughout screening, antenatal and post-natal visits. With acceptable instructional help, Common Follow Nurses (GPNs) can provide vital worth to normal observe, together with these aiming to succeed in their full potential as Superior Nurse Practitioners.’
‘An issue for my youthful colleagues nevertheless is the persevering with and largely complete absence for alternatives for profession development inside GP Nursing. Whereas a small and rising variety of my very own colleagues are establishing as Superior Nurse Practitioners in a spread of areas of care, for essentially the most half there isn’t any profession pathway or development for many GPNs. An essential job of labor requires to be undertaken by the IGPNEA, the ICGP, the related Unions (IMNO/IMO) and the HSE to handle this.
The persistent challenges surrounding the recruitment and retention of Public Well being Nurses are an rising concern inside Main Care
With good dedication, the options listed here are apparent. Acknowledging GPN’s phrases and situations in alignment with their HSE colleagues, with an emolument directed to the observe by way of PCRS, may function a place to begin. Equally, recognising the attainment of an MSc or PhD qualification in the identical manner may be thought of acceptable. Lastly, recognising and virtually supporting GPNs CPD, in accordance with the NMBI can also be an apparent and more and more essential step to take, if we want to entice numbers of youthful colleagues into what’s in any other case a difficult, vibrant and really rewarding space of nursing.’
Gaps in Public Well being Nursing
The persistent challenges surrounding the recruitment and retention of Public Well being Nurses are an rising concern inside Main Care. When a PHN emptiness stays unfilled in a group, this instantly impacts GPs, and significantly GPNs in neighbouring practices.
Two vital areas impacted by vacancies embrace advanced wound administration, and parental considerations concerning lack of childhood developmental assessments. In affected areas, these points result in a considerable variety of scientific queries, which usually grow to be the accountability of GPNs.
Whereas GPNs continuously take initiative by looking for steering and coaching from the IGPNEA, this association is lower than splendid.
In future…
Along with guiding and delivering on a top quality and proof primarily based system of CPD for GPNs as required by the NMBI, adequately supported by the HSE, Rita sees few limits to what GP Nurses can ship, with the help of GPs, the observe workforce and the broader well being system.
‘That is significantly essential if the well being system general continues to alter, in order that extra care is delivered on the group degree and usually observe, persevering with the very clear development established over the last 5 years. ‘Might you see GP nurses, significantly these with midwifery {qualifications} and expertise delivering Medical Termination of Being pregnant?’ I ask – ‘Completely,’ she replies. The present laws doesn’t embrace nurses; nevertheless, future amendments might allow their participation within the programme, and GPNs would be capable of ship it.
‘What about GPN supply of PeP and PreP (Submit Publicity Prophylaxis and Pre Publicity Prophylaxis) for homosexual males and for intercourse employees ?’ I ask. ‘That can also be completely doable. With the fitting coaching, skilled help from inside the observe and group pharmacies, and ample observe funding by way of the PCRS.’
‘Concerning the working relationship which the IGPNEA has with the ICGP, Rita observes that ‘this has actually delivered lots over the last 5 to 10 years, however there is a gigantic potential to ship much more.’
Specifically she highlights rising the quantity of multidisciplinary training in any respect ranges, with shared studying involving GPNs and GPs, (and equally between GPNs, Medical and Nursing Undergraduates, and GP Trainees).
‘Extra broadly, as Common Follow continues to develop in significance, within the context of the bigger well being system, and given the extent to which a lot of what we do usually observe is documented and measurable electronically, the scope for ongoing analysis, increasing our job descriptions, and ongoing training could be very thrilling.’
There are not any limits… 
