A group of nurses in Geraldton is the first to participate in a new program designed to expand their medical capabilities so they can better service regional areas.
The 12-month Remote Isolated Practice Endorsed pilot program will qualify 13 nurses to assess and treat patients in areas where access to a medical officer is limited.
Nurses from Exmouth and Carnarvon have also enrolled.
Marie Norris said there were many challenges providing medical care to people in regional areas compared to the city.
“We’re basically providing nurses with additional skills in supportive environments,” she said.
“The level of care that they can then provide is enhanced as well.
“It improves satisfaction of the nurses as well as the patients because they’re getting better quality care in the communities.
“It allows them to provide more timely services, so in some instances it will reduce the requirement for patients to have to travel because the nurses will be able to manage them in those locations.
“It will alleviate some of the on-call pressures for the doctors who get called upon quite extensively.”