Have you ever thought about becoming a Nurse Practitioner? It’s a highly skilled role that involves advanced education and clinic training, allowing Nurse Practitioners (NPs) legal authority to practice above the level of a Registered Nurse (RN).
Sarah Bothamley, Nurse Practitioner Coordinator at Pegasus Health, says her role is dynamic within 24 Hour Surgery.
“We take on more of a biopsychosocial model and can draw on our nursing skills to do a bit more for the patient ourselves instead of delegating tasks to RNs,” Sarah says.
Sarah has a background in Emergency but became interested in becoming an NP after a fellow NP inspired her to become one. She then decided to advance her education and officially registered as an NP in November 2020.
“Since then, my career has grown exponentially, in part thanks to the opportunities that have been presented to me from people within Pegasus Health,” she says.
To become a Nurse Practitioner, you must be a Registered Nurse and complete a Master of Nursing following a predetermined pathway that includes papers on advanced assessment, diagnostics and therapeutics, and prescribing.
You must also pass a ‘viva’ set by the Nursing Council, as well as a portfolio demonstrating expert level competence in four areas: advanced clinical practice, leadership, facilitation of education, and evidence of research and development.
“We are fortunate to have the support from Pegasus Health to have two Nurse Practitioner interns this year,” says Sarah.
The Ministry of Health has funding for some interns to pay for two supernumerary days a week during semesters. Pegasus Health also adds to the funding to allow NP interns to be completely supernumerary for their intern year.