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October 21, 2024
Upskill nurses, not physician associates
Atereano Mateariki
Posted On October 21, 2024
Download AudioThe Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) says nurses need to be upskilled to fill health workforce gaps, not non-licensed workers.
Last week, several medical groups, including the ASMS, Resident Doctors Association, and others, wrote a joint letter to Health Minister Shane Reti, urging him to reconsider plans to introduce physician associates in New Zealand.
Physician associates are healthcare professionals who work alongside doctors to diagnose and treat patients, perform physical exams, interpret tests, and provide medical care, but they are not licensed to practice independently.
RACS deputy chair Sharon English says nurses are already formally trained in the healthcare system and support a multidisciplinary team approach.
“I think we need to be working with our nursing colleagues to push their roles forward, because where they’ve been taken into they’re already nurses working similarly, and I’m not understanding why they’re not promoting those nurses more,” says English.
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