Hello

jnette, ASN, EMT-I · Feb 10, 2004

just to say hello to all existing members of allnurses.com.
as this is my first thread i would like to ask current thought on the new 'first contact practitioner' role being started in the uk. any thoughts?

hello !

can't help you out with your questions, but i can welcome you to the bulletin board ! welcome to allnurses !

karenG · Feb 11, 2004

Just to say hello to all existing members of allnurses.com.
As this is my first thread I would like to ask current thought on the new 'first contact practitioner' role being started in the UK. Any thoughts?

first contact practitioner....... :angryfire :angryfire dont even get me started!! someone had a really good idea.. its called a nurse practitioner and the role started in the states in 1967! we have a nurse practitioner programme here- since 1991 and there about 4000 of us who have completed the RCN programme. so what happens...........? someone at the NHSU decided that to increase patient choice and access, lets invent a 'first contact practitioner', someone who can be the first contact for patients, who can take a history, diagnose and refer on as needed. oh and anyone can do it.. paramedics, pharmacists, physios... even nurses!! Excuse me.. but what do I do??? They have taken the NP degree and tweaked it a bit.. taken out the pharmacology.. as yet FCP's are not prescribers. I am (believe it or not) heavily involved in First contact as my PCT is a blue print site ( and my boss would kill me if she read this as I am not being PC!) and it makes me weep.

As a nurse practitioner I am fighting for recognition of my role and the work i have had to do to achieve it. I want the NMC to recognise my role.. to protect the title. this for the protection of patients as much as anything!!

It saddens me that there is yet another role being thrown into the pot. And will they have the tools to do the job? without prescribing rights it becomes problematic. I have problems and I am an extended/supplementary prescriber. I have referral problems, cant order x-rays or sign sick notes. will the FPC's be able to do this......... agenda for change suggests we should be able to. Have to say that from where i sit... first contact is full of problems. Also what grade are they going to paid at??? rumour has it that it will be an I grade. might as well go and work in sainsburys now!!

ahhhhhhhhhhh sorry for the vent!

Karen

sheilab · Mar 23, 2004

we have just started first contact programme along with evercare and continuing care the only ones i see profiting from this will be the doctors when people ask for house calls they will be seeing a nurse instead

Mike RGN · Mar 24, 2004

ahhhhhhhhhhh sorry for the vent!
Karen

Don't apologise, what your saying is true. Many roles are being diluted or re-invented, I assume it makes the boffins look like they are driving the NHS, or health care where ever it happens forward, where as we know, we are doing the driving, but being put off by the back seat drivers

Mike RGN · Mar 24, 2004

Just to say hello to all existing members of allnurses.com.
As this is my first thread I would like to ask current thought on the new 'first contact practitioner' role being started in the UK. Any thoughts?

Forgot in my previous post

Welcome to your good self Uk studentnurse

uk_nurse · Mar 24, 2004

welcome uk student nurse. Have fun

suehp · Mar 24, 2004

welcome uk student nurse. :)

Shapeless · Mar 24, 2004

Welcome to the site student :balloons:

Great topic to pick as a first post, and for my two penneth I agree with Mike lots of roles are being diluted and reinvented . I think sometimes the boffins are running scared, just think what nurses could do if we had free reign. I'm sure the NHS wouldn't be in such a state if we had.

Have fun :)

sharon-sp · Apr 2, 2004

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first contact practitioner....... :angryfire :angryfire dont even get me started!! someone had a really good idea.. its called a nurse practitioner and the role started in the states in 1967! we have a nurse practitioner programme here- since 1991 and there about 4000 of us who have completed the RCN programme. so what happens...........? someone at the NHSU decided that to increase patient choice and access, lets invent a 'first contact practitioner', someone who can be the first contact for patients, who can take a history, diagnose and refer on as needed. oh and anyone can do it.. paramedics, pharmacists, physios... even nurses!! Excuse me.. but what do I do??? They have taken the NP degree and tweaked it a bit.. taken out the pharmacology.. as yet FCP's are not prescribers. I am (believe it or not) heavily involved in First contact as my PCT is a blue print site ( and my boss would kill me if she read this as I am not being PC!) and it makes me weep.
As a nurse practitioner I am fighting for recognition of my role and the work i have had to do to achieve it. I want the NMC to recognise my role.. to protect the title. this for the protection of patients as much as anything!!
It saddens me that there is yet another role being thrown into the pot. And will they have the tools to do the job? without prescribing rights it becomes problematic. I have problems and I am an extended/supplementary prescriber. I have referral problems, cant order x-rays or sign sick notes. will the FPC's be able to do this......... agenda for change suggests we should be able to. Have to say that from where i sit... first contact is full of problems. Also what grade are they going to paid at??? rumour has it that it will be an I grade. might as well go and work in sainsburys now!!
ahhhhhhhhhhh sorry for the vent!
Karen

Hi Karen,

I am a NP grad student in the USA, and I agree with you on your frustrations. It is certainly cutting corners from every angle, and a fight to hold onto one's earned priviledges. It deeply bothers me that it is become so hard to provide quality care, when so many of us truly want to. Money/gov't control has become the forerunner, and we are left holding that melting "pot" they created, and told to provide quality care, or be fined. I have been an RN since 1988, and unfortunately watched the field deteriorate. Preservation, and rebuilding are going to be one of the greatest challenges to come. The more I am exposed to the issues on the graduate level of my education, the greater my dismay. If you don't mind, may I ask what field/area do you practice in, and what does PCT stand for? Have been browsing the threads only a few months now, alot of new info for me.

sharon-sp · Apr 2, 2004

Hi UK student nurse, welcome to site. I too am fairly new to threads, found to be alot of stimulating info, very addicting in some way as so many areas to browse. :rolleyes:

Sharon-sp.