Abstract:
The first private practice conducted, owned by and advertised as an authorised nurse practitioner
practice in Australia was established in February 2004. A mental health nurse practitioner
established the practice in a medical centre to provide counselling and mental health services
for individuals, couples and families. This paper discusses the first 18 months of operation and
considers the experience in the context of the small amount of published data, internationally,
related to nurse owned and run private practices in general, and nurse practitioner practices.
Tbe practical steps of setting up, reimbursement and meeting challenges, in particular, are
discussed. Diary entries and copies of emails were used as data through which the experience
was tracked. Tbe conclusion was reached that private practice as a nurse practitioner is
possible. Scope of practice and financial remuneration are limited by the current third party
reimbursement arrangements under Medicare and the lack of provision of PBS provider numbers
to nurse practitioners.
