Ms Anne Garrahy1, Mr Chris O’Donnell, Adjunct Professor Shelley Nowlan
1Queensland Health
In mid-2020 nurse practitioners in Queensland were granted temporary legislative authority to conduct a capacity assessment of a person making an advance health directive so that community members would have enhanced access to end of life care planning support during the COVID-19 pandemic.
An advance health directive (AHD) is a legal document that allows a person (the ‘principal’) to give directions about their future health care, make their wishes known about the treatment they want, and allows the principal to appoint someone they trust to make decisions about health care on their behalf. Previously in Queensland only doctors had legal authority to sign the AHD certificate stating that, at the time of making the AHD, the principal appeared to have the capacity to make it.
During 2021 the Queensland Office of the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer undertook broad consultation around a proposal to make the temporary legislative authority permanent. The Powers of Attorney Act 1998 (Qld) was amended in November 2021 to permanently authorise Queensland’s nurse practitioners to conduct a capacity assessment of the principal and sign the AHD certificate. This initiative has introduced a legislated expanded scope of practice for Queensland’s nurse practitioners and is unique across Australian jurisdictions.
This initiative has enhanced access to end of life care planning in rural and remote Queensland, and leads the way to broader recognition of the advanced scope of practice of nurse practitioners across Australia.
Biography:
Anne Garrahy has worked in senior nursing roles in rural, remote and regional areas of Queensland. Anne has post graduate qualifications in nursing education and law, and has completed a Masters of Health Management. Anne is currently working in the role of Assistant Director of Nursing, Office of the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Clinical Excellence Queensland, Queensland Health. Anne.garrahy@health.qld.gov.au