Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Advanced Nurse Practitioners are educated to master’s degree level and have the competencies to be senior decision makers that undertake a comprehensive advanced physical and/or mental health assessment of patients with complex multiple healthcare needs.

They can interpret the results of multiple different assessments and investigations to make a diagnosis, and plan and deliver care.  As team leaders they can confidently and competently make ethical, evidence based decisions and interventions and use appropriate therapies when faced with complexity and assess and manage the risk associated with these decisions. The ANPs can prescribe and work with individuals to manage their medicines.

The recent Nursing Agreement envisages that, in tandem with the roll out of the Framework on Safe Staffing and Skill Mix, the number of Advance Nurse Practitioners should be increased, moving to a minimum of 2% of the nursing workforce.

As there is no health and social care professional equivalent of the role outlined above, it is not possible to provide a comparative figure.