Ipna Irish Practice Nurses Association

there are approximately 1,800 practice nurses in ireland who are carrying out immunisations, screening, health promotion, phlebotomy, weight management, smoking cessation, women’s health, men’s health, antenatal & postnatal care, wound management, travel vaccinations, cryotherapy, counselling, stress management, ear care, methadone maintenance; management of chronic conditions such as asthma, copd, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, excema; as well as clinical audits, practice protocols, cpr training, etc. 211 practice nurses are accredited as clinical nurse specialists (cns), 2 have been accredited as registered advanced nurse practitioners (ranp) in primary care and 22 practice nurses are now registered nurse prescribers (figures correct 2014). the positive impact of practice nursing on patient care is regularly noted and has been shown in audits and research. with the department of health & children’s continuing emphasis and strategic plans to move many services out of hospitals an