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Summer 2003

What is the Role of the Principal Nursing Advisor?

The Office of the Principal Nurse Advisor is the primary source of nursing advice to the Department of Health and Human Services and the State Government.

By Fiona Stoker, Principal Nurse Advisor.

I have been Principal Nurse Advisor since January 2001. During that time the role has expanded significantly to meet the increasing demands of the profession. It is an enormous challenge, not only to stay ahead of what is happening within Tasmania, but also to keep a watching brief on developments across Australia and internationally. However, I have excellent support within my office, across the agency and across the State.

I work collaboratively with the Agency's Divisional Directors and have been developing the links between nursing in the public, private and aged care sectors as well as the Tasmanian School of Nursing and the Nursing Board of Tasmania. I meet monthly with the public sector Directors of Nursing as the Agency Nurse Reference Group. I am also a member of several national committees and have been nominated to two NHMRC committees, Health Advisory and the Australian Health Ethics Committee.

Current projects which involve the Principal Nurse Advisor's Office include; Reentry to Practice; Partners in Health Preceptor project; Nurse Labour force Survey; Careers Advice and promotion and marketing of nursing in Tasmania; developing and updating the website and the prevention and management of aggression in nursing. If you would like any further information about my role please contact me either by email at fiona.stoker@ dhhs.tas.gov.au or by phoning my office on 6233 3133.