The revised remote area nurse model of consultation

Aim: The aim of this revision was to update the Remote Area Nurse (RAN) Model of Consultation (MoC) and was prompted by publication of the National Rural and Remote Nursing Generalist Framework (2013-2018), shifts in RAN workforce patterns, community health patterns and technology use.

Context: Rural and remote residents face higher rates of hospitalisations, deaths and poorer access to health care with a significant burden of avoidable fatal conditions among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Health care is mostly provided by RANs and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners (ATSIHPs), addressing diverse health needs, a mobile population and navigating cross-cultural situations. Despite challenges such as clinician shortages, RANs manage a significant portion of non-emergency consultations. The RAN MoC was developed to ensure comprehensive, systematic and person-centred care and to mitigate risk to the client, the nurse and the health service.

Approach: The 11 expert panel members, all authors, revised the RAN MoC through a series of Microsoft Teams meetings, one face-to-face meeting and an exchange of emails. The principles were reorganised under the four domains of the National Rural and Remote Nursing Generalist Framework and mapped against the National Safety and Quality Primary and Community Health Care Standards.

Conclusion: The revised RAN MoC is designed to provide evidence based culturally informed care, standardise RAN consultation best practice and improve the health outcomes of their clients. With the increased turnover and number of nurses 'new' to remote, more innovative approaches to education and dissemination of the model is necessary.