Nurse Practitioners

Who are Nurse Practitioners?

Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are trained registered nurses with advanced education and more extensive clinical expertise. With postgraduate qualifications, they provide healthcare services for you and your whānau, offering care similar to that of a General Practitioner (GP or doctor).

What can a Nurse Practitioner do?

Nurse Practitioners provide a comprehensive range of healthcare services, including:

• Health Assessments: Detailed checks and evaluations
• Diagnosis and Treatment: Management of acute and chronic conditions like asthma, diabetes, and high blood pressure
• Prescribing Medications: Tailored to your individual needs
• Diagnostic Tests: Ordering and interpreting blood tests, X-rays, and more
• Preventative Care: Health screenings, vaccinations, and lifestyle counselling
• Women's Health: Contraception advice, reproductive health support, and smear tests
• Minor Procedures: Wound care, suturing, and removal of stitches
• Referrals: Connecting you with specialists if required

GP vs Nurse Practitioner – Is there a difference?

Nurse Practitioners provide the same services as GPs, with two exceptions: They cannot sign permanent injury claims or refer pregnant women for gestational dating scans. NPs are independent practitioners who do not require supervision from a GP.

While NPs and GPs share many responsibilities, their training paths differ. Nurse Practitioners are registered nurses with advanced education and clinical training, while GPs undergo extensive medical training and qualifications in medicine. Despite these differences, NPs and GPs are expertly skilled in delivering quality care in medical centres.

Like GPs, some Nurse Practitioners specialise in specific areas or may choose not to consult in certain fields. Check their bio under ‘our team’ or ask our friendly receptionists if you are unsure.

Why choose a Nurse Practitioner?

Nurse Practitioners are expertly skilled in delivering quality care in medical centres. NPs provide expert healthcare support to you and your whānau. Our focus is on providing patient-centred care and building strong relationships with you at all stages of life.

If your medical centre has a Nurse Practitioner, we encourage you to book with them. Especially if their appointment availability is faster than seeing your regular GP. Like when you see another GP in the practice where you are enrolled, our NP can access your medical records and consultation notes. This saves you time having to repeat information.

How to access our services

Make an appointment

Nurse Practitioners conduct standard 15-20 minute consultations, and the cost of seeing a Nurse Practitioner is the same as that of a General Practitioner. Please check your medical centre’s website for specific details on their fee schedule.

Book an appointment online or by contacting your chosen medical centre. Bookings can also be made using the patient portal. Most of our medical centres use The Doctors App, but check your medical centre's page if you are unsure.

Become an enrolled patient

Not enrolled with us? It is proven that seeing a consistent GP and clinical team gives you the best health outcomes, ensuring you can focus on what matters most to you.

We recommend enrolling with us as a patient before booking an appointment, to avoid incurring casual patient fees, and to ensure your medical records have been transferred from your previous medical practice before your arrival.

Enrol With Us Today