Joondalup Health Campus (JHC) has appointed two permanent nurse practitioners to its stroke ward, launching a Western Australia-first stroke care model that expands specialist support for patients in Perth's northern suburbs.
New Roles Enhance Clinical Expertise
The two nurse practitioners, Mercy Chimurambi and a colleague, bring advanced clinical skills to the stroke ward. In Australia, nurse practitioners must complete a master's degree, at least 5,000 hours of advanced clinical practice, and be endorsed by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. Their role bridges nursing and medical care, streamlining patient management and coordination.
Professor Kevin O'Connor, JHC deputy director of medical services, called the move a landmark moment. "This is an important milestone for JHC and the local community that will support early diagnosis, secondary prevention and assist with stroke education and research," he said. "The introduction of NP-led outpatient clinics will also improve access to timely follow-up care and help reduce delays for patients awaiting outpatient review."
Impact on Stroke Care
According to the Stroke Foundation, around 46,000 stroke events occur annually in Australia, equating to about one stroke every 11 minutes. The new model aims to improve patient outcomes by providing more timely clinical expertise.
Mercy Chimurambi highlighted the benefits: "We provide an important link between nursing and medical care, helping to streamline patient management and co-ordinate their care more efficiently. In a fast-paced acute environment, we can help with complex decision-making, improve workflow, and ensure that treatment aligns with evidence-based practice. Stroke patients often require highly specialised and time-critical care, so being able to contribute at an advanced practice level and help shape the future of stroke services is both a privilege and a responsibility."
Comprehensive Stroke Services
JHC's stroke services include an inpatient ward, outpatient clinics for medical and allied health appointments, on-site CT and MRI scans, and rehabilitation services through a co-located functional training unit and gymnasium. Earlier this year, JHC was one of 15 health services nationwide to receive Australian Stroke Alliance funding to appoint an after-hours clinical nurse co-ordinator for emergency department stroke care and improved patient transfers for rehabilitation.
