Independent Nurse (Outpatients)

An Independent Nurse can be termed a Consultant Alternative, who works independently of a Consultant team

They receive direct referrals for a first outpatient attendance and carry out follow up attendances. Direct referrals may come from any source for which a consultant would have a referral.

They have and manage their own patient lists and run their own clinics.

The Independent Nurse is the responsible healthcare professional.

All the activity carried out by the Independent Nurse is to be identified as nurse-led activity. See Consultant Code

Note that this excludes:-

  Patients attending a consultant clinic or GP holding clinics in their own right

  Patients attending a midwife clinic

  Ward Attenders

The Nurse's Registration Number will be used to identify the Independent Nurse. The current procedure for the insertion/amendment/deletion of the Consultant Codes on Reference Data (for Validation at Source) will be used to store Independent Nurses' Registration Numbers on Reference Data.