According to Halcomb, Davidson and Patterson (2008). Australian general practice nurses are key practitioners in primary health care. Yet, their leadership and management functions have been invisible. Although, nurses have been functioning discreetly for many years over the last five years their role has evolved significantly. The General Practice Nurse Conferences indicated that general practice nurses undertake very specific roles, such as, managing chronic disease clinics or pap smear clinics or undertaking health assessments. However, there has been considerable resistance from the Australian medical organisation regarding nurses practicing independently such as nurse practitioners. Consequently, nurses are not strategically placed in
