{{For, the television series, RAN Remote Area Nurse (television) A Remote Area Nurse (RAN) is a nurse working in remote or isolated areas of

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

, where population density and remoteness preclude the provision of permanent doctors. A RAN may be employed in various settings, including remote indigenous communities, mine sites and remote townships.

Scope of practice

RANs are considered generalists within their practice. They are expected to be able competently to assess and provide clinical care across the life spectrum, from birth through to death, and be able to assess and treat a wide range of medical conditions effectively. As a RAN's work location may be isolated and remote, and may have limited or non-existent medical support, they often assume an extended scope of practice. Skills may include advanced life support (ALS), prescription and supply of medicines,

suturing A surgical suture, also known as a stitch or stitches, is a medical device used to hold Tissue (biology), body tissues together and approximate wound edges after an injury or surgery. Application generally involves using a Sewing needle, needle w ...

, child birth, nurse immuniser status, performing

x-ray An X-ray (also known in many languages as Röntgen radiation) is a form of high-energy electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength shorter than those of ultraviolet rays and longer than those of gamma rays. Roughly, X-rays have a wavelength ran ...

s, provision of

ambulance An ambulance is a medically-equipped vehicle used to transport patients to treatment facilities, such as hospitals. Typically, out-of-hospital medical care is provided to the patient during the transport. Ambulances are used to respond to ...

services including receiving emergency calls (000), and airstrip preparation. Furthermore, when clinical situations are dire, a RAN may be able to perform emergency life saving manoeuvres, usually reserved for medical practitioners, such as laryngeal mask airway (LMA) insertion,

intubation Intubation (sometimes entubation) is a medical procedure involving the insertion of a tube into the body. Most commonly, intubation refers to tracheal intubation, a procedure during which an endotracheal tube is inserted into the trachea to supp ...

, needle

cricothyroidotomy A cricothyrotomy (also called cricothyroidotomy or laryngotomy) is a medical procedure where an opening is created through the cricothyroid membrane to establish a patent airway during emergency airway management. Cricothyrotomy is primarily per ...

, needle chest decompression and chest drain insertion. In place of a medical practitioner, a RAN generally operates within predefined standard operating orders, such as those contained within the remote primary healthcare manuals (CARPA). Nursing in Australia Community nursing