Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are trained to be General Practitioners and can help fill the needs of Albertans by providing “timely and geographically feasible access” to care ensured by the Canada Health Act (Health Canada, 2010). NPs can manage the same number of patients as a family physician with similar outcomes, improved cost effectiveness and equal or better patient satisfaction.
What exactly is a Nurse Practitioner?
In Alberta, Nurse Practitioners are master’s or doctorally prepared health professionals (former registered nurses) who provide essential healthcare services such as primary care, outpatient clinic-based care, or hospital care. Nurse practitioners are completely independent health professionals and require no outside supervision of their practice. They bring a wealth of knowledge to provide high-quality care in a variety of settings.
What do Nurse Practitioners do and what services do they provide to the public?
Nurse practitioners provide fulsome medical care to clients and are responsible for their own practice. They assess, diagnose, treat and manage medical presentations the same way a physician does. They communicate with clients about health findings and diagnoses, further required testing and referral to other healthcare professionals including specialist physicians, and manage follow-up.
Nurse practitioners practice uniquely by viewing the health of the whole person, with emphasis on education, communication, and disease prevention. Nurse practitioners work in collaboration with their clients and other health-care providers to provide patient-centred care. They are able to work with clients across the age ranges and throughout the province.
Nurse Practitioners can help bend the cost curve in healthcare
Nurse practitioners are “in an optimal position to address existing and escalating health care inequities in the Canadian population through cost-effective and quality care provision.” (Archibald & Fraser, 2013). Instead of multiple short visits to address individual issues in a financially rewarding manner, NPs can spend more time with patients and address multiple issues more completely in one or two longer appointments..
Nurse Practitioners can increase access to primary care
Currently, one in four Albertans (both urban and rural) do not have access to primary care. They rely on episodic care from walk-in clinics, urgent care and emergency departments. General practitioners (both family physicians and nurse practitioners) quarterback primary care by offering consistent access to care, knowledge of previous medical interactions to reduce redundant testing and improve care, all while being more cost effective than a non-office-based visit. The quality and cost-effectiveness of nurse practitioners has been well established (Bauer, 2010).
Nurse practitioners are uniquely positioned to help fill the needs of Albertans by providing the “timely and geographically feasible access to adequate health care services” ensured by the Canada Health Act (Health Canada, 2010).
Who are the Nurse Practitioner Association of Alberta (NPAA)
As of May 2022, there are 750 NPs registered in Alberta
Nurse Practitioners are Masters and/or doctorate prepared health professionals, delivering comprehensive health care to Albertans of all ages..
Nurse Practitioners take the workload off of physicians with whom they collaborate by conducting comprehensive health assessments, treat and manage chronic illness, order and interpret diagnostic tests and prescribe medications.