Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are graduate prepared advanced practice nurses who have successfully completed a written licencing exam which allows them to practice autonomously and independently. In Canada, NPs are licensed by jurisdictional nursing regulators.
Nurse Practitioners provide direct care to patients to diagnose and manage disease/illness, prescribe medications, order/interpret laboratory/diagnostic tests, perform medical procedures, and initiate referrals to specialists and other members of the healthcare team. NPs collaborate with other healthcare providers to provide comprehensive care. NPs are an invaluable member of the healthcare team.
Nurse Practitioners provide a range of health services to individuals of all ages, families, communities and groups, with a focus on promoting health and preventing illness.
Nurse Practitioners provide care in diverse healthcare settings; from community based clinics, speciality clinics, acute care settings, urgent care clinics, emergency room, correctional institutions, military clinics, IWK Children’s and Women’s Health and nursing homes.
Nurse Practitioners are a recognized solution to improving timely public access to quality healthcare. NPs complement traditional hospital and physician services and can help alleviate current gaps and waiting times in the healthcare system, especially in rural and remote communities.” (Canadian Nurse Practitioner Initiative, 2005).