Nurse Practitioner

What is a Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner?
Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioners (PHC NPS) are registered nurses, who are specialists in primary health care, who provide accessible, comprehensive, and effective care to clients of all ages. They are experienced nurses with additional nursing education which enables them to provide individuals, families, groups, and communities with health services in health promotion, disease and injury prevention, cure, rehabilitation and support. The NP is an advanced practice nurse, functioning within the full scope of nursing practice and as such is neither a second level physician nor a doctor's assistant.

Nurse Practitioner skills include the ability to:

• provide wellness care including health screening activities such as Pap smears and monitoring infant growth and development.
• diagnose and treat minor illnesses such as ear and bladder infections.
• diagnose and treat minor injuries such as sprains and lacerations.
• screen for the presence of chronic disease, such as diabetes.
• monitor people with stable chronic disease, such as hypertension.
• work collaboratively with family physicians and other members of the health care team.