Nurse practitioners: What you should know

In general, NPs can't perform any invasive surgery that involves deep sedation or general anesthesia.

Patients appear to be happy with the care they receive from NPs. The results of a recent survey bear this out. "Canadians who responded to the survey indicated that they were very happy and very comfortable accessing services from a nurse practitioner," says Madge Applin, director of patient safety and risk management for the Northern Lights Health Region in Fort McMurray, Alta.

4. An NP can be your primary practitioner.
In a primary-care setting, an NP can be your primary caregiver, providing continuous general care. Ask your local clinic if it has an NP (there are no directories of NPs in any province or territory). You don't have to inform your doctor that you're seeing an NP, just as you wouldn't have to inform a doctor that you're seeing another doctor, says Alden-Bugden. Most clinics have consulting physicians, so if your NP found something that was out of her scope, she would either consult one of them or refer you to a specialist. During your first visit to an NP, she would take a thorough history (as would a physician) and send for records from your previous health-care provider.

NPs are usually salaried. Provincial or territorial governments provide funding for NP positions. In Canada, NPs do not generally directly bill health-care companies; however, some NPs may set up their own practice and bill clients directly.

For more information
For legislation governing nurse practitioners in Canada:
• Canadian Nurse Practitioner Initiative
www.cnpi.ca

• Canadian Nurses Association
www.cna-nurses.ca/cna

To find a nurse practitioner near you, contact your provincial Nurse Practitioners' Association.

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