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July 4, 1997
(Health)


Nurse Practitioner Program set for this Fall

Joan Marie Aylward, Minister of Health, today outlined details of the provincial Nurse Practitioner Program which is being developed as a result of this year's provincial health forum. Partners in the program include Memorial University's School of Nursing, the Western Region School of Nursing, and the Centre for Nursing Studies.

The minister said the three schools would use a collaborative approach in delivering one program. "In offering this program to nurses, a cooperative approach by the partners will be similar to the team approach we hope to achieve in the Primary Care Service and Teaching Units, particularly in rural parts of the province as we continue to deliver and improve quality health services."

Nurse practitioners will be an integral part of the health team by delivering regular nursing services along with expanded services which until now have needed the approval of a physician. The minister said the nurse practitioners, physicians, allied health and support staff will now be able to make better use of their time in a more integrated system which will better utilize the varied skills and expertise of all the professionals involved in patient care.

The Centre for Nursing Studies was named as the site from which the program will be delivered this year. The site location for program delivery may change from year to year. Madge Applin, of the Centre for Nursing Studies, has been appointed as the coordinator of the program for this year. Other partners in the program are the Memorial University School of Nursing and the Western Regional School of Nursing. The communities and respective boards will also be important partners in the process.

The Nurse Practitioner Program will be available to all currently practicing registered nurses with at least two years of experience. While some details are still being finalized, it is expected that nurses will receive credit for their practitioner course towards degree programs and applicants to the program may also receive credit through a prior learning assessment process. Tuition requirements will be a part of this program and students will likely see a bursary program put in place to help offset the cost.

The Nurse Practitioner Program will be a three semester program. The first semester will include course work on site, at the centre. The second semester will be a combination of course work at the centre and work in the community. In the final semester students will complete a practicum in the community as part of the overall health team.

The minster said nurse practitioner legislation would be introduced in the House of Assembly this fall. The first 12 graduating students are expected to practice in rural parts of the province. The first opportunity will go to designated sites chosen for the primary care service and teaching unit pilot projects. Other areas around the province such as Port Saunders and Bonavista/Clarenville may also have an opportunity to put forward names of nurses who may avail of the Nurse Practitioner Program.

Research in the United States and Canada over the last 25 years has shown that where nurse practitioners provide services, emergency room services, hospital utilization rates and lab costs have been reduced.

"This is a very exciting time for communities and for health in this province," said the minister.

Contact: Glenn Bruce, Director of Communications, (709) 729-1377.

1997 07 04   9:50 a.m.

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