Nurse practitioners may reduce FP burden in Nova Scotia
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* Donalee Moulton

Nova Scotia has opened the door for nurse practitioners to assume wider responsibilities: its Registered Nurses Act now allows certified nurse practitioners to see patients, make diagnoses and write some prescriptions. Health Minister Jamie Muir says the result will be improved health care and greater efficiency. “Nurse practitioners can help tremendously in rural areas by working with family physicians to address a range of health concerns of patients, providing continuing care and sharing the patient load,” he said. “This will leave doctors free to use their special skills where they are most needed.”

The Medical Society of Nova Scotia has given qualified support to the legislation. In theory, the use of nurse practitioners will benefit physicians and patients. But the details — including funding — have yet to be fleshed out, said society President Louise Cloutier. She stressed that the nurse-practitioner concept framed in the legislation is team based. “This is not nurses going into stand-alone practice. We all agree we can't replace doctors with nurses — our roles are complementary.”

At present, 19 specialty nurse practitioners are working in 2 Halifax hospitals and 4 primary health care nurse practitioners are involved in pilot projects around the province.