IMPROVED ACCESS TO BASIC FRONT-LINE HEALTH CARE

The provincial government has amended regulations that will enable registered nurse–nurse practitioners (RN(NPs)) to practice to the full scope of their license, a move furthering the government's strategy to improve Saskatchewan residents' access to basic front-line health care.

RN(NP)s are registered nurses who work in an expanded role by diagnosing and treating common illnesses, including ordering diagnostic tests and prescribing medication. As part of a team, they work with physicians and other health professionals in primary health care locations across Saskatchewan.

These regulations support The Registered Nurses Amendment Act, 2001 and allow for a new way of delivering health care to rural, northern and urban residents by expanding the scope of practice of registered nurses who are licensed as nurse practitioners.

"Nurses play a critical role in the health care system," Health Minister John Nilson said. "Giving registered nurses greater career opportunities will help encourage them to practice in Saskatchewan. This is especially important, as we follow up with our Action Plan for Saskatchewan Health Care commitment of keeping and attracting key health care providers to Saskatchewan, as well as our Throne speech commitment of making our province ready for the next generation."

Increasing the number of registered nurse-nurse practitioners and developing primary health care teams across the province to ensure patient access to care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week are key recommendations of the Action Plan.

"The RN(NP) register will soon be unveiled, reshaping and broadening health teams within primary health care in Saskatchewan," Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Registered Nurses Association (SRNA) Donna Brunskill said. "RN(NP)s will increase the public's access to competent, comprehensive health care and programs."

"The nursing division faculty of the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST) have developed an excellent primary care nurse practitioner program, recently approved by the SRNA, that meets both the needs of health education in Saskatchewan communities and health care renewal in the area of primary care," SIAST's Dean of Nursing Diana Davidson Dick said.

The SRNA will allow until 2006 for registered nurses currently working in an expanded role to demonstrate their competencies for licensure as an RN(NP). Between 1994 and 2002, more than 80 nurses have graduated from registered nurse-nurse practitioner programs in Saskatchewan.

These amendments came into force April 28th.

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For More Information, Contact:

Mark Rathwell Health Regina Phone: (306) 787-4083