The primary health care nurse practitioner
is an experienced registered nurse with advanced preparation in
nursing and health sciences, whose practice is based on the
principles of primary health care and occurs at the individual,
family and community levels. The nurse practitioner provides care
that is comprehensive and holistic, as well as autonomous and
collaborative.
The primary health care nurse practitioner
program prepares registered nurses to collaborate with other health
care practitioners in the provision of primary health care
services.
Initially, the nurse practitioner program
was a one-year certificate program. In September 2000, the program
was redesigned for distance delivery and is now primarily web-based,
making it more accessible and flexible for registered nurses where
they live and work. The length of the program has been expanded to
16 months and is available on a full and part-time basis.
There continues to be on-site components
over the four semesters, however, the program is primarily delivered
as distance learning through the Internet. The program continues to
be guided by curriculum and program committees with representation
from all key stakeholder groups. The first three semesters include
theory, lab and clinical components. The fourth semester is an
integrative practicum facilitated by faculty, physician and nurse
practitioner preceptors in a variety of primary health care
settings.
Program courses include health assessment,
roles and issues, community health promotion, pharmacology,
pathophysiology, family health promotion, and advanced clinical
decision making.
The clinical practice hours of the health
assessment course are spread over two semesters and total 200 hours
of skills practice in a primary health care setting.
During the third semester, students
continue to perfect their health assessment skills as well as learn
the beginning competencies for clinical decision making (225
clinical hours). The fourth semester includes a 15-week clinical
practicum preceptored by physicians and nurse practitioners in
primary health care settings. Students are preceptored by physicians
in emergency room settings and clinics. During this semester
students collaborate with their preceptor in determining appropriate
management plans for patients (525 clinical hours). Nurse
practitioner practice is guided by the regulations prepared under
the Registered Nurses Act.
The initial on-site delivery of the program
was granted full approval status by the Association of Registered
Nurses of Newfoundland and Labrador (ARNNL) in December 1999. The
program will be undergoing another external review process by the
ARNNL in January 2003.
The nurse practitioner program surveys
graduates, employers, physicians and clients one year after they
commence their practice as nurse practitioners. The findings have
confirmed that the program prepares its graduates for this new and
challenging advanced nursing practice role.
To date, there are 38 nurse practitioners
practicing in collaborative relationships with physicians throughout
the province.
Marcy Greene is the program coordinator
for the nurse practitioner program at the Centre for Nursing Studies
in St. John's.
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