Ontario Nurse Practitioners Create a Collaborative Vision Leading into the Next Decade

Sunday, November 2, 2003

This presentation is part of : Diverse Perspectives and Plans

Ontario Nurse Practitioners Create a Collaborative Vision Leading into the Next Decade

Mary H. Van Soeren, RN, PhD, ACNP, School of Nursing, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada, Theresa Agnew, RN(EC), BScN, East End Community Health Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada, and Pamela M. Pogue, RN, MSc, ACNP, CCN, (C), Trillium Health Centre, Mississauga, ON, Canada.

Learning Objective #1: Describe the historical context influencing current challenges associated with development and implementation of the nurse practitioner role
Learning Objective #2: Describe partnership strategies that nurse practitioners in Ontario are using to transcend barriers to nurse practitioner practice

Historical differences in primary and acute care nurse practitioner roles, such as title and educational preparation, have the potential to interfere with achieving role clarity and a clear understanding of how nurse practitioner roles can be integrated into our health care system to optimally impact the health of Ontario residents. Ontario nurse practitioners are working collaboratively in an effort to prevent these differences from inhibiting the potential for this role by leading the process of establishing role clarity. Examples from the United States indicate that lack of coordination may lead to variable titles and educational preparation and varying legislation creating internal and external confusion about the nurse practitioner role. Currently, the potential for similar confusion to occur in Ontario is a risk as nurse practitioners working in primary care and acute care settings have different educational preparation and governing legislation without title protection. Through the Nurse Practitioner Association of Ontario nurse practitioners from primary and acute care settings are developing a collaborative, inclusive process to clarify role similarities and differences based on variation in educational preparation and competencies. They are engaging the membership in these discussions. Other stakeholders, including the College of Nurses of Ontario, the Nursing Secretariat at the Ministry of Health, administrative nursing leaders and educators will be also be involved in these discussions in order to create a shared understanding of the educational requirements for this role, optimal vision for the role, and how the role will impact patient care and outcomes. In this presentation we will discuss the historical context that impacts the evolution of these roles, describe the strategy being used to lead this collaborative effort, and describe the process to date.

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