Nurse practitioners can now be primary caregivers in nursing homes
By Medicine Hat News on May 7, 2020.
Nurse practitioners will now be allowed to act as primary care providers in nursing homes with modifications being made to Alberta’s regulations, the UCP government announced. Nurse practitioners will be allowed to admit and assess residents, as well as offer follow-up care. Changes will also enable nurse practitioners and other qualified health professionals to prescribe medication and order treatments in nursing homes, according to their scopes of practice. Mary-Elizabeth Cooper, president, Nurse Practitioner Association of Alberta, said nurse practitioners are in a unique position providing a broad scope of service in nursing homes. She said it would reduce red tape and identify additional ways to meet health care needs of aging Albertans. The changes will remain in effect until Aug. 14 unless the ministerial order is terminated earlier or the public health emergency is reduced or extended. 5-4
