Nurse Practitioner Primary Care Program

Overview

We are working to stabilize, strengthen and improve Alberta's primary health care system. To help achieve this goal, the Alberta government is expanding opportunities for nurse practitioners so Albertans have greater access to a regular primary care provider when and where they need one.

Nurse practitioners are experienced registered nurses with graduate-level education in advanced clinical practice and may hold additional degrees. They are licensed to practice in Alberta and are regulated by the College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta. They can assess, diagnose, treat, order and interpret diagnostic tests, prescribe medications, make referrals to a specialist and manage a person's overall care.

Through the creation of the Nurse Practitioner Primary Care Program, nurse practitioners will be paid to practise comprehensive primary care and operate their own independent clinics, or practice independently in team-based care settings. They will offer services based on their scope of practice, training and expertise.

This change will add much-needed capacity to the primary health care system and give Albertans more options to access the care they need. It is based on recommendations from the Modernizing Alberta's Primary Health Care System (MAPS) initiative, which identified areas for improvement in the province's primary health care system.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the program, nurse practitioners must meet mandatory requirements, and establish a new primary care practice or join an existing practice.

Requirements include:

• committing to provide medically necessary primary care services
• building to a panel size of at least 900 patients
• providing after-hours access on weekends, evenings or holidays
• providing walk-in appointments while their patient panel is being established

Clinics, communities and Primary Care Networks can partner with nurse practitioners who are just entering practice by applying for one-time mentorship funding. Each mentor is eligible for $10,000 during a nurse practitioner’s first 18 months, to ensure a successful transition to independent practice.

Application process

Nurse practitioners who are interested in practicing under this model must review the program guide and submit an expression of interest by filling out the form.

• Read the Nurse Practitioner Primary Care Program guide
• Complete the expression of interest form

EOI review

Expressions of interest will be evaluated and nurse practitioners who qualify will be sent an official application form. Applicants are encouraged to seek the guidance of the Nurse Practitioner Association of Alberta to ensure all necessary information has been included in the application process.

Through $2-million in funding from the government over the next 3 years, the Nurse Practitioner Association of Alberta will:

• help nurse practitioners throughout the application process
• recruit nurse practitioners to participate in the program
• support them as they plan to work independently in an existing practice or set up their own clinics

Approved nurse practitioners must enter into a contractual agreement with the Ministry of Health through a Ministerial Order.

News

• Nurse practitioners to help strengthen primary care (April 25, 2024)
• Strengthening primary care with nurse practitioners (November 22, 2023)
• Strengthening health care: Improving access for all (October 18, 2023)

Contact

Connect with the Nurse Practitioner Primary Care Program if you have any questions:

Email: [email protected]

Related

Modernizing Alberta’s Primary Health Care System