Nurse practitioners improve access to care

Re: “Make nurse practitioners a campaign pledge,” column, Sept. 21. Thanks to Dr. Trevor Hancock for beginning an important discussion and writing such an excellent column in the Times Colonist. Decades of research have demonstrated that nurse practitioners are safe and effective primary-care providers who work collaboratively with all members of the health-care team to improve access and health outcomes.

If the NP role were adequately supported in B.C., we would become a much larger and integral part of enhancing primary care and ensuring access where it is needed. Our intent has never been to replace general practitioners, but rather to work with them as collaborating partners.

When we advocate and speak out, we are often seen as self-serving, but we believe passionately in what we do, as we know it improves the health of patients we serve and overall satisfaction in care. So why are there not substantially more NP’s in health care in B.C.?

We need our GP colleagues and the public to start speaking out for more NPs in the system to improve health for all of us. The time is now. We are ready. Natasha Prodan-Bhalla Vice-president B.C. Nurse Practitioner Association