Pulse 2012 - (Page 28)

Filling the gap Integrating nurse practitioners into the health‑care system Faith Donald Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing Nurse practitioners (NPs) can diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret diagnostic tests and prescribe medications. These advanced-practice registered nurses possess additional education and skills in health promotion, disease prevention and the treatment of common illnesses. Given the rising costs of health care, the increase in chronic diseases and the shortage of physicians, many believe that employing more NPs will contribute to system sustainability while still ensuring excellent care. However, knowledge is evolving when it comes to how best to integrate NPs into specific health-care settings. With colleagues at Dalhousie and McMaster universities, and the Universities of Waterloo and Victoria, Ryerson’s Faith Donald recently completed a nation-wide study examining the integration of NPs into long-term care (LTC) settings. “When people are admitted to nursing homes and homes-for-the-aged today,” Donald says, “the majority tend to be sicker and frailer than those admitted just a few years ago. NPs assist in filling the gap: they help LTC nurses gain knowledge and skills to care for residents who have complex needs, and they provide on-site support, as well as medical and advanced nursing care for people who, without the NP, would have to stay in hospital.” Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the British Columbia Ministry of Health Services and the Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation, Donald’s project showed that, although few in number, NPs are well integrated into their LTC organizations. Some are working full-time in one or multiple facilities, while others divide their time between LTC and primary care settings. Not only are NPs highly regarded by members of the health-care team, but LTC residents and their family members are extremely satisfied with the improved quality of care, communication and support NPs provide. ■ Faith Donald studies how nurse practitioners make a difference to patients’ health in long-term care facilities. 28 Pulse Health Research and Innovation at Ryerson 

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pulse 2012

Ryerson Alumni - Pulse 2012
Contents
Elizabeth McCay
Trevor A. Hart
Centre for Global Health and Health Equity
Martin M. Anthony
Thomas Tenkate
Fiona Yeudall
Sri Krishman
Ana Pejović-Milić
Victor Yang
Souraya Sidani
Colleen E. Carney
Centre for Health in At-Risk Populations
Catherine Beauchemin
Habiba Bourgherara
Raffi Karshafian and Michael C. Kolios
Jahan Tavakkoli
Russell D. Viirre
Donna Koller
Faith Donald
Judy Finlay
Janet M. Lum
Deborah Fels
Jason Nolan
Bionik Laboratories Inc.
Institute for Stress and Wellbeing Research
Ontario Multicultural Health Applied Research Network
Computational Biomedical Physics Laboratory

Pulse 2012

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