Nurse practitioners (NPs) in BC are registered nurses with advanced education and training that enables them to provide a broader range of health care services, including diagnosis, treatment, and management of various health conditions.
Tips & Links
- Nurse practitioners hold a master’s degree and their scope of practice is governed by the BC College of Nurses and Midwives.
- Nurse practitioners often specialize in the health needs of seniors including disease prevention, assessment and diagnosis, and management of chronic health conditions.
- NP’s can work in various health care settings, prescribe medications, order and interpret tests such as medical imaging and bloodwork, and make a referrals to a specialist and other health care professionals and services.
- Review the list of services that a nurse practitioner can provide from Healthlink BC.
- If you do not have and are looking for a NP, learn how to register with Health Connect through Healthlink BC.
- Know that nurse practitioners can also complete disability benefits, ICBC, WorkSafeBC and travel assistance program (TAP) forms, and health benefits applications.
- An NP visit in a physician’s office or clinic setting, that is medically necessary, is paid for by your medical services plan (MSP). However, know that additional fees may be charged for certain items.
- Think ahead about the reasons for health care visits. With a nurse practitioner, you may be allocated more time to discuss one or two health issues. As with a physician, the visit with an NP can be in person or virtually, by phone or by using a computer screen and microphone, to address general health concerns.
- Prepare ahead for health care visits. Take time to review your health concerns and write down any questions you may have before your appointment. Choose 1-2 key concerns to discuss. Bring your health advocate with you to the appointment to take notes, remind you of your questions and concerns for the visit, and write down the answers and suggestions.
- Learn how to make your physician or healthcare visit more effective and productive from Healthlink BC.
Tools – Handouts & Videos
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