Authors: Carey Hill and Mark Pickup
In public opinion polls, health care is the most important issue to Canadians. Canadians believe that their health care system is among the best in the world, but have concerns about the long term viability of the system in an age of rising health care costs.
Nurse Practitioners and Canadian Health Care: Toward Quality and Cost Effectiveness focuses on the utilization of nurse practitioners to achieve potentially better care for less cost. The paper marshals evidence drawing on Canadian and American examples. Issues such as cost savings, quality, patient care and comfort are addressed. The paper briefly explains the importance of nursing culture for team cooperation and attentiveness to the patient. Six recommendations are provided to enhanced utilization of the nurse practitioner in the Canadian health care system.