Nurse practitioners are registered nurses with advanced knowledge, skills and education enabling them to provide leadership in the areas of health promotion, health management, as well as illness and injury prevention. Nurse practitioners work closely with clients, families and other health professionals to address complex health needs and manage acute and chronic illnesses, within a holistic model of care.  They engage communities in the development, implementation and evaluation of health programs and healthy public policy (Nurse Practitioner Brochure, 2008).

Within a collaborative and interdisciplinary practice model, nurse practitioners are highly autonomous and their practice involves a deliberate, purposeful and reflective use of specialized knowledge and skills, grounded in professional, ethical and legal standards. Building on the scope of practice of all registered nurses, the scope of practice of nurse practitioners also entails:

1. making a diagnosis identifying a disease, disorder, or condition,
2. communicating the diagnosis to the client and health care professionals as appropriate,
3. performing procedures,
4. initiating, ordering or prescribing consultations, referrals and other acts,
5. ordering and interpreting screening and diagnostic tests and recommend, prescribe or reorder drugs, blood, blood products and related paraphernalia,
   
   and also includes research, education, consultation, management, administration, regulation, policy or system development relevant to the above (RN Act 2006).  

While specific roles and competencies of nurse practitioners will be determined by their context of practice (e.g., the health needs of their client population groups; the availability and access to other health professionals, including physicians, specialists and pharmacists; as well as clinical and community resources and other support systems), this document outlines the core competencies essential to the practice of all nurse practitioners.

These core competency statements describe the entry-level knowledge, skills, and judgment essential to the practice of nurse practitioners regardless of their patient population or practice environments. Nurse practitioners who practice in highly specialized areas will be expected to acquire additional competencies specific to their focus of practice or by their employer.

Nurse practitioners are accountable to practice within the limits of their educational preparation, competence and legislated scope of practice.  [Excerpt taken from NP Competencies, 2009]

View the list nurse practitioners licensed with the College of Registered Nurses of Nova Scotia.