UVic School of Nursing
Frequently asked Questions about Nurse Practitioners
What is a Nurse Practitioner?
Nurse Practitioners (NP) are registered nurses
with advanced education who provide health
care services using a holistic approach. NPs
diagnose and treat a variety of acute and
chronic health conditions. They have additional
education in health assessment, diagnosis and
management of illnesses and injuries, including
prescribing drugs and ordering tests.
Where do Nurse Practitioners work?
NPs work in a variety of diverse health care
settings, from community clinics and health care
centres, to hospitals, medical practices, nursing
homes, and home care. They provide a range of
health services to individuals of all ages,
families, communities, and groups. NPs work
collaboratively with other health professionals
such as family physicians, registered nurses,
therapists, nutritionists, social workers, and
pharmacists.
What is the scope of practice for Nurse
Practitioners?
NPs in BC are licensed in one of three areas:
Family, Adult, or Pediatric. Family NPs provide
health care to people of all ages, from newborn
through to the end of life. Adult NPs provide
health care to older adolescents and adults.
Pediatric NPs provide care to children from
newborns to late adolescence. All NPs share
similar competencies and authority to prescribe
medication and order diagnostic tests. The full
scope of practice for all NPs is available from
the CRNBC website at www.crnbc.ca.
How are NPs educated at UVic?
Experienced registered nurses complete a two
year master’s program in the School of Nursing
at the University of Victoria. The program
combines theory with evidenced-based practice
in advanced level nursing courses in ethics,
research, pharmacology, pathophysiology,
physical assessment, diagnostic reasoning, and
content directed at meeting the competencies
for practice. Students complete 800 hours of
practice with an NP or MD preceptor. Upon
completion of the program they receive a Master
of Nursing degree.
Who can preceptor a NP student?
Preceptors are registered NPs or Physicians
who agree to mentor and supervise a student in
the practice setting as the student learns to
assess, diagnose, and treat patients.
How are Nurse Practitioners registered and
regulated?
Nurse Practitioners must pass two registration
examinations (a written examination and an
objective structured clinical examination or
OSCE). Their practice is regulated by the
College of Registered Nurses of British
Columbia under the authority of the Health
Professions Act.
Can a Nurse Practitioner write prescriptions?
Once registered, NPs may prescribe
medications and order diagnostic tests that are
within their scope of practice.
What if a patient has a condition that is not
included in the scope of practice for a Nurse
Practitioner?
NPs usually work with a team of health
providers. When a situation or condition is
beyond their scope of practice, NPs collaborate
with other practitioners or refer the patient to the
appropriate health care provider. For example,
NPs discuss nutrition with many of their patients,
but may refer someone with complex nutritional
needs to a dietician or nutritionist. NPs
collaborate with and refer to physicians,
physiotherapists, occupational therapists,
counselors, pharmacists, etc.
To learn more about Nurse Practitioners
contact:
• University of Victoria School of Nursing
www.nursing.uvic.ca or 250.721.6315
• College of Registered Nurses of British
Columbia www.crnbc.ca or 1.800.565.6505
• British Columbia Nurse Practitioner
Association www.bcnpa.org
Revised Feb 2009