P.E.I. Expands Role of Nurse Practitioners to Combat Doctor Shortage

Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.) is taking significant strides to address its family doctor shortage by expanding the role of nurse practitioners (NPs) in primary care. With millions of Canadians lacking a family physician, provinces are increasingly relying on NPs as vital healthcare providers. According to the Nurse Practitioner Association of Canada, P.E.I. is at the forefront of this trend, rapidly enhancing the responsibilities of NPs to meet the growing demands of the healthcare system.

Enhanced Roles and Collaborative Care

Ellen Christie, president-elect of the Nurse Practitioner Association of Canada, notes that the scope of practice for nurse practitioners has broadened in recent years. “In many jurisdictions, they’re being recognized as primary care providers who can independently practice and manage a panel of patients,” Christie stated. NPs can diagnose medical conditions, order laboratory tests, prescribe medications, and perform various procedures, thereby alleviating some of the pressures faced by family doctors.

The increasing demand for healthcare services, coupled with a shortage of primary care providers, is prompting many provinces, including P.E.I., to move away from a solo practice model. Instead, they are embracing team-based, collaborative care. Christie highlights P.E.I.’s leadership in implementing interdisciplinary care, stating, “P.E.I. is certainly leading the country when it comes to the shift and the implementation of interdisciplinary, team-based care.”

P.E.I. currently hosts at least 17 Patient Medical Homes, where nurse practitioners collaborate with family doctors, social workers, and pharmacists to provide comprehensive primary care. This team-centric approach aims to reduce patient waitlists and decrease burnout among healthcare professionals.

Addressing the Patient Care Gap

Candice Rochford, secretary of the P.E.I. Nurse Practitioners Association (PEINA), points out that around half of the association’s members are in panel positions, serving as primary-care providers for groups of patients. With over 35,000 Islanders registered without a family doctor, the impact of NPs is significant. “The amount of patients that we care for ranges anywhere from 300 to close to 1,000,” Rochford explained. “That’s thousands of Islanders whose primary care is provided by a nurse practitioner, so we’re certainly helping with that gap.”

As Canada observes National Nurse Practitioner Week from November 9 to 15, PEINA advocates for legislative changes that would allow nurse practitioners to run their own clinics independently. Rochford emphasizes that this independence would enable NPs to work outside the typical nine-to-five schedule, allowing for greater flexibility in meeting patient needs.

In provinces like Alberta, nurse practitioners already operate independent, publicly funded clinics, while Saskatchewan is piloting a government-funded model for primary care led by NPs. Some provinces also permit nurse practitioners to manage privately-run clinics.

Future Opportunities for Nurse Practitioners

Looking ahead, an updated interpretation of the Canada Health Act, set to take effect in April 2026, will classify primary care services provided by nurse practitioners as “medically necessary.” Rochford believes this change presents a crucial opportunity for provincial governments to utilize federal healthcare funding traditionally allocated for physicians to support nurse practitioners. “That would be a great opportunity for our government to leverage our nurse practitioners,” she said.

According to a Health P.E.I. report released earlier this year, the province has the highest number of nurse practitioners per capita in Canada. “There’s certainly leverage there to significantly improve access for patients in P.E.I.,” Rochford concluded, emphasizing the potential for enhanced healthcare delivery in the province.