Groups say nurse practitioners would help rural Sask. with healthcare challenges
The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) says rural parts of the province are experiencing a health care crisis and are in desperate need of support.
SARM feels that nurse practitioners could be a part of the solution.
“A nurse practitioner has a very similar scope to that of a family doctor. We can prescribe medicines, we can prescribe tests, and we can make referrals to specialists. There’s very few things that we can not do that your family doctor is able to do,” Marcie Dunn, who is a nurse practitioner in Ontario, said.
There are 328 nurse practitioners in Saskatchewan but 10 per cent are under-employed and working as registered nurses. Urban municipalities back the call for more.
“If we can get more nurse practitioners in our areas, that would really assist [and] would guarantee that our residents could see and get the health care they need,” Randy Goulden, president of Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) said.
SARM is calling for a “grow your own” program where rural nurses could be paid while upgrading their skills to the nurse practitioner level. The Saskatchewan NDP said it supports the suggestion.
“There’s a staffing crisis in communities across the province, particularly in rural Saskatchewan where we’ve lost over 21 per cent of our nurses,” NDP leader Carla Beck said. “This is a common-sense solution.”
The provincial government had no immediate response but has been considering the use of more nurse practitioners.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian family stuck in Lebanon anxiously awaits flight options amid Israeli strikes
A Canadian man who is trapped in Lebanon with his family says they are anxiously waiting for seats on a flight out of the country, as a barrage of Israeli airstrikes continues.
Suspect in shooting of Toronto cop was out on bail
A 21-year-old man who was charged with attempted murder in the shooting of a Toronto police officer this week was out on bail at the time of the alleged offence, court documents obtained by CTV News Toronto show.
Scientists looked at images from space to see how fast Antarctica is turning green. Here's what they found
Parts of icy Antarctica are turning green with plant life at an alarming rate as the region is gripped by extreme heat events, according to new research, sparking concerns about the changing landscape on this vast continent.
DEVELOPING 2 dead after fire rips through historic building in Old Montreal
At least two people are dead and others are injured after a fire ripped through a century-old building near Montreal's City Hall, sources told Noovo Info.
Yazidi woman captured by ISIS rescued in Gaza after more than a decade in captivity
A 21-year-old Yazidi woman has been rescued from Gaza where she had been held captive by Hamas for years after being trafficked by ISIS.
A 6-year-old girl was kidnapped in Arkansas in 1995. Almost 30 years later, a suspect was identified
Nearly 30 years after a six-year-old girl disappeared in Western Arkansas, authorities have identified a suspect in her abduction through DNA evidence.
Dolphins 'smile' at each other when they play and to avoid misunderstanding, study finds
For humans, flashing a smile is an easy way to avoid misunderstanding. And, according to a new study, bottlenose dolphins may use a similar tactic while playing with each other.
Pit bulls in B.C. pet mauling tested positive for meth, cocaine, says city
Three pit bulls involved in a deadly attack on another dog last month in Kamloops, B.C., tested positive for methamphetamine and cocaine, and the city is going to court to have them put down.
Tax rebate: Canadians with low to modest incomes to receive payment on Friday
Canadians who are eligible for a GST/HST tax credit can expect their final payment of the year on Friday.