June 21, 2024
On June 13, 2024, the Council of the College of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CRNA) approved legislative amendments that will eliminate existing barriers for nurse practitioners to provide patient care.
This initiative is the result of a collaborative effort between the Nurse Practitioner Association of Alberta (NPAA), the CRNA, and other health system partners. The amendments being proposed are comprehensive and seek to address barriers that exist across several legislative statutes, regulations and provincial forms (e.g., disability, AISH, WCB, etc.).
In addition to reducing barriers for nurse practitioners, this initiative also complements the Government of Alberta’s Nurse Practitioner Primary Care Program. The Program expands opportunities for nurse practitioners to practise comprehensive primary care and to operate their own independent clinics or practice independently in team-based care settings. The proposed legislative amendments will ensure that nurse practitioners who work in primary care are able to provide comprehensive and longitudinal care to their patients while reducing disruptions to their continuity of care.
Going forward, the CRNA Council will submit the approved legislative amendments to the Government of Alberta for its consideration. The Government of Alberta is the ultimate decision maker on whether all or any of the legislative amendments are considered.
We will continue to keep registrants and partners in Alberta's health care ecosystem informed as this important work progresses.