What does a Nurse Practitioner do?
A Nurse Practitioner is responsible for providing patient care, including emergency, diagnostic, as well as pre-and post-operative care. Nurse Practitioners can administer vaccinations and prescribe medication for common ailments. Nurse Practitioners may also order laboratory tests, X-rays, and other diagnostic procedures. It is common for Nurse Practitioners to work in a health clinic, a family doctor’s office, a hospital, or a similar setting.
Nurse Practitioner skills and qualifications
A successful Nurse Practitioner has various prerequisite skills and qualifications required for the duties performed in this job. They must possess soft skills like empathy and communication in order to ensure patients are receiving the best care. Some of these may include:
- Communicating and collaborating with patients and their families about treatments, health diagnoses, self-care, and prevention
- Collaborating with other interdisciplinary health care professionals
- Critically assessing and evaluating health research literature
- Leading and working with a team
- Identifying and responding to legal or ethical issues that could arise during patient care
- Supervising others and providing feedback
Nurse Practitioner experience requirements
Look for Nurse Practitioners with at least two years of recent and relevant nursing experience. For unique or challenging environments, you may prefer candidates with over five years of experience. Candidates should have leadership experience and demonstrate their ability to care for others.
Nurse Practitioner training and education
Candidates for a Nurse Practitioner role must have completed a nursing program from an accredited Canadian post-secondary school. Typically, a Nurse Practitioner gets a master’s degree or other extended primary healthcare nursing education. Make sure the candidate is a member of a regulatory body such as the Association of Registered Nurses of Prince Edward Island or the College of Nurses of Ontario. Candidates with an Extended Class standing are well-qualified.
Nurse Practitioner salary expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, average pay for a Nurse Practitioner in Canada is $52.62 per hour. Wages can vary depending on experience, demand, location, and the company that is hiring.
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