Post -- Queensway Carleton Hospital

In February, we welcomed QCH’s first Nurse Practitioner (NP), Julissa Edgar.

Nurse Practitioners have the credentials to admit or discharge patients, order medications and diagnostic tests, and communicate clinically significant results to the patient and other health professionals.

Julissa works directly with our geriatric patients, particularly those who require alternate levels of care (ALCs). These patients often require additional time and resources to address their complex requirements related to behavioural response issues. Nurse Practitioners collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, community care, and supports. They provide enhanced communications with and for the patient and their families and can facilitate transition plans to long-term care or retirement homes.

Julissa has experience working with behaviour support teams and community partners to maximize these patients’ independence. The addition of this important role is a significant benefit to our physicians, particularly since there are over 90 ALC patients at our hospital right now.

While physicians provide direct care to these patients, the addition of Julissa’s role provides critical supports that enables our physicians to focus on acute patients. Nurses working with Julissa also benefit from the additional resource to support their patient’s care and expedite access to required tests, medications and diagnosis.

NPs are Registered Nurses who have met additional nursing education, experience and exam requirements set by the College. Only those registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) in the Extended Class can call themselves “Nurse Practitioner” or “NP”. Every province and territory has NP legislation in place. While present in other regional hospitals, and some long-term care homes, this is a welcome addition to Team QCH. Traditionally in hospital settings, NPs have worked collaboratively with physicians providing patient care with the physician assuming the primary responsibility.

One of the wonderful things about the Nurse Practitioner's role is that they treat the whole person, including their physical and mental health and history of past concerns. They also focus on how the patient’s condition may affect their life and family. Nurse Practitioners work with the patients to teach them about how to manage a chronic illness and find ways to lead a healthy life within their abilities and with the supports that are available to them.

Since 2011, Ontario NPs have been authorized to admit, treat and discharge patients, allowing hospitals to reduce wait times and improve care. Julissa’s collaborative role is a significant benefit to our ALC patients, their families, and their circle of care.

A QCH First - A new role for nursing within the care team