March 31, 2005 for immediate release

The ongoing commitment to expand northern educationalopportunities in the health professions is leading UNBC towards implementing anew Family Nurse Practitioner Mastersof Nursing program.

Nurse Practitioners are registered nurses (RNs) withadvanced education and clinicaldecision making skills. The program will be a master of science degree,and students entering theprogram will have a bachelor’s degree and two years experience innursing to beeligible. Upon graduation, Family Nurse Practitioners (FNPs) will workin multidisciplinary primary healthcare services providing a broad range of professional servicesincluding diagnosis and treatment of acuteand chronic illness, prescribing medication, referring to other healthcare professionals, and providing specializedcare across the age range in families. Some of the courses in thetwo-year NP program will be offered online while practicalskills will be learned in clinical placements with experienced advancedpractice nurses and northern physicians because there are no NPscurrently practicingin BC.

“While Family Nurse Practitioners have some activities incommon with physicians, they are not substitute doctors,” says Ian Blue, Chairof the UNBC Nursing program. “We expect that FNPs will play a vital role inincreasing access to primary health care throughout the region and in complementing the work of existing healthprofessionals, including physicians. To ensure this occurs we have beenworking closely with the NorthernHealth Authority in the designof the program and in identification offuture FNP positions in northern BC.”

Nurse Practitioners are regulated through the RegisteredNurses Association of British Columbia (RNABC)and the BC Government.

Prior to the start of the program, approval must be obtainedfrom the University Senate, the UNBC Board of Governors, the RNABC, and the Ministry of AdvancedEducation. Pending approval, it’s expected that the first 15 students willbegin their studies at UNBC this fall. Funding for the new program has beenearmarked by the Government of BC.

Contact:

Rob van Adrichem, Director of Media and Public Relations,UNBC – 250.960.5622

Ian Blue, Chair of Nursing, UNBC – 250.960.6309