Introduction

[Table of Contents]

This background paper supports the data presented in the report “The Nature of the Extended/Expanded Nursing Role in Canada” presented to the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Advisory Committee on Health Human Resources (ACHHR). The research project is funded under the primary care component of the Health Transition Fund of Health Canada.

The purposes of this paper are:

• To provide an overview of the status of legislative frameworks governing nursing practice across Canada, and more specifically, for the extended/expanded nursing role in primary care in primary health care settings;
• To summarize the definitions employed in Canadian legislation that describe the role of nursing involved in assessment, diagnosis and treatment; and
• To provide a profile of extended/expanded nursing practice currently operant in Canada.

The elements of the profile of nursing practice were identified in the terms of reference for this research study by the ACHHR. For the purposes of this document, the registered nurse practising in the extended/expanded role is referred to as “ nurse” unless otherwise indicated.