What is a Nurse Practitioner and What Can They Do?

In Ontario, Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are registered nurses with additional education and experience who are able to order and interpret diagnostic tests, communicate diagnoses, prescribe medications and perform specific procedures.

NPs emphasize health promotion as well as illness/injury prevention and complement rather than replace the care delivered by other health care providers. As well as providing a wide range of health care services to patients, NPs can also help patients to access other health and social services that they may require.

NPs work collaboratively with many other health professionals. In particular, they consult with physicians, as required by the needs of their patients.

Primary Health Care NPs:
Primary Health Care NPs generally work in community settings and provide general primary health care services to people of all ages. For many people, primary health care NPs are their first and most frequent point of contact with the health care system. Examples of the types of health care services provided by primary health care NPs include:

• Annual physicals;
• Patient counselling (e.g., mental health, family planning, medication compliance);
• Health promotion (e.g., smoking cessation);
• Immunization against disease;
• Screening for diseases (e.g. cervical cancer);
• Treatment for short-term acute illnesses (e.g., infections, minor injuries);
• Monitor patients with stable chronic illnesses (e.g., diabetes);
• Referrals to other health care services (e.g, home care services);
• Referrals to social services (e.g., housing supports).

The Nurse Practitioner (NP) at the Temagami FHT is an integral part of the team who collaborates with our physician and other interdisciplinary providers, i.e. RN, mental health worker, dietitian, and respiratory therapist to provide the best possible care for our patients. Our NP provides same day/next day appointments as appropriate and offers extended hours on Tuesdays.  Please call (705) 569-3244 to schedule an appointment.


The Temagami Medical Centre and Family Health Team
is committed to keeping you as healthy as possible!