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“Not only is it a milestone, but most importantly, it is an important step to providing more access to medications and tests for Albertans when they need them,” she said.

“The 38,000 nurses that (MRU nursing grads) will be joining are the largest health profession in this province. They are everywhere in the health system and they touch the lives of every community across this province. These changes can improve access to timely and cost-effective health care.”

Photo by Leonora Andre / Mount Royal University

Hycha said the changes don’t mean that all registered nurses will be prescribing. The expanded scope will be introduced gradually, and only qualified nurses in certain areas who take an extra course will be able to prescribe.

“We’re taking a very measured approach to implementing this,” Hycha told reporters. “We’re starting with pilot projects and we’re going to learn from that, and then take a look at where else we can further develop this type of care and services.”

Alberta Health Services is planning to introduce registered nurse prescribing in three settings initially, CARNA said: in sexually transmitted infection control clinics, in travel clinics and by occupational health nurses in hospitals after a health-care provider has received a needle-stick injury.

CARNA officials added Indigenous Services Canada is also interested in implementing registered nurse prescribing in rural and remote regions of the province to improve access to care.

Murray Holtby, chair of the School of Nursing and Midwifery at MRU, said the university and Canadian nursing schools across the country have been discussing with all levels of government how registered nurse prescribing could benefit patients.