Abstract A practitioner in the nursing profession is someone who is intelligent enough to offer comprehensive health services for the people of Alberta at all times whereas an NP (Nurse Practitioner) is a registered professional with high level education at graduate level. An NP's role involves the provision of a wide range of health services and the role played by an NP is different from that played by a registered nurse due to the fact that an NP has to have superior knowledge and advanced skills in decision making which need to be acquired through extended clinical practice, experience and education. This makes it possible for the NP to manage more duties that are beyond the scope of what a registered can do. The NP’s accountability, responsibilities and professional role entails consultation, referral, collaboration, leadership, research and most of all clinical practice (College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta, 2017). The SNAP (Saskatchewan Nursing Advanced Practice) model is a good base to understand the role of NPs across the board.

The SNAP (Saskatchewan Nursing Advanced Practice) model happens to be a framework of education entailing the program and curricular design of CNPP (Collaborative Nurse Practitioner Program). CNPP was borrowed rom from “Strong Model of Advanced Practice Nursing”. This model has been widely accepted as a reliable and valid way of portraying the role of advanced practice dimensions in the context of international modern health service (Saskatchewan Registered Nurses’ Association, 2016).

Introduction

The origin of the NP model wasps the basis for the SNAP model and later formed the strategy adopted for the enhanced primary care access. This strategy was used as a response to the decline of physicians providing primary care. The Colorado University was the place where the first NPs program was successfully prepared in the year 1965. The program was co-directed by Loretta Ford, a nurse, and Henry Silver, a physician and it entailed the preparation of pediatric NPs whose focus was the wellness and health of patients. The collaboration between NPs who have no degree but have an advanced level of education, and skilled physicians made it possible to recognize the diagnosis, symptoms and eventual management of children’s health problems (Sherwood et al, 1997). This is especially the strategy used across Canada from a very early stage.

The delivery of healthcare as a whole has rapidly evolved in Canada. This radical evolution is credited to aspects such as innovations in technology, new care models, increasing practice scopes for non-physicians, changing expectations from patients, and new requirements and regulations in healthcare. A fundamental change for the physicians involves the expansion of NP roles in many jurisdictions from Canada including Alberta under the foundation of the SNAP model. The NPs in Alberta province are health professionals who are under regulation but function independently. They are licensed to operate by CARNA (College & Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta) and the NPs can operate in autonomy while also being able to work alongside other providers of healthcare (Alberta Medical Association, 2015).

NPs from Alberta are poised to work in many settings including...

NPs will also play a role in inter-professional groups in the family care hospitals and primary care systems. Due to the fact that NPs are independent and regulated health professionals they have the authority to operate independently within the scope of their legislation and the limitations of the experience and the training that they have. Any NP functioning beyond the stipulated practice scope is only allowed to do that under appropriate supervision and medical directive. HPA or Heath Professions Act alongside the regulations for professional nurses details the NP’s legal authority in their practice scope. Over and above this the practice scope from CARNA details the practice scope under which registered nurses operate. At the moment Albertan NPs are mandated to execute several clinical duties like placing an order for prescription medication, diagnostic tests, monitoring the outcome of clients, management of chronic disease, provision of continuing care, consultations for patients and referrals to physicians, alongside other providers of healthcare (Alberta Medical Association, 2015).
Competence

In recent times graduate nurse practitioners in Alberta have become proficient in the details of the NP practice as time goes by. Continuous support and education from other NPs, employers, physicians as well as fellow group members has played the part (CNA, 2010). NPs need to individually evaluate their competence levels and sustain their competence levels continuously. NPs are mandated to involve themselves in CCP (Continuing Competence Program) for CARNA (Alberta Medical Association, 2015) as well understand their roles as outlined in the SNAP model.

The NP and APNs competencies are detailed in SNAP model as precise personal attributes, skills and knowledge necessary for ethical and safe practice. Competencies in nursing practice are fundamental for the development and education of NP concerning their work roles and nurse practitioners at entry point need support and time from their mentors, healthcare groups and employers in order to cement their judgment, abilities, knowledge, skills, expand their professional network as well as advance their personal care delivery approach. As the NPs become more confident in NP clinical responsibilities they deepen and develop their expertise andd competencies in leadership, mentoring skills and research skills which are fundamental components of any NP role (Saskatchewan Registered Nurses’ Association, 2016).

Competencies at entry level are categorized into 4 categories of competency: Quality research and improvement, client care, education and leadership. The competencies at entry level are relevant in the first 12 months of NP practice. The SRNA standards for NP are influenced by CCRNR analysis and thrive from the foundational competencies of NP at entry level. The competencies at entry level for the existing SRNA NP are utilized alongside the practitioner standards for SRNA NP (Saskatchewan Registered Nurses’ Association, 2016). The first area of competence i.e. client care will have 6 other sub-categories of competency. These subcategories elaborate the significance of NP clinical…