By Katie Phelan
Senior Communications Consultant, Medical and Academic Affairs
Across the country, more than 12,000 Nurse Practitioners (NPs) provide care to an increasing number of Canadians. From urban centers to rural and remote communities, the NP role is vital in meeting the needs of our population, and recent policies providing NPs with expanded practice authority are helping to ensure Canadians receive essential health services.
NPs work independently and collaboratively, integrating clinical expertise with evidence-based practice to promote health, prevent illness, and provide comprehensive care. In British Columbia, approximately 1500 NPs work in roles spanning primary and acute care, and speciality settings, improving access to high-quality, broad scope, patient-centered care.
To coincide with National Nurse Practitioner Week, we’re highlighting the work of two NPs who work in primary care in a rural Gulf Island community. Lee-Ann Jespersen and Tracey Adams practice at the Pender Islands Health Centre.
When asked how their work promotes health equity and improves health outcomes for a rural population, Tracey and Lee-Ann are unanimous in their response: “Access”. Tracey has been living and working on Pender since 2009: “When I arrived, there were 700 people on a care provider waitlist—I immediately started onboarding patients. Without NPs here, people would have to get on a ferry and leave the island for primary and urgent care. It’s made a huge difference having NPs in our community”.
In rural communities, relationship building is key to improved health outcomes. “Especially patients with more complex health concerns”, says Lee-Ann. “We will have a 30-minute appointment and make good use of every minute”. Spending quality time with their patients also allows for more conversations around health promotion, as well as illness and injury prevention. “Patient education is a huge component of NP practice in a small town or rural community. I work hard at developing a therapeutic relationship with my patients and see it as collaborative care. It’s empowering for me, and for my patients, when they understand why I’m ordering a test for example. Then they can make truly informed decisions about their own care”, says Lee-Ann.
Tracey and Lee-Ann recently participated in the CARE course, a two-day inter-professional team-oriented learning experience developed by rural healthcare practitioners for rural medical staff, nurses, and pre-hospital providers. The course enhances healthcare teams’ ability to deliver comprehensive rural emergency care across airway management, trauma care, cardiac care, emergency obstetrics, pediatrics, and neonatal care. “Rural Continuing Medical Education (CME) is hugely important”, says Lee-Ann. “We don’t have immediate access to specialists, especially out here in our island community where we’re the only medical facility. If someone is having a heart attack and I’m the only provider in the clinic, I want to know how to assist them. The CARE course is phenomenal.” For Tracey, one of the most rewarding things about NP practice is CME: “The knowledge and experience that came from the CARE Course is priceless. I was exhausted by the end but so thankful—the team was supportive and the hands-on skill stations were great”.
The NP role was officially established and introduced into the B.C. healthcare system in 2005. It’s one of the fastest growing healthcare professions, with more than 30 graduate-level NP programs offered at institutions throughout Canada. Given this momentum, we asked Tracey how she sees the NP role evolving in healthcare: “Well, I’d like to see more of us! More NPs on remote and rural islands!” She is similarly emphatic when pitching rural community practice to new NPs; “I didn’t have a background in emergency—I learnt as I went. I had some incredibly supportive physician colleagues who helped walk me though things”. Lee-Ann agrees: “It’s such a fun job. I love combining my primary care NP work with more hands-on emergency care. And there is so much support available now, like RTVS [real-time virtual support from experienced emergency physicians]. Ultimately, our islander patients are so appreciative when they can be treated in their home community”.
National Nurse Practitioner Week acknowledges the critical role NPs fill in Canada’s healthcare system, delivering patient-centered care across diverse settings. Island Health is proud to highlight the care NPs provide in our region, and express gratitude for their exceptional work. Happy Nurse Practitioner Week 2025!
