The Quebec government, hoping to make the province’s ERs less crowded and speed up treatment for patients, will be giving nurses new powers formerly reserved for doctors.
Among the new powers, some of which will go into effect on Oct. 22 and the rest on in January, will be the ability to treat wounds, order lab tests and prescribe some medications, including contraceptives and treat people with sexually transmitted diseases.
The Quebec Order of Nurses and Health Minister Gaetan Barette agreed this should lead to less jammed clinics and hospital ERs because nurses in home care won't have to consult with a doctor before doing some basic treatments.
The nurses' ethics code has also been updated outlining their new responsibilities.
“It means that the nurse can start the assessment, do the test, provide the dressing so this patient will first of all feel better and heal faster,” said Quebec Order of Nurses President Lucie Tremblay. “They won't have to go to the clinic, you won't have to go to the emergency room and the situation will be better stabilized.”
