Health Transition Fund Final Report - Projects Listed By Subject Area

Glossary of Terms
Primary Health Care is essential care (promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative and supportive), that
is focused on preventing illness and promoting health. Primary health care is both a philosophy of health
care and an approach to providing health services. It has been adopted by the World Health Organization
and by Canada as the key to enabling people to lead socially and economically productive lives. Clients
of primary health care can be individuals, families, groups, communities and populations. The principles
of primary health care are accessibility, public participation, health prevention, appropriate technology and
inter-sectoral cooperation (Canadian Nurses Association - Policy Statement, April 1995).
Primary Care is initial client contact with the health care system for the purpose of assessment, diagnosis
and treatment of acute episodic and chronic illness or injury.
Nurse Practitioner refers to a registered nurse with advanced knowledge and clinical expertise in
assessment, diagnosis and health care management. A nurse practitioner’s practice is comprehensive in
scope and provides services that promote health, prevent injury and disease, cure illnesses and injuries,
rehabilitate and support individuals, families and communities in all health care settings.
Extended Practice refers to practice that is characterized by the use of competencies required to perform
activities that are usually considered to be outside the current scope of nursing practice. These activities
typically fall within the usual scope of medical practice and include such functions as diagnosing and
prescribing as well as specific procedures or technical skills (Canadian Nurses Association, A Proposed
Framework for Advanced Nursing Practice: Discussion Guide, March 1999).
Expanded Practice refers to the development of new knowledge and skills within the practice of nursing.
In expanded practice, functions historically performed only by physicians have been adapted and adopted
such that they have become part of nursing. In expanded practice, competencies involved with diagnosing
and prescribing are considered part of the scope of nursing practice and not as an extension into medicine
(Canadian Nurses Association, A Proposed Framework for Advanced Nursing Practice: Discussion Guide,
March 1999).
Delegated Medical Functions/Protocol Arrangements are functions which registered nurses in
extended/expanded roles are authorized to perform when the conditions (e.g., advanced preparation for
The Centre for Nursing Studies in collaboration with
The Institute for the Advancement of Public Policy, Inc.