Nurse practitioners helping address physician shortage ‘crisis’

Anna Cabrera

In March 2022, Inspire Primary Health Care reported that 44,000 Windsor-Essex residents did not have a family doctor. That’s a significant increase from the same month in 2020 when 36,000 individuals reported being without a primary care physician.

While many Windsor-based doctors and members of the Ontario College of Family Physicians are lobbying for solutions to address that shortage and the issue of access to primary care, what many don’t know is that a viable alternative to a primary physician is a nurse practitioner.

Nurse practitioners, or NPs, are advanced practice registered nurses who have received additional education and training to be able to provide primary care to patients. They’re a practical resource for many communities with limited access to general doctors.

NPs like Nancy Mahon, receive advanced training that permits them to diagnose and treat a wide range of common health problems.

An NP may have a master’s or doctoral degree, and have taken course work in physiology, anatomy and pharmacology, undergoing extensive clinical training and passing national certifications to practice.

Acknowledging the shortages of primary care physicians in “various pockets of Ontario,” says Mahon, “there’s a big crisis in some communities in terms of seeking health care.

“What some may not know is how to go about seeking a nurse practitioner who’s accepting patients, a professional who can be a really valuable resource.” interest in the profession as well.

“I think more people are becoming more mindful of the imprint the nurse practitioner has in communities, and how nurse practitioners can and do alleviate the burden on the health-care system as a whole,” she says. “Nurse practitioners provide accessible health care, which is a really big barrier for some people, especially those who need timely care.” there may be a dietician, a physiotherapist, or social workers, are also becoming more prevalent.

“And this is all good news because it means increased access.” depth one-on-one, so I can investigate a lot deeper what the current health issue is or seems to be. In this model, you’re not struggling with long wait times.”

Although she runs her own practice now, for a decade Mahon worked in such a clinic alongside numerous health-care professionals dedicated to providing patients with exemplary care. The quality of care that one receives from a nurse practitioner, she says, is equivalent across the board and in any setting.

Currently, there are 6,000 nurse practitioners licensed to practice across Canada. And the number is likely to grow, says Mahon.

Mahon, who sees patients through her own private practice, Functional Health Practitioner, suggests individuals visit the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit Website which lists nurse practitioners and doctors who are currently accepting patients.

Mahon says more and more people are becoming aware of the nurse practitioner which will help alleviate the stress on the community – and perhaps generate increased

According to the Canadian Nurses Association, the first nurse practitioners began practicing medicine in the 1960s, but Mahon says it’s only “fairly recently that more and more NPs are being incorporated into various health settings, like family health teams and community health centres.

“Nurse practitioner-led clinics, which are run by completely autonomous nurse practitioners who oversee a team-based setting where

Anna Cabrera

For National Nursing Week 2023, the Canadian Nurses Association asked its membership to take to social media to celebrate the many roles that nurses play in patient care and throughout their health-care journey.

They asked nurses to bring “to light the courage and commitment that nurses work under every day” and to show the general public the valuable role that nurses play in the community.

For registered nurse Jody Cabrera, a Windsor resident and one of thousands of Canadian nurses who work across the border in Detroit, the ability to share her experiences and insight as a nurse on social media has had its benefits — and its drawbacks.

“There’s this intersection of our work (as nurses) and technology which I think has drastically transformed how people see health care,” says Cabrera, who is studying for her master’s degree. “People are more aware in general, but what’s hardest to do is to be able to point out misconceptions or errors in knowledge in a way that people can understand it… what’s really tough is that I wish people had more trust or respect for the information I provide, the truth that I can share because I’ve taken an extended science degree, rather than watching all these people screaming at each other or warning each other about incorrect information.

“Sometimes I feel like I can’t be fully plugged in because I don’t want to be part of the noise. But I wish people understood that (as a nurse), I’m not pushing an agenda – I work in a field of science and want to share new information as it becomes available because there’s a reason we do what we do. We’re constantly re-evaluating what we know to be true for the benefit of the community at large.” don’t have any motivation to do this, as in I’m not getting any money or winning prizes for sharing truth. I’m not trying to push politics.

“For most people in my field, it’s similar. We’re voices that are out there offering trustworthy information for a lot of people, giving insight into our experiences.”

The College of Nurses of Ontario seems to share her sentiment. In January 2023, it published a video on its website cno.org urging nurses to reflect before their post, and to recognize that their responsibilities do not end at the walls of the hospitals and clinics in which they work. Because social media posts can and do spread very quickly, it’s an opportunity for nurses to communicate positive, encouraging information, amplifying the value of their work and celebrating the successes of those in their field.

She explains that nurse practitioners typically appear in one of three settings: a hospital, a nurse practitioner-led clinic or an independent private practice. The only difference is that independent nurse practitioners are unable to file for OHIP, which means that a patient’s care would need to be covered by private insurance or paid for out-of-pocket, she says.

“It is premium health care but the greater benefit to this is the access,” says Mahon. “This model means I am not so busy that it takes forever to get an appointment with me. I provide weekend hours, and in some cases evening hours. People can email or text me if they need to access care, and I have the opportunity to do in-

“The opportunities for learning and to provide care are so great in this field. For me, I took additional studies in functional medicine, which means I focus on getting to the root of the problem. And there may be some investigations that aren’t covered, but I’m taking health care beyond the prescription – the whole person, and all the dynamics that affect them and their health,” she says.

“I know that there are so many (people) frustrated with the healthcare system, through no fault of the incredible professionals who are out there caring for patients every day,” muses Mahon. “But (in this profession), we can employ critical thinking. We have the knowledge base and experience that is very similar to a general physician. And we have the deep compassion and empathy and all the traits needed to care for someone.

“We were nurses first.”

Still, Cabrera says that there are many benefits to seeing nurses make regular appearances on social media, especially for those who may not have a nurse or other medical professional in their own family or circle of friends.

“If you see a nurse commenting or posting, you can know that you have at least one trusted source, somebody who’s in the trenches in real time,” says Cabrera. “For me, I

“I wish it was as easy as bringing truth to people and having them go, ‘Oh, okay, I’m going to completely throw my old perceptions and belief systems out the window because this person with a science degree can be trusted,’” says Cabrera with a laugh. “It can be very hard to change the mind of a person who’s convinced otherwise.

“But what I really would love for people to know is that even we, as nurses, read something new and crazy, but we have a responsibility to look it up so we’re not limited to the echo chambers of our own beliefs. That’s both the downfall and strength of social media… as more information becomes available, we must be responsible for sharing what we know, scientifically, to be true.”

Cabrera says that while she’s been cautious online, she takes any opportunity to advocate for her profession, especially by questioning content that may reflect poorly on the nursing and medical profession. She’s also thoughtful about exactly how and what she posts, knowing that although her social profiles are set to private, there’s a chance that information could end up public, so she’s consistent about how she represents her knowledge and her expertise.

“There really are a lot of advantages for nurses (in social media),” says Cabrera. “We have an unprecedented ability to discuss and share and provide access to information to the general public in real time.”

But the best part is to share positivity and truth – which is why, she says, she became a nurse in the first place.