National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0

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National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0
Introduction
Hierarchical structure

31302 - Nurse practitioners

Nurse practitioners are registered nurses with additional education, advanced knowledge and nursing experience, and a specialty of practice. They provide a range of health services to patients and deliver preventive and continuous care toward the management of patients' health. Nurse practitioners work in conjunction with physicians and collaboratively with other nursing colleagues and health-care providers, or they may work independently. They are employed in community health centres, hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, and rehabilitation centres. Nurse practitioners may specialize in primary healthcare or acute care.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • extended class registered nurse
    • nurse practitioner
    • pediatric nurse practitioner

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • General practitioners and family physicians (See 31102 General practitioners and family physicians)
    • Managers in health care (See 30010 Managers in health care)
    • Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating (See 31209 Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating)
    • Physicians assistants, midwives and allied health professionals (See 31303 Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals)
    • Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (See 31301 Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses)
    • Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine (See 31100 Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine)
    • Specialists in surgery (See 31101 Specialists in surgery)

  • Main duties

    This group performs some or all of the following duties:

    • Examine patients and take their medical histories and consult with physicians and other medical practitioners to evaluate patients' physical and mental health
    • Order laboratory tests, X-rays and other diagnostic procedures
    • Inoculate and vaccinate patients
    • Advise patients and their families on health care including health promotion, disease, illness and accident prevention
    • Collaborate with members of an interdisciplinary health team such as family physicians, therapists and nutritionists to plan, implement, coordinate and evaluate patient care in consultation with patients and their families
    • Perform a patient advocacy role
    • Prescribe and administer medications
    • May coordinate or manage primary patient care.

  • Employment requirements

    • Nurse practitioners usually require a master's degree in nursing; or completion of a nursing program with additional advanced or extended primary health care nursing education; and several years of practice as a registered nurse.
    • Registration with a regulatory body is required for nurse practitioners in all provinces and territories.

  • Additional information

    • There is little to no mobility between nurse practitioner specializations without further training.
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