Starting Somewhere: Advanced Practice Nursing in Canada

Many countries are capitalizing on nurses with advanced degrees or practice experience to increase patients’ access to healthcare. In Canada, there are two advanced practice nursing roles – nurse practitioners (NPs) and clinical nurse specialists (CNS). While both NPs and CNSs are knowledgeable nursing leaders who make important contributions to the healthcare system, only NPs have a protected title and are separately licensed from registered nurses (RNs). In this chapter, the author explores how entry-level-competencies (ELCs) are essential to the separate licensure of NPs. The author also argues how ELCs may increase NPs’ role recognition and effective use in the Canadian healthcare system.