Overcoming barriers to practice: A nurse practitioner-led model.
OBJECTIVE
Nurse practitioners (NPs) in Ontario, Canada, experience many barriers to practice that negatively influence their ability to increase access to comprehensive primary healthcare services. A NP-Led Clinic Model has helped to overcome many of the barriers and has had a real impact on access to care.


METHODS
Legislative and regulatory documents from the government of Ontario were reviewed. Reflection upon the barriers to NP practice in Ontario and the positive impact of the new model of care is presented.


CONCLUSIONS
NPs with a voice in the governance and operations of a workplace have the potential to reduce barriers to practice.


CONCLUSIONS
Lessons for NPs internationally can be learned from the experience of the Ontario NP-Led Clinic Model.
Laurentian University School of Nursing, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. rheale@laurentian.ca
Roberta
R
Heale
D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D033161:Government Regulation; D006801:Humans; D016294:Models, Nursing; D017146:Models, Organizational; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000458:organization & administration; D009864:Ontario; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration; D024382:Professional Role; D000078329:Workforce