This text is part of the special section Professions and careers
If the first image that comes to mind places nurses in a hospital, at the bedside of patients, they are in fact called upon to work in very varied environments. Portrait of a profession with a bright future.
We can distinguish the three types of nurses according to their level of education. Those who have earned a college degree are known as nurse technicians. “Usually, nurses who leave CEGEP work in hospitals,” explains Françoise Filion, assistant professor at the School of Nursing at McGill University.
Clinical nurses are those who have obtained a bachelor’s degree. Thanks to this certification, they obtain the authority to prescribe various medications, ranging from hormonal contraceptives to wound care.
Finally, those we call “supernurses” are specialized nurse practitioners (SNPs). President of the Association of Specialized Nurse Practitioners of Quebec (AIPSQ), Christine Laliberté would however like us to avoid using the hyperbolic nickname to talk about them: “All nurses in Quebec are supernurses! » IPS will have accumulated at least two years of experience in a field before obtaining a specialized master’s degree in their field of expertise. They are found in pediatrics, mental health, primary care, neonatology and adult care.
Helping the most vulnerable
“We have essentially the same field of practice as family doctors,” summarizes Isabelle Têtu, IPS who works with marginalized populations in Quebec. The nuance lies in the details: IPS do not have the same diagnostic or prescribing power as general practitioners.
However, they gain flexibility, thanks to the method of remuneration – NPs are salaried, unlike their medical colleagues, who are paid on a fee-for-service basis. This nuance allowed Mme Stubborn to co-found, in 2011, the SABSA Solidarity Cooperative, which offers health services to vulnerable populations. “We can afford to have patients who do not show up for appointments or who have lost their health insurance card. We can go to places where there are people who don’t fit into the traditional network. »
Same story with Françoise Filion. The one who founded, in 2017, the McGill-Bonneau nursing clinic, where people experiencing homelessness can obtain a consultation with nurses or nursing students, is delighted to see the benefits that IPS can provide to people who are sometimes resistant to the idea of entering the health system. “We also work at the Montreal Native Friendship Center, and the students are called upon to accompany people who need to go to the hospital. This is where they discover the racism they often face. They can demand that the person be treated well. »
Take care, everywhere
Passionate about her profession, Françoise Filion is aware that the general public appreciates her: nurses are popular. “We have great credibility,” adds Isabelle Têtu.
The two IPS are also delighted with the latitude that their profession offers them. “ [L’IPS] evaluates the person in their uniqueness, through a holistic approach,” we read on the AIPSQ website. This approach allows nurses to create a strong relationship with their patients. “We provide comprehensive care,” explains Isabelle Têtu. We start from the hair to the toes, we are interested in the situation of the person, in the environment in which they operate. » Monitoring sometimes extends over several years.
There are more than 83,000 nurses in Quebec, including 1,314 NPs. How can we multiply the influence of these essential professionals? Ideas abound: “They could support people who do not have a family doctor,” suggests Christine Laliberté. “I dream that there will be IPS in every Indigenous community in Quebec! » says Françoise Filion enthusiastically. Isabelle Têtu believes that they should be given more power, particularly for the treatment of patients who use opioids. In short, the best we can do is give them every opportunity to practice their profession and take care of those who need it.
This content was produced by the Special Publications team at Duty, relating to marketing. The writing of the Duty did not take part.