By Jane Narayan, NP Board Member, and Angela Wignall, CEO, Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of BC
November 10, 2025
There’s no shortage of headlines about the challenges facing BC’s health system. Patients struggling to find a family doctor. Emergency rooms overwhelmed. Providers burned out. Wait times growing longer. These problems are real and complicated.
But at the heart of the matter is a simple question: How can people get the care they need, when they need it, from the right provider?
One of the answers is already here. As we mark National Nurse Practitioner Week (Nov. 10-16), it’s worth taking a closer look at one of the fastest-growing professions in our health system.
Just over a decade ago, there were fewer than 400 nurse practitioners (NPs) in British Columbia. Today, that number is nearly 1,400 and rising fast. Educated at a master’s or doctoral level, NPs are autonomous, licensed healthcare professionals who diagnose and treat illness, order tests, prescribe medications and more. They care for people across their lifespan, from newborns to older adults. You can find a nurse practitioner in just about any health care setting, including primary care — our first stop when we need a prescription or a check-up.
In fact, earlier this year, Canada’s former federal health minister confirmed that care delivered by a nurse practitioner is equivalent to that of a primary care physician and should be publicly funded in every province and territory. This call to action is backed by clear evidence: NPs are providing essential care that expands access and reduces strain on health systems.
A BC study of NP‑led primary care clinics found that within one year of opening, patients reported major improvements in how easily they could get appointments, how well their care was coordinated and how connected they felt to their provider. Physical health scores also improved, and patients said they finally had a regular place to go for care. Research across Canada shows that when NPs are part of a care team, emergency room visits and hospital admissions go down, workplace satisfaction goes up and patients have better experiences.
So, what’s the problem?
Even as the profession grows to meet demand, the systems meant to support NPs haven’t kept pace. Outdated funding models and policies often make it difficult to recruit, employ and compensate NPs in ways that match the needs of patients and communities.
Unlike physicians — who often work across multiple settings with flexible contracts — NPs are limited by restrictive models that don’t reflect the different ways they can work to help increase access. The result is a mismatch: the system needs more NP-led care and NPs are ready to provide it, but the policy tools to make it happen simply aren’t there yet.
To build on the progress already made, we need the next level of government leadership that fully unlocks the potential of nurse practitioners.
The federal government has made it clear: provinces must ensure people can access NP care or risk losing health transfers. That means it’s time for BC to modernize how NP care is funded and expand the clinics and teams where that care is available.
Patients can also help lead the way. Ask if an NP is available in your primary care clinic or health centre. Already have one? Let others know about the great care you’re getting. Or talk to your MLA about the importance of investing in this essential workforce.
Most of all, take heart. Despite our challenges, healthcare solutions are growing right in front of us. A rapidly expanding community of nurse practitioners are ready, willing and able to meet the needs of more people in BC, if we support them to.
- Jane Narayan, NP Board Member, and Angela Wignall, CEO, Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of BC