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Nurse in Practice Program

Last updated on February 15, 2024

BC’s primary care strategy delivers actions that support faster and improved access to health care for people who live throughout the province, through team-based care that includes recruitment of health-care professionals.

The Nurse in Practice program is designed to expand team-based primary care by integrating more nurses into family practices. Under this program, longitudinal primary practices that deliver longitudinal primary care to one or more panels of patients, or that provide focused primary care to priority populations, may be eligible for funding to hire a registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN) to work as part of their core clinical team.

The Nurse in Practice program is designed to:

  • allow family physicians (FPs), nurse practitioners (NPs), registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) to work to their full scope of practice
  • increase capacity for larger patient panels, which means primary care providers can provide longitudinal care to more people
  • support primary care provider and nurse satisfaction while providing care

For patients, that means:

  • more timely access to primary care services
  • improved follow-up care and care coordination
  • improved patient care quality and health outcomes​

The Nurse in Practice program was piloted in a number of communities in BC, after the Ministry of Health heard from primary care partners about the need for RNs and LPNs to strengthen team-based care.

Applications may be submitted at any time. Application assessments will occur quarterly. Deadlines for the 2024/25 fiscal year are: April 1, 2024; July 1, 2024; October 1, 2024; January 1, 2025.

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How the Program Works

  • Eligible clinics can apply to the Ministry of Health for funding to hire a Registered Nurse (RN) or a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
  • RNs and LPNs hired under the program support primary care by providing services such as triage and assessment of patients, health promotions, disease/injury prevention and care coordination
  • RNs and LPNs funded through the program will not complete clerical-type or medical office assistant work
 

Which Clinics are Eligible

Eligible clinics will include:

  • Longitudinal primary care practices that are Family Physician (FP) or Nurse Practitioner (NP) owned and operated, or alternatively, operated by a not-for-profit society
  • Focused primary care clinics owned and operated by an FP or NP, or alternatively, operated by a not-for-profit society, and serving priority populations (e.g., Indigenous Peoples, maternity care, elderly/frail, sexual health and/or gender affirming care, complex care, and mental health and substance use)
  • Clinical practices currently employing their own RNs or LPNs
  • Those with up-to-date panels in the Provincial Attachment System
 

How to Apply

 

The timeline for response

  • We estimate that it will take approximately six weeks for program applications to be reviewed.
  • Applications will be assessed on a quarterly basis. It is important you double check that your clinic meets all eligibility requirements in order to efficiently move through the approval process.
  • You will hear from the Ministry within eight weeks as to the status of your application.

 

In 2017, the Ministry of Health launched a transformational team-based primary health-care strategy envisioned to increase patient attachment and access to quality, comprehensive, culturally safe, and person-centered primary care services throughout the province. The Nurse in Practice is part of this work to expand access to team-based care for people living in B.C.

Read more about government’s work to expand access to primary-care providers and team-based care:

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