Celebrating nurse practitioners: An essential part of Island health care

National Nurse Practitioner Week is November 9 to 15 and the PEI government is proud to celebrate and recognize the incredible work of nurse practitioners across the province.

These skilled professionals are helping more Islanders get the care they need and are often the first point of contact for those transitioning off the patient registry (a wait list for people without a primary care provider).

One of those nurse practitioners is Josh Vriends.

Josh started out as a registered nurse, gaining experience in emergency care and mental health and addictions services. Driven by a desire to serve in a broader capacity, he returned to school after four years to become a nurse practitioner.

Today, he is part of the team at Harbourside Patient Medical Home in Summerside, serving as a primary care provider to patients, helping more Islanders move off the patient registry.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to meet with patients and hear how appreciative they are of the help they’re receiving. As a nurse practitioner, I get to help solve problems with them or for them, offer medical investigations, and address their needs. They’re often very grateful, and they let that be known.”

— Josh Vriends

Nurse practitioners like Josh are essential to keeping PEI’s healthcare system strong.

Whether it’s diagnosing and treating illness, ordering tests, prescribing medications, or working with other health professionals, nurse practitioners are fully equipped to provide excellent primary care.

The ability to work across settings and collaborate with others is part of what makes them essential to the health care system, especially here in PEI. 

Nurse practitioners work in patient medical homes, primary care access clinics, long-term care, hospitals, and specialties like mental health, addictions, and women’s wellness.

This wide range of care is also what Josh finds most rewarding.

“There’s so much variety in this line of work. In a single day, you can go from a morning appointment with a mom and her brand-new baby, to an afternoon helping someone near the end of their life by collaborating with their homecare team.”

— Vriends

That range of care shows the adaptability and compassion nurse practitioners bring to their work.  They care for Islanders at every stage of life, bringing knowledge, empathy, and respect to each visit.

Nurse Practitioner Week is an opportunity to honour their contributions, recognize the vital role they play in our communities, and celebrate the difference they make every day.