Nurse practitioners are just a few months away from being able to apply their skills in the Yukon after the legislature passed new rules Thursday.

The Yukon is the last jurisdiction in Canada to regulate nurse practitioners — registered nurses who have completed master’s degrees.

Shawn O'Donovan was registered as a nurse practitioner in Nova Scotia, but she's only recognized as a registered nurse in Haines Junction, Yukon, where she is stationed.

"Our core philosophy is sort of individualized care, as well as approaching care from a preventative, health promotion and wellness perspective, as well as encouraging patient education," O'Donovan said.

O'Donovan said the new legislation will gives nurse practitioners a little more autonomy.

"We'll have a greater scope of drugs to prescribe, diagnostics to prescribe, as well as, you know, greater responsibility and autonomy around managing patients' care."

But the territory still has to set regulations, police and practices to guide the nurse practitioners.

Patricia McGarr, the executive director of the Yukon Registered Nurses Association, said the nurses association will be working with a consultant and committee to work on parameters in the coming months.

"We also need to see if there are any policies or processes in place in the Yukon right now that might inhibit their practice."

YMA president sees more limited role

In some provinces, nurse practitioners are allowed to make complex diagnoses and prescribe certain types of medication.

Nurses in the Yukon are hoping the new rules will allow them to do the same in the territory — but some doctors don’t think the nurse practitioners should be able to expand the scope of their practice.

”I do not see nurse practitioners being able to function independently,” said Dr. Rao Tadepalli, the president of the Yukon Medical Association. “I don’t think they have enough training in that regard.”

Tadepalli said doctors are part of the committee that will look at regulations, policies and job descriptions for nurse practitioners.

"We form part of the equation. There are numerous other players that give input as well. It really is up to the government, finally, to run this whole game,” Tadepalli said.

While the nurses are hoping the new rules will be ready within months, Tadepalli said it could take a year to finalize the regulations.