Allied Primary Health Practitioners
(NOC 3124)
in All HealthThis group includes nurse practitioners, anesthesia assistants, and midwives who provide primary health care and treatment in conjunction with physicians and in collaboration with other health professionals. Nurse practitioners provide a range of health services to patients delivering preventive and continuous care toward the management of patients' health. Nurse practitioners are independent care providers with a broader scope of practice relative to registered nurses. Anesthesia assistants are specially trained health professionals that participate in the care of the stable surgical patient during general, regional, or conscious sedation anesthesia through medical directives under the supervision of an anesthesiologist. They are employed in hospitals. Midwives are primary care providers who provide full-course care to women and their babies during pregnancy, labour, birth and the post-natal period. They are employed in hospitals, clinics, birthing centres or in private practice.
Job Outlook
Average
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Compared to: All Health
The employment outlook over the next few years for this occupational group is “average”, which indicates the chances of a qualified individual finding work is comparable to the average for all occupations in Nova Scotia. This is not a large occupation in Nova Scotia so job opportunities may not be that frequent. The number employed in this occupation is expected to grow moderately over the next few years, which will likely provide some additional opportunities for employment. With a large percent of workers being 55 years of age and older, retirements are expected to be a key contributor to employment opportunities over the coming years. Allied Primary Health Practitioners most commonly work full-time hours. Furthermore, the jobs may either be permanent or temporary positions, as both are common. Also, a fair portion of the workforce is self-employed, so having the option to "work for yourself" may appeal to some individuals’ interests/motivations.
The median employment income for 60% of Allied Primary Health Practitioners who worked full-time, year-round in 2015 was $100,450. Across all occupations in Nova Scotia, 59% of those who worked full-time year round had a median employment income of $43,600.
(Source: 2016 Census)
Hourly Pay
N/A
MinimumN/A
MedianN/A
MaximumAnnual Pay
$29,276
Minimum$95,885
Median$108,296
MaximumCompared to: All Health
Hourly Pay
$16.38
Minimum$25.50
Median$41.00
MaximumAnnual Pay
$10,740
Minimum$43,853
Median$88,944
MaximumAbout the job
Nature of work
This group includes nurse practitioners, anesthesia assistants, and midwives who provide primary health care and treatment in conjunction with physicians and in collaboration with other health professionals. Nurse practitioners provide a range of health services to patients delivering preventive and continuous care toward the management of patients' health. Nurse practitioners are independent care providers with a broader scope of practice relative to registered nurses.
Anesthesia assistants are specially trained health professionals that participate in the care of the stable surgical patient during general, regional, or conscious sedation anesthesia through medical directives under the supervision of an anesthesiologist. They are employed in hospitals.
Midwives are primary care providers who provide full-course care to women and their babies during pregnancy, labour, birth and the post-natal period. They are employed in hospitals, clinics, birthing centres or in private practice.
Job duties
Nurse practitioners perform some or all of the following duties:
- Examine patients and take their medical histories and consult with physicians and other medical practitioners to evaluate patients' physical and mental health.
- Order laboratory tests, X-rays and other diagnostic procedures.
- Inoculate and vaccinate patients.
- Advise patients and their families on health care including health promotion, disease, illness and accident prevention.
- Collaborate with members of an interdisciplinary health team such as family physicians, therapists and nutritionists to plan, implement, coordinate and evaluate patient care in consultation with patients and their families.
Anesthesia assistants perform some or all of the following duties:
- Provide technical support to anesthesiologists for complex anesthesia equipment.
- Provide airway management assistance.
- Monitor patient's hemodynamic status, blood, fluid, and pharmacological therapy.
- Perform activities such as administration of anesthetic gases and medications, insertion and management of hemodynamic monitors, and management of anesthesia equipment.
- Provide physiologic surveillance of the stable patient under general anesthesia, regional anesthesia, and for procedural sedation.
Midwives perform some or all of the following duties:
- Provide primary, full-course, care to women and their babies during pregnancy, labour, birth and the post-natal period including monitoring the health of mother and baby.
- Manage labour and spontaneous normal deliveries.
- Care for, assess and monitor the health of newborns and refer infants to appropriate medical services as required.
- Provide advice and guidance regarding care for newborns and young infants.
Sample job titles
- acute care nurse practitioner
- anesthesia assistant
- midwife
- nurse practitioner
- nurse-midwife
- physician assistant
- primary health care nurse practitioner
- registered midwife (RM)
Skills
Compassion, sensitivity, and a desire to help people are important. Maturity and good judgement are essential. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills are important. You should be able to inspire confidence and put people at ease, be observant, and notice a client's symptoms and response to treatment. It is important to understand and practice professional ethics.
Job requirements
- Nurse practitioners usually require a master's degree in nursing; or completion of a nursing program with additional advanced or extended primary health care nursing education; and several years of practice as a registered nurse.
- Registration with a regulatory body is required for nurse practitioners in Nova Scotia.
- Anesthesia assistants require completion of an anesthesia assistance program or having achieved equivalent clinical/professional experience (over 5 years) working exclusively in anesthesia.
- Registration with a regulatory body is required for anesthesia assistants in Nova Scotia.
- Midwives require completion of an undergraduate university degree program in midwifery or its equivalent and a period of supervised practical training.
- Registration with a regulatory body is required for midwives in Nova Scotia.
Other considerations
Most people in these jobs are self-employed. There is no mobility between these jobs without further training.
By the numbers
Quick look
employed in 2016
employed full-time
self employed
median age
Compared to: All Health
employed in 2016
employed full-time
self employed
median age
Where will I likely work?
Halifax
Southern
Cape Breton
North Shore
Annapolis Valley
Compared to: All NS Occupations
Halifax
North Shore
Annapolis Valley
Cape Breton
Southern
Top Industries of Employment
Health Care and Social Assistance
Public Administration
Other Services
Management, Admin & Other Support
What is the age of Employment?
45-54
55-64
35-44
25-34
15-24
Compared to: All Health
45-54
35-44
55-64
25-34
65+
Top levels of education
Doctorate
N/ABachelor's degree
N/AUniversity advanced certificate or diploma
N/ACollege certificate or diploma
N/AHigh school
N/ACompared to: All Health
College certificate or diploma
$36,693 median annual incomeBachelor's degree
$57,186 median annual incomeMedicine, dentistry, veterinary, optometry
$83,000 median annual incomeHigh school
$24,119 median annual incomeMaster's degree
$87,808 median annual incomeEducation & training
Nurse midwife/nursing midwifery
This program is typically offered at the college or university level.This instructional program class includes any program that prepares registered nurses to independently deliver babies and treat mothers in the prenatal, delivery, and post-delivery periods. These programs include courses in pre-delivery screening, physician referral, and the care of infants during the delivery and immediate post-delivery phases.
Nursing/registered nurse (RN, ASN, BScN, MScN)
This program is typically offered at the college or university level.This instructional program class includes any program that generally prepares individuals in the knowledge, techniques and procedures for promoting health, providing care for sick, disabled, infirm, or other individuals or groups. These programs include courses in the administration of medication and treatments, assisting a physician during treatments and examinations, referring patients to physicians and other health care specialists, and planning education for health maintenance.
Institutions providing this program
Office of the Registrar
Halifax, NS B3H 4R2
(902) 494-2450
PO Box 5000
Antigonish, NS B2G 2W5
(902) 867-2219
PO Box 5300 1250 Grand Lake Road
Sydney, NS B1P 6L2
(888) 959-9995
Respiratory care therapy/therapist
This program may be offered at the college, trades, or university level.This instructional program class includes any program that prepares individuals, under the supervision of physicians, to assist in developing respiratory care plans, administer respiratory care procedures, supervise personnel and equipment operation, maintain records, and consult with other health care team members. These programs include courses in the applied basic biomedical sciences; anatomy, physiology, and pathology of the respiratory system; clinical medicine; therapeutic procedures; clinical expressions; data collection and record-keeping; patient communication; equipment operation and maintenance; personnel supervision; and procedures for special population groups.
Institutions providing this program
Office of the Registrar
Halifax, NS B3H 4R2
(902) 494-2450
Employment requirements & contacts
Regulations
Right to Title and Practice: This job is regulated, and the job title is protected in Nova Scotia (you may not use this job title without holding a provincial licence). A licence shows that the holder has met provincial requirements and is required to work in this job.
Right to Title and Practice: This job is regulated, and the job title is protected in Nova Scotia (you may not use this job title without holding a provincial licence). A licence shows that the holder has met provincial requirements and is required to work in this job.
Right to Title and Practice: This job is regulated, and the job title is protected in Nova Scotia (you may not use this job title without holding a provincial licence). A licence shows that the holder has met provincial requirements and is required to work in this job.
Special Requirements: Physician Assistants must be accredited under the Canadian Association of Physician Assistants