A long-awaited Masters of Nursing-Nurse Practitioner (MN-NP) program at Thompson Rivers University will begin accepting applications as of tomorrow, March 1.

The university says this two-year program is the first of its kind to be offered in the Interior Health region. While it will be based in Kamloops, it will be open to nurses and nursing students from across the province.

In a news release, TRU says the addition to the School of Nursing is the result of a 2021-22 announcement from the BC Government to provide $5 million to public post-secondary institutions to begin the expansion of nursing seats throughout the province.

“It’s exciting to see a new program that addresses the needs of our region and reflects the strengths of our faculty,” TRU President and Vice-Chancellor, Brett Fairbairn, said.

“Nurse-practitioners are leaders in health-care delivery, and I’m confident that this new offering will equip students with the critical skills needed to support BC’s people.”

TRU Dean of Nursing Rani Srivastava says the program – which will have 15 seats in total – will give students a masters level education that allows them to work as independent health practitioners.

“The MN-NP program at TRU is long awaited. It will be the only program in the Interior and will help address the need in our region,” she said. “We are heartened by the amazing support we have received from current practitioners to support our students and there’s a lot of interest from future students.”

She’s anticipating to get between eight and 10 seats filled in the first year, before ramping up in year two.

The university says nurse practitioners are able to assess a patient’s health, prescribe medications, order and interpret tests, and make referrals to specialists. In B.C., nurse practitioners can work in primary care clinics, acute care, emergency departments, ambulatory clinics, walk-in clinics, residential care homes, and hospice services.

“Nurse practitioners play an important role in BC’s health-care system,” added B.C.’s Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Selina Robinson.

“This program will allow for more nurses to train and stay close to home, expand health-care offerings to those who need it, and expand the skills nurses want to provide in primary and acute care settings that British Columbians rely on.”

The program is currently under review by the British Columbia College of Nurses and Nurse Midwives education program review committee.

TRU says the addition of the program builds on its current health-care education programs, which include the Masters of Nursing graduate degree, Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) program, Practical Nurse diploma, and Health Care Assistant and Continuing Education certificates.