Diane Speranza of Clermont, Fla., listens to a child's heartbeat while taking her vital signs aboard the U.S. Navy hospital ship

Nurse practitioners can now sign cremation certificates, one of several changes made to seven of eight Acts when the Health Practitioners (Replacement of Statutory References to Medical Practitioners) Bill came into force, enabling nurse Practitioners and other health professionals to do more for their patients.

Dr Jill Clendon, the Ministry of Health’s acting chief nursing officer, said the changes show how important these professionals are to our health system. “Patients have a lot of interaction with nurses, whether at home, at their local general practice, in hospital or aged-residential care. Nurse practitioners complement and enhance existing services offered to patients.”