The work of nurses in a family medical center.

The activities of a group of nurses working in an ambulatory care facility are described. Some new responsibilities in patient care have been adopted by these nurses, and other responsibilities have been transferred to them. It is probable that with additional training and a better understanding of their capabilities by the doctors with whom they work, more responsibility could be transferred to nurses.More detailed study needs to be done of the work being performed by nurses and others in the delivery of ambulatory health care, and a better understanding of the nurse manpower situation in this country is required. It is hoped that nurses themselves can take the initiative in such studies.The authors suggest that better use of nurse manpower resources in Canada should result in more and better health care being delivered.