A nurse practitioner in a family practice residency: role description and impact on continuity of the practitioner-patient relationship.

The nurse practitioner and physician's assistant are new health practitioners providing primary health care. When teamed with family physicians, these new health practitioners can extend patient services. Family physicians should be trained to work with new health practitioners effectively. Presented is a model where a nurse practitioner and family practice residents work as co-practitioners in a family practice unit. A nurse practitioner in this role can improve the continuity of the relationship between patient and provider in a family practice residency.