Nurse practitioners are being encouraged to open their own clinics, as part of Alberta's plan to address a growing shortage of family doctors. NPs are qualified registered nurses with additional education to take their skills to the next level. While the government's decision appears to be a no-brainer, not everybody loves it (most especially family docs). 

2:55 | Athabasca U president Dr. Alex Clark, Dr. Jennifer Knopp-Sihota, and recent graduate Chantelle Gray explain what nurse practitioners do (and don't do), address dissatisfaction expressed by the AMA, and tell us what else they'd do to fix healthcare in Alberta. 

MORE ON NP-LED CLINICS: https://www.athabascau.ca/news/faculty/faculty-of-health-disciplines/what-do-nurse-practitioner-led-clinics-mean-for-health-care-in-alberta

DR. CLARK'S OP/ED: https://edmontonjournal.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-nursing-practitioners-a-solution-hidden-in-plain-sight

OUR RECENT INTERVIEW WITH FAMILY DOC BRADLEY MARTIN: rtrj.info/111423Martin

OUR RECENT INTERVIEW WITH AMA PRESIDENT DR. PAUL PARKS: rtrj.info/110923Parks

47:10 | Ryan and Johnny read audience feedback after the Real Talk Round Table.

49:00 | Ryan revisits his comments earlier this week on homelessness, and reads a few comments from our Instagram post.

1:11:40 | WTF is Elon Musk doing? Ryan and Johnny touch on Musk telling Disney CEO Bob Iger to "G-F-Y". (Yikes!)

1:19:35 | Real Talkers are all fired up about "natural stupidity," the Councillor Jennifer Rice controversy in Edmonton, political parties at the municipal level, the Alberta Pension Plan idea, and the town of Westlock voting on banning Pride flags and crosswalks. The Flamethrower is presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park: Palisades, Namao, Newcastle, Westmount, and Baseline Road. 

FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: [email protected] 

BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: https://www.patreon.com/ryanjespersen

WEBSITE: https://ryanjespersen.com/

FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj 

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR SPONSORS! https://ryanjespersen.com/sponsors

The views and opinions expressed in this show are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Relay Communications Group Inc. or any affiliates.