| The nursing profession in Canada is regulated in the | | | | - successful completion of the Canadian nursing |
| public interest. Regulatory nursing organizations have | | | | entrance test |
| been established in every province established | | | | If you completed your nursing education outside of |
| specifically to regulate the nursing profession in the | | | | Canada your nursing degree will be reviewed to |
| public interest. | | | | determine equivalency to Canadian education |
| A regulatory authority does not find you a job or | | | | programs and you must meet requirements for |
| even help you with establishing your nursing career. | | | | English competency if your native language is not |
| The regulatory nursing organizations in Canada work | | | | English. |
| in the public interest to ensure that Canadians who | | | | Success on the nursing entrance exam opens the |
| require nursing services will have a knowledgeable, | | | | door to your nursing career in Canada as it is usually |
| competent, and ethical practitioner to provide it. | | | | the last step to obtaining a nursing license. Once |
| What is the concept of public protection? | | | | licensing is achieved, you can start your nursing |
| Regulation of the nursing profession means that | | | | career. You can renew your registration annually if |
| certain standards and rules are in place under specific | | | | you pay the fee and prove that you have met the |
| legislation that governs the profession. Regulation | | | | requirements for continuing competency. |
| exists to protect the public who are especially | | | | Regulating Nursing Education Programs |
| vulnerable when they are sick and unable to | | | | The delivery of post secondary education in Canada |
| independently meet their own needs. Laws are | | | | is also regulated in the public interest. Nursing |
| passed to protect the public if they happen to be in | | | | schools must meet all these criteria plus the |
| this state of vulnerability. | | | | standards put in place by the regulatory nursing |
| In order to start a nursing career and continue to | | | | organizations. All nursing programs in Canada |
| practice as a nurse you must meet the requirements | | | | prepare candidates to write the same nursing |
| set by the government and enforced by the | | | | entrance test as it is a national nursing exam. This |
| regulatory nursing body. Regulating the nursing | | | | reduces the amount of variation in nursing education |
| profession improves the probability that the public will | | | | programs between provinces. |
| receive competent, knowledgeable, and ethical care | | | | Providing Professional Practice Support for Members |
| from all the nurses. | | | | One of the best ways to ensure public protection is |
| You cannot start your nursing career in Canada | | | | to provide support to the members of the nursing |
| unless you are registered with a regulatory authority | | | | profession. Providing support to practicing members |
| so you must understand what they do and how and | | | | prevents poor practice and promotes good practice. |
| why they exist. | | | | All regulatory nursing organizations will have a |
| The regulatory nursing organizations act in the public | | | | professional practice division that is responsible for |
| interest and depending on the legislation this | | | | helping members with their current practice. |
| regulatory body may be a called a college (for | | | | Consultants work on issues that are in the news and |
| example the College of Registered Nurses of British | | | | affect nursing practice. They advise members who |
| Columbia ) or an association. | | | | call in with specific questions and they write policy |
| The mandate of public protection is fulfilled by the | | | | and professional practice statements. |
| nursing regulatory body when they: | | | | In addition most regulatory nursing organizations have |
| - set professional standards | | | | a library available for members that includes electronic |
| - regulate entrance to the nursing profession | | | | databases and perhaps even a monthly publication on |
| - regulate nursing programs | | | | issues affecting the nursing profession in that |
| - provide professional practice support for members | | | | province and across the country. |
| - discipline practicing members | | | | Disciplining Practicing Members |
| Setting Professional Standards | | | | Anybody can make a complaint about a nurse simply |
| Nursing practice standards are in place in all provinces | | | | by contacting the regulatory authority. All complaints |
| in Canada. They are established by the regulatory | | | | are investigated and disciplinary action by the |
| nursing organization as the minimum standard of | | | | regulatory body must be undertaken if it is |
| practice and nurses must practice accordingly. | | | | determined that the member failed to practice |
| Professional nursing standards form the basis for | | | | according to the professional standards. |
| disciplinary investigations. | | | | When you enter the nursing profession and begin |
| Regulating Entrance Into the Nursing Profession | | | | your nursing career in Canada you practice as a |
| You must pass the nursing entrance test for Canada | | | | regulated professional. You cannot practice nursing |
| in order to become a member of the nursing | | | | or even use the title nurse if you do not have a |
| profession. Eligibility for the test is determined by the | | | | nursing license. Safe, ethical, and autonomous |
| provincial nursing regulatory body and depends on: | | | | practice as a nurse means that you must understand |
| - graduation from an approved school of nursing in | | | | the concept of public protection and how the nursing |
| Canada | | | | regulatory bodies fulfill their legislated mandate. |
| - clear criminal records check | | | | |