CNO Standards and Regulations in Nursing

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Questions and Answers

What is one of the primary roles of the CNO in nursing regulation?

Conducting public health research

Designing new nursing curricula

Establishing requirements for entry to practice (correct)

Performing clinical procedures

Which statement describes the purpose of authoritative statements in nursing practice?

They provide informal guidelines for day-to-day nursing tasks.

They are opinions based on personal experience.

They outline what clients should expect from nurses.

They set out the legal and professional basis of nursing practice. (correct)

What does the Quality Assurance Program administered by the CNO aim to accomplish?

To ensure ongoing competence among nurses (correct)

To develop new nursing theories

To reduce nursing school enrollment

To manage public complaints directly

Which of the following is NOT a component of the CNO Conduct of Conduct?

Regulating hospital staffing levels Signup and view all the answers

What is a core behavior associated with respecting clients' dignity in nursing?

Demonstrating empathy and compassion Signup and view all the answers

How does cultural humility benefit nursing practice?

It fosters an understanding of diverse client backgrounds. Signup and view all the answers

What is the goal of practice guidelines put forth by the CNO?

To assist nurses with practice issues and responsibilities Signup and view all the answers

Who does the CNO Conduct of Conduct apply to?

All nurses, regardless of their roles or titles Signup and view all the answers

What is a key benefit of reflective practice for nurses?

Improved critical thinking Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect is NOT included in the process of reflective practice?

Creating a financial plan Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a condition that supports effective reflective practice?

Belief in life-long learning Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the activities included in reflective practice within an acute care workplace?

Debriefing after simulation activities Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about nurses reflecting on their practice is correct?

Reflection can lead to personal and professional growth Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of the Nursing Act, 1991?

To regulate the practice and standards of nursing in Ontario Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following tasks can Registered Nurses (RNs) and Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) independently initiate?

Assess and perform specific controlled acts without an order Signup and view all the answers

What is one requirement to maintain registration status with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO)?

Participate in the Quality Assurance program (QA) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a category of registration for nursing in Ontario?

Licensed Practical Nurse Signup and view all the answers

Which class of nurses cannot delegate the controlled acts of treating through psychotherapy?

Temporary Class Signup and view all the answers

What is considered an essential employability skill for nurses?

Developing problem-solving skills Signup and view all the answers

Which requirement is NOT part of the criteria to register as a nurse with the CNO?

Obtain a master's degree in nursing Signup and view all the answers

What role does reflection play in nursing practice?

It is essential for developing clinical skills and learning Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the seven required skills to practice nursing in Ontario?

Cognitive Requirements Signup and view all the answers

In which of the following settings might a nurse NOT typically work?

Professional sports coaching Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the core behaviours involved in providing safe and competent care?

Conducting research Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about professional relationships with healthcare team members is true?

It is important to recognize how biases affect relationships. Signup and view all the answers

What best represents acting with integrity in a nurse-client relationship?

Advocating for fair resource division while respecting client privacy Signup and view all the answers

Which action would help maintain public confidence in the nursing profession?

Complying with laws and taking responsibility for outcomes Signup and view all the answers

What is considered a controlled act that can only be performed by licensed professionals?

Putting a hand beyond the ear canal Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes a medical directive from a direct order?

Medical directives may be flexible for varying conditions. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a requirement for delegation of controlled acts?

The delegatee must be legally authorized and competent. Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to protect clients from harm in nursing practice?

To uphold ethical standards and client trust. Signup and view all the answers

What should nurses do if they encounter an error in care?

Report the error, regardless of harm. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key factor to consider when conducting a procedure under a medical directive?

Access to necessary equipment and emergency services. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement reflects the role of self-reflection in nursing practice?

Self-reflection helps identify and mitigate biases in care. Signup and view all the answers

What constitutes a conflict of interest in nursing practice?

Prioritizing personal friendships over client care. Signup and view all the answers

Which scenario exemplifies a violation of patient confidentiality?

Posting patient information on social media. Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary responsibility of nurses involved in quality assurance programs?

Proactively reporting unsafe behaviors and outcomes. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

CNO as a Regulatory Body

CNO establishes requirements for entry into nursing practice.
It sets and promotes practice standards and guidelines.
CNO administers the Quality Assurance Program.
It enforces standards of practice and conduct for the protection of the public.
CNO utilizes a disciplinary process when needed.

CNO Documents

Practice Standards: Authoritative statements define the legal and professional basis of nursing practice. Specific statements outline each nurse's accountability and responsibilities. Standards describe the expected level of performance.
Practice Guidelines: These guidelines help nurses with practice issues, encompassing areas such as pandemic planning, consent, and guidance during medically assisted dying.
CNO Code of Conduct: This code outlines the responsibilities nurses have towards clients, employers, colleagues, and the public. It explains expected behaviour, professionalism, competence, and ethical delivery of safe client care.
The code applies to all registered nurses (RN), registered practical nurses (RPN), and practical nurses (PN), regardless of role, title, or responsibility. Employers, educators, and students should also utilize the code.

Nursing Principles

Respect Client Dignity (Principle 1): Caregivers must respect client needs with empathy, compassion, and clear communication. Respect for privacy, confidentiality, informed consent, as well as recognition of personal beliefs are core behaviours.
Provide Inclusive & Culturally Safe Care (Principle 2): Cultural humility via self-reflection and advocating for equitable care are paramount. This involves understanding how personal and social contexts impact client care.
Provide Safe & Competent Care (Principle 3): Nurses must work within their legal scope of practice, education, experience, knowledge, skill, and judgment to provide safe, competent care. This includes adherence to standards, advocating for patients, and appropriate use of knowledge, skills, and judgment.
Work Respectfully with the Healthcare Team (Principle 4): Nurses must remain accountable to each other and build respectful relationships with the entire healthcare team. This necessitates self-reflection on biases, avoiding stereotypes, and professionalism in all contexts including social media.
Act with Integrity in Clients' Best Interest (Principle 5): Honest, fair practice focuses on building trust and a therapeutic nurse-client relationship. Nurses must advocate for resources, protect client privacy, avoid conflicts of interest, maintain professional boundaries, and protect clients from harm.
Maintain Public Confidence in Nursing (Principle 6): This principle involves promoting dignity, portraying professionalism, and showing leadership through complying with laws, taking accountability for decisions, omissions, and outcomes. It also includes reporting errors, unsafe behaviours, and maintaining accountability within the QA program.

Nursing Scope of Practice

Controlled Acts: Some acts, outlined by the RHPA (potentially harmful if performed by untrained personnel), should only be performed by authorized health professionals (e.g., performing a procedure below the dermis, administering a substance by injection, or treating serious disorders of thought). There are 14 controlled acts. Five controlled acts were defined in 1991.
Orders:
- Direct Orders: Individualized prescriptions for procedures, treatments, or interventions for a specific client and time. May be written or verbal (only in emergencies or when the prescriber cannot document).
- Medical Directives: Written orders for a variety of clients under specific circumstances and conditions (e.g., implementing a community clinic flu shot program for eligible clients).
Delegation: A legally authorized health professional (delegator) temporarily grants authority to perform a controlled act to another individual (delegatee), but assumes responsibility of ensuring the delegatee's competence. Sub-delegation is not permitted. Certain classes of nurses have additional restrictions on delegation of controlled acts.
Initiation: Under certain permitted regulations, RNs and RPNs can independently assess and perform some controlled acts without an order (e.g., some assessment activities). The types of specific acts permitted are not universally applicable, and will vary by legislation and facility policies

Essential Employability Skills

Essential employability skills include communication, problem-solving, respect for others, teamwork, time management, and accountability.

What is Nursing Practice?

Nursing practice is diverse and encompasses promotion of health, assessment of health conditions, care provision, treatment, and support to maintain optimal functioning.

Nursing in Ontario

Ontario has two categories of nursing registration: Registered Nurse (RN) and Registered Practical Nurse (RPN).
The regulatory body is the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO).
All nurses in Ontario must be registered with CNO.
Nurse roles can include clinical care, administration, education, counseling, leadership, and research across the lifespan in various settings.

Nursing in Canada

Each province/territory has its own regulations but "nurse" is a protected title across Canada.
Different classes of nurses exist in Canada, including General, Extended, Temporary, Special Assignment, Emergency Assignment, and Non-Practicing classes.

Requirements for Registration and Maintenance

Registration requirements include completion of an approved nursing program, passing the necessary exams (REx-PN for practical nurses, RN/RPN Jurisprudence exams).
Maintenance requires updating contact information, reporting any changes in profession or jurisdiction, reporting relevant offences, and participating in the Quality Assurance program (QA), including self-assessment and development of a learning plan.

Reflective Practice

Reflective practice is an intentional process for analyzing and learning, often involving identifying strengths, areas for improvement, and learning needs.
Nurses reflect throughout their careers, using methods like completing reflective papers, debriefing after training or simulations, and providing peer and self-feedback.
Reflection is a key aspect of continued competence for nurses.

Summary Questions

A registration class (category) of nursing is a grouping of nurses in a particular regulatory framework.
Nurses register to practice to comply with legal requirements, maintain professionalism, and be recognized as qualified practitioners.
Registration involves graduating from an accredited program and passing assessments.
The majority of nurses fall under the General or Extended class.
Your Professor's type of registration (class) is not listed in this text.
Reflection is identifying strengths and weaknesses to develop learning strategies. Nurses reflect to improve client care quality, critical thinking, and personal/professional growth.
A practicing nurse is actively engaged in nursing practice; a non-practicing nurse is not actively practicing.

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Description

Explore the essential regulatory frameworks established by the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) that govern nursing practice. This quiz covers entry requirements, standards of practice, and the ethical guidelines nurses must adhere to. Test your knowledge on how these regulations protect the public and ensure quality care.