Nursing Regulatory Bodies and Scope of Practice

Nursing Regulatory Bodies and Practice

• Nursing regulatory bodies oversee the profession, establishing and regulating categories, education, entry, scope of practice, and disciplinary processes.
• Provincial/territorial legislation defines nursing, categories, scopes, and holds regulatory bodies accountable for standards.
• Use of the title "nurse" is restricted to members in good standing; suspended or revoked members cannot practice.
• Continuing to practice while under suspension is considered professional misconduct.

Scope of Practice

• Scope of practice outlines nursing activities, differentiating nursing from other health professions.
• It aids in interpretations of nurse accountability and professional misconduct findings.
• Controlled acts are specific nursing activities requiring specialized education, training, and judgment (e.g., medication administration, invasive procedures).

Delegation

• Delegation is the transfer of responsibility from one health professional to another.
• Essential requirements include competence of the delegate, supervision, communication, and proper documentation.

Regulatory Body Responsibilities

• Regulatory bodies oversee entry into the profession, ensuring candidates are competent.
• They approve education programs, establish registration standards (including successful completion of the Canadian entry-to-practice exam), and conduct criminal background checks.
• Maintaining ongoing competence is crucial, and quality assurance programmes are example mechanisms.

Practice Standards

• Established by all Canadian regulatory bodies, practice standards reflect nursing philosophy and ethical codes.
• They are relevant to malpractice and negligence issues, providing evidence of standard care and criteria for judging conduct in legal/disciplinary proceedings.

Disciplinary Proceedings

• Disciplinary proceedings are governed by regulatory bodies, ensuring ethical conduct.
• They are not criminal proceedings.
• Complaints must be written, signed, dated, identifying the nurse, outlining the misconduct, and may be filed by various parties.

Addressing Complaints

• Complaints follow a structured process: submission, interim investigation, investigation, disciplinary committee hearing.
• If patient safety is at risk, the nurse's right to practice may be suspended.

Interprofessional Practice

• Interprofessional practice is a collaborative approach to care focused on shared decision-making, and client-centered care..
• Interprofessional collaboration involves shared responsibilities, goals, and leadership. Various types of teamwork conflict should be anticipated and resolved using appropriate tools.

Interprofessional Communication

• Key communication aspects include affinity, immediacy, respect, and control. (These elements are crucial for a functional team)