Professional Development I - Nursing Organizations

Week 13: Professional Development I - Module 13: Nursing Organizations

• Land Acknowledgement: Mohawk College is situated on territories governed by the Between the Lakes Treaty, the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Agreement, and the Upper Canada Treaty Agreement. These agreements represent a commitment to healthy, reciprocal, and respectful relationships with Indigenous nations and communities.

Agenda

• 01 Housekeeping: Reviewing questions from the previous week.
• 02 Learning Outcomes: Identifying relevant nursing organizations and associations in Canada and Ontario, comparing and contrasting their mandates, benefits and implications of membership, exploring the significance of professional liability protection and insurance.
• 03 Nursing Organizations: Exploring the roles of nursing organizations and the different types.
• 04 RPNAO (We RPN) Presentation: A presentation on the Registered Practical Nurse Association of Ontario (RPNAO).
• 05 Coming Up: Completing one hour of asynchronous work for Module 13 and preparing for the final exam.
• 06 Questions?: Addressing any remaining questions.

Learning Outcomes

• Identify relevant nursing organizations and associations in Canada and Ontario: Examples include the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA), the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO), and Registered Practical Nurses' Association of Ontario (RPNAO).
• Compare and contrast the mandate of regulatory bodies, professional organizations, and unions: Regulatory bodies set standards and protect the public, while professional organizations focus on professional development, and unions advocate for nurses' rights and working conditions.
• Examine the benefits and implications of becoming a member of nursing organizations and associations: Membership offering professional support, discounts, and access to resources, and professional recognition.
• Explore the significance of professional liability protection and insurance: Understanding the need for protection against professional negligence claims.
• Identify the roles of nursing unions to support nurses in Ontario: Advocate for safe working conditions, safe staffing, and respectful rights and pay.

Professional Organizations

• Professional associations: Nurses may affiliate with nursing unions, professional nursing associations, or specialty associations.
• Governance: Federal health care governance is complex.
• Organization categories: Nursing Regulatory Bodies, Nursing Unions, Nursing Specialty Practice Organizations, and Professional Nursing Associations.
• Nursing Regulatory Bodies: Protect the public by setting standards and monitor adherence. (Ex. College of Nurses of Ontario)
• Nursing Unions: Represent nurses as individuals and workers to establish collective agreements and support safe staffing/working conditions. (Ex. Ontario Nurses Association)
• Nursing Specialty Practice Organizations: Focus on the development and advancement of specialty nursing practice (Ex. Pediatric Oncology Group Ontario.)
• Professional Nursing Associations: Connecting with other nursing organizations, promoting broader societal issues related to health, and advocating for policy development. (Ex. RNAO & RPNAO)

Professional Liability Protection (PLP)

• All members: of the College of Nurses of Ontario must hold PLP, regardless of whether they're currently practicing.
• Non-practicing class: Do not need PLP.
• Coverage for multiple roles: Individuals with multiple roles (eg., Registered Nurse and Registered Practical Nurse) need coverage for all roles.
• Minimum coverage: General/Temporary $1 million per claim and Extended/$2 million per claim
• PLP types: Occurrence-based (covering incidents during coverage) and claims-made (covering claims filed while the policy is active).
• Employer coverage: Some employers have staff insurance to cover PLP, but individuals need to confirm coverage aligns with bylaw requirements.
• Additional coverage: Additional coverage may need to obtained to address any gaps where existing coverage isn't sufficient.
• Emergency situations: The Good Samaritan Act covers emergency situations outside a medical setting for health professionals.

Common Questions

• Multiple settings: Nurses who work in multiple settings need to ensure all settings provide PLP coverage.
• Non-practicing class: Members who are not actively practicing but do not desire to join the Non-Practicing class remain accountable for holding PLP coverage under their current classification.
• Clinical roles: Even if not actively working in a clinical role, individuals are eligible for roles with full scope, and the college requires nurses holding applicable roles to hold PLP.
• Multiple classifications: Those holding multiple classifications (eg, registered nurse and registered practical nurse) require PLP coverage for all roles.
• Unregulated care provider: Nurses working as an RPN and in one setting, and in another as an unregulated care provider, need PLP that covers all roles.
• Emergency care outside practice setting: The Good Samaritan Act extends coverage to nurses providing emergency care outside the scope of their regular practice.

This quiz covers Module 13 of the Professional Development I course, focusing on nursing organizations in Canada and Ontario. Participants will explore the roles, benefits, and implications of membership in various nursing associations, as well as the importance of professional liability protection. Understanding these aspects is crucial for personal and professional growth in nursing.