Self-regulation of the nursing profession: Focus on four Canadian provinces

Abstract

The regulation of the nursing profession in Canada is achieved through provincial self-regulatory mechanisms, thereby trusting the profession itself to register, license, monitor, and discipline its members for the protection of the general public. It is incumbent upon every registered nurse to learn and understand the self-regulatory framework of the jurisdiction in which they practice. If a nurse moves his/her practice from one province to another, differences in the regulatory framework between jurisdictions can cause confusion. Unfortunately, information on regulatory differences is not always readily available or easily accessible. This article will compare and contrast the self-regulatory framework for RNs in the context of four Canadian provinces: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario. The impact of similarities and differences across these jurisdictions on practicing registered nurses will be highlighted.