Regulation of Nurse Practitioners in British Columbia Canada

1. Regulation of Nurse Practitioners in British Columbia Canada

2. Context in British Columbia • RN scope of practice is quite broad • CNS and NP roles are both advanced practice roles • NPs have additional scope of practice

3. Regulatory Framework for Nurse Practitioners • Competencies and Recognition of Educational Programs • Initial Registration of Nurse Practitioners • Regulatory Oversight of Nurse Practitioners

4. Forms of NP Practice • Partnership with government – agreed on common principles • Regulate all forms of nurse practitioner practice • Extensive consultation with educators, regulators, nurse practitioners and others

5. The framework must encompass all forms of NP practice • USA registers many separate specialities • Other jurisdictions were also registering separate specialties

6. 2. The NP role is built on RN strengths • NPs are not physician substitutes • NP practice should be grounded on a holistic nursing perspective • Age-based population groupings

7. A rigorous NP competencies verification system is needed • Safety - verification is crucial to the regulatory bodies ability to assure safety • Practicality - rigorous verification requires the specialties be limited

8. A broad educational base forpractice is important • Safe NP practice requires a broad base • Reasonableness • Be consistent, where possible, with other jurisdictions • NP is not an entry-level profession • Cost is an issue

9. The professional practicemodel works well • Apply the model used for RN practice • Standards require RNs to practise within their own level of competence • Standards require RNs to assume primary responsibility to maintain competence and acquire evidence-based knowledge and skills for professional practice

10. Streams of Nurse Practitioner Practice • Nurse practitioner (Family) — infants to older adults • Nurse practitioner (Adult) — adults and older adults • Nurse practitioner (Pediatric) — infants to adolescents

12. Focus in Nurse Practitioner Practice • Nurse practitioners will develop a number of areas of clinical focus as do registered nurses • Each area of focus will build on the broad base of one of the three registration categories

13. Focus in Nurse Practitioner Practice (cont.) • CRNBC will not verify competencies or register nurse practitioners in areas of focus • CRNBC will provide regulatory oversight

14. Implementing B.C.’s Approach • Core Competencies were applied to the three streams of practice

15. Implementing B.C.’s Approach (cont.) • Schools of nursing were recognized as preparing students to meet the required competencies - so far, family and adult programs

16. Implementing B.C.’s Approach (cont.) • Standards, Limits and Conditions (as required under the Regulation) are completed and on the website for the three streams

17. Implementing B.C.’s Approach (cont.) • We individually assess those applicants who do not graduate from a B.C. program • We have held the first set of examinations - both written and OSCE for the nurse practitioner family

18. Implementing B.C.’s Approach (cont.) • In 2006 hold examinations both written and OSCE for the adult and pediatric nurse practitioner • Implement the quality assurance processes

19. Questions?www.crnbc.caornursepractitioner@crnbc.ca