Nursing in Ontario
Registered Nurses are the largest group of health professionals in the country. Like many other health professions, nursing is a regulated profession in Ontario under the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA) and the Nursing Act.
Below I have listed some of the major stakeholders involved within the nursing profession in Ontario.
The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) is responsible for the delivery of healthcare services in Ontario. Our current Minister of Health is Dr. Eric Hoskins.
The Health Professions Regulatory Advisory Council (HPRAC) was established under the RHPA. The council advises the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care on regulatory matters concerning health professions in Ontario and make recommendations for changes. The Nursing Secretariat is part of the MOHLTC and provides strategic advice on health and public policy from a nursing perspective.
The College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) is the regulatory body for nurses in Ontario. The College regulates the nursing profession based on legislation in the Nursing Act. The College sets requirements for entry to practice, establishes and enforces standards of nursing practice, and assures the quality of practice of the profession and continuing competence of nurses through its quality assurance program.
The Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO) is the professional association representing nurses in Ontario. RNAO helps support nurses by providing them with best practice guidelines for client care.
The Ontario Nurses Association (ONA) is Ontario's nursing union representing over 65,000 Registered Nurses and allied health professionals.
The Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) has also developed a Code of Ethics to help guide nursing practice. The seven values developed by CNA that help guide the nursing profession are as follows:
Providing safe, compassionate, competent and ethical care
Promoting health and well-being
Promoting and respecting informed decision making
Preserving dignity
Maintaining privacy and confidentiality
Promoting justice
Being accountable
References
Canadian Nurses Association (CNA). (2017). Code of Ethics. Retrieved from
College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO). (2018). Legislation and Regulation. An Introduction to the Nursing Act, 1991. Fact Sheet. Retrieved from
College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO). (2018). Standards and Guidelines. Retrieved from
Health Professions Regulatory Advisory Council (HPRAC). (2018). Retrieved from http://www.hprac.org/en/
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC). (2016). Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA). Retrieved from
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC). (2017).Health Workforce Planning and Regulatory Affairs Division. Regulated Health Professions. Retrieved from http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/hhrsd/about/regulated_professions.aspx
Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO). Best Practice Guidelines (BPGs). Retrieved from