News Release College of Nurses of Ontario supports new changes to NP legislation For Immediate Release May 12, 2009 (Toronto) The College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) supports the introduction of new legislation that, if passed, would allow Nurse Practitioners (NPs) to deliver more health care services to the public. "We see these changes as critical to enhancing the public’s timely access to safe and effective care," says Anne Coghlan, Executive Director of CNO. "The new legislation ensures NPs will have the expanded authority they need to deliver services that they have the education and competence to provide." The Regulated Health Professions’ Statute Law Amendment Act was tabled at Queen’s Park yesterday. If passed, it would give NPs the authority to provide a wider range of health services. In particular, it would remove restrictions on the NPs’ ability to diagnose an illness and perform specific health care activities called controlled acts. It would also remove restrictions on the type of X–rays an NP can order for a patient. As well, the proposed bill would improve the current process of approving the list of drugs from which NPs can prescribe. Having a current and expanded drug list for NPs is essential to ensuring they can practice effectively. The legislation will also strengthen collaboration among health care providers. "Every day nurses, including NPs, collaborate with other care providers, including physicians and pharmacists. But current legislative barriers interfere with the public being able to benefit from an NP’s full knowledge and expertise," notes Coghlan. "This proposed legislation clarifies the authority NPs have and will have a positive effect on how other care providers work with NPs. The end result is improved access to safe, effective and timely health care." CNO is reviewing the proposed legislation and will be providing more detailed information on the changes in the coming weeks. There are 1,363 NPs in Ontario. NPs are Registered Nurses (RNs) with additional education and experience. They have the authority to diagnose, order tests, prescribe and perform procedures within their legislated scope of practice. In Ontario, NPs may hold a certificate in Primary Health Care, Paediatrics, or Adult care. CNO is the regulatory body for approximately 150,000 Registered Nurses and Registered Practical Nurses. Its mission is to protect the public’s right to quality nursing services by providing leadership to the nursing profession in self-regulation. For more information on NPs and the College visit Click Here. For more information, contact: Deborah Jones Manager, Communications 416 928-0900 or toll-free in Ontario 1 800 387-5526, Ext. 6308 E-mail: dmjones@cnomail.org <mailto:dmjones@cnomail.org> <http://www.cno.org/qp/ms/index.html> |