Running head: INTRODUCTION TO THE NUSING ACT

Introduction to the Nursing Act

Stephanie Williams
Humber College North NURS-217-0NA
Professor: Rosemary Watkins
September 28th 2014

INTRODUCTION TO THE NUSING ACT

The Nursing Act, 1991 accompanied by the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991
(RHPA) have been in affect since 1993 (College of Nurses of Ontario, 2013). These two pieces
of legislation determine how the nursing profession is managed in Ontario (College of Nurses of
Ontario, 2013). The Nursing Act provides the policy and guidelines set by the College of Nurses
Ontario (College of Nurses of Ontario, 2013). It also, lists the scope of practice in regards to
nursing practice (College of Nurses of Ontario, 2013). The Nursing Act regulates registration
using three components, class of registration, entry to practice requirements, and title protection
(College of Nurses of Ontario, 2013). It includes guidelines for components of regulation such as
quality assurance, controlled acts, and professional misconduct. The Regulated Health
Professions Act contains information on the applicable code for all Self-regulated health care
professionals in Ontario (College of Nurses of Ontario, 2000). This includes 13 controlled acts;
only three of which apply to RNs and RPNs and seven belong to PNs (College of Nurses of
Ontario, 2000).
The Nursing Act, 1991 provides the public with protection by developing standards that
must be achieved in order to be a well-rounded nurse, which will in turn allows you to practice in
Ontario. They promote the best interests to the public by ensuring that only those persons who
have successfully met all seven entry to practice requirements, have the right to perform the three
nursing controlled acts in confidence. The scope of practice statement for nursing goes hand in
hand with initiation of controlled acts by RNs and/or RPNs. The Regulated Health Professions
Act ensures that nurses continue to be competent in their practice so that they can independently
make decisions pertaining to initiation of controlled acts without an order by operating a Quality
Assurance program allowing them to continually evaluate their practice. The Nursing Act also
protects the public by appointing those nurses who have failed to meet the requirements to

INTRODUCTION TO THE NUSING ACT

practice by placing them in the Non-Practicing Class and providing Title Protection. The NonPracticing Class does not allow permission to practice in Ontario. Title Protection prosecutes
anyone who obtains employment as a nurse in Ontario without being registered (College of
Nurses of Ontario, 2013).
This legislation means that my practice should be a reflection of the Nursing Act, which
means I should display promotion of health, assessment of provision of care as well as treatment
for health conditions in order to maintain the patients optimal function (College of Nurses of
Ontario, 2013). It means that I have a great influence in patient care and should use that to ensure
patient safety. Ethical practice is illustrated in this legislation throughout professional misconduct
regulations. When someone breaches the misconduct standards it mayresultinaninvestigation
bytheCollege,followedbydisciplinaryproceedings(CollegeofNursesofOntario,1999).The
NursingActhaschangedthehealthcareenvironmentbyprovidingabaselinetocomparehealth
careprovidersto;thereforepatientsknowtheirrightsaswellastherightsofeachHCP.
Thislegislationhasnotonlychangednursingpracticebyeducatingthepublicabouthow
thenursingprofessionisregulated,butitalsoleavesroomforthepublictovoicetheiropinions
totheCNOiftheywitnessabreachoftheNursingAct.Ifeelthatmoreandmorepeopleare
becomingmoreinformedandknowledgeableaboutthenursingStandardsandthiscanhelp
provideamoresolidhealthcareenvironmentforeveryone.

INTRODUCTION TO THE NUSING ACT

References:
Colleges of Nurses of Ontario. June 1999. Professional Conduct. Professional Misconduct.
Retrieved from http://www.cno.org/Global/docs/ih/42007_misconduct.pdf
College of Nurses of Ontario. January 2000. Legislation and Regulation. RPHA: Scope of
Practice, Controlled Acts Model. Retrieved from
http://www.cno.org/Global/docs/policy/41052_RHPAscope.pdf
College of Nurses of Ontario. January 2013. Legislation and Regulation. An Introduction to the
Nursing Act, 1991. Retrieved from
http://www.cno.org/Global/docs/policy/41064_fsNursingAct.pdf