The Nursing Act

The Nursing Act

Student Name: Bindu Sharma

Student No: 800720708
Nurs 217 : Legal, Professional & Ethical issues in Nursing practice
Tuesday : February 10,2015

The Nursing Act and Nursing practice

The Nursing Act

Legislation is the law by the government. I believe Legislation is very important in health care
system for public safety. Legislation is law which has been produced by a governing body in
order to regulate, to authorise, to sanction, to grant, to declare or to restrict. In terms of events,
Legislation defines the governing legal principles outlining the responsibilities of event
organisers, and other stakeholders such as the local authority to protect the safety of the public
(London Events, 2014)

The nursing profession in Ontario is regulated by two legislations. The Nursing Act, 1991
and Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 (RHPA), came into effect in 1993. The Nursing Act
establishes the mandate of the College of Nurses of Ontario and defines a scope of practice for
nursing in the nursing profession (CNO, 2014).Nursing practice is regulated in Ontario. To
practice professionally in Ontario, a nurse needs to meet the requirements under the Nursing Act.
Nurses have to be registered, only then they can work in Ontario. Regulations are made under the
Nursing Act. I strongly believe entry to practice requirement under the Nursing Act is extremely
important. After completing the nursing education nurse is competent have knowledge and
nursing skills to work in the health care system.

Nurses who completed their nursing education outside Canada are able to write the CNO
exam. After passing the exam, they can practice in Ontario. I believe writing the exam is not
enough. I personally believe they should also complete some clinical practice in a hospital in
Ontario. During the clinical practice they will learn to demonstrate safe, competent care by using
reflective practice and Quality Assurance practices. Furthermore, they will also get opportunities
to practice ethically, in compliance with legal and regulatory frameworks and the policies and
procedures of the practice setting. They require competencies to practice in Canadian health care

The Nursing Act

system. During my nursing education I completed two clinical at two different hospitals; CCU
and Acute care. I created, implemented and evaluated a learning plan consistent with the Quality
Assurance program (CNO). I have knowledge to apply critical thinking and problem solving
skills. I will gain more experience during my pre grad.

Public Safety

Legislation protects the public, supports the best interests of the public, and promotes
healthier populations. CNO regulates the practice of nursing to protect the public interest. Under
legislation, the public can make complaints of the nurses conduct. It may involve nursing care,
failure to provide adequate care, unsafe medication administration, swearing, teasing or yelling
at client, using restraints without consent or handling a client in a rough manner and having
romantic or sexual relationship with a client. Nurses should stay within their boundaries.

Nurses must adhere to Standard of practice to provide the public with safe, effective and
ethical care. It is a nurses own responsibility to be aware of constitute professional conduct and
misconduct. Furthermore, nurses duty is to ensure client safety, have knowledge, skills and
judgement to provide nursing care in her/his area of practice. Nurses are expected to provide care
and respect the rights and choices of clients. When college receives the complaint from a client,
the college investigates the issue. In certain cases where a nurse has committed an act of
professional misconduct, the nurse can be terminated. Nurses are expected to be fully committed
to their profession, protect the public and advocate for the public. To maintain the respect and
trust from the public a nurse should act in a professional manner. Nurses in their leadership role
maintain infection prevention in the hospital and LTCF. Providing Client education, the nurses
play a main role in society to promote healthier population. Nurses need to be aware of the

The Nursing Act

applicable legislation to appreciate the full extent of the professional expectation of nurses. For
example- regulations found in part IV of the Nursing Act identify the expectations of nurses
regarding participation in the Quality Assurance (QA) program. The regulation for QA states that
every nurse shall maintain records relating to participation in Reflective practice in accordance
with the standards of practice of the college (CNO, 2014)

Conclusion

Nurses practice safely, competently, ethically, in compliance with legal and regulatory
framework. Nursing practice is evidence-based practice. Kelly & Crawford (2013) states The
future of health care demands the use of sophisticated evidence-based tools to deliver care and to
measure outcomes of care. Nurses must be proficient in balancing a scientific process driven by
evidence- based standards and practice guidelines with continuing quality improvement
initiatives (p.63)

References

The Nursing Act

College of Nurses of Ontario. (CNO). (2014). Fact Sheet; Nursing Act, 1991. Retrieved
February 6, 2015 from www.cno.org
College of Nurses of Ontario. (CNO). (2013). Reference Document: Professional Misconduct.
Retrieved February 6, 2015 from www.cno.org
Kelly, P. & Crawford, H. (2013). Nursing Leadership and Management, (2nd.ed.)Toronto:
Nelson Education
London Events Toolkit. (2014). Legislation. Retrieved February 6, 2015 from
www.londoneventstoolkit.co.uk/legislation/what-is-legislation

The Nursing Act