Why did the College launch the Continuing Competence Program?
The public expects all health care providers, including registered nurses, to provide safe, compassionate, competent and ethical care. They also assume that health care professionals keep their competencies up-to-date.
In accordance with their Standards for Nursing Practice, registered nurses hold prime responsibility for maintaining their competence. However, employers and the College also have a role to play, specifically in promoting and enhancing nurses’ competencies. The College is meeting its responsibility, in part, through the introduction of the CCP and the development of legislation to support its implementation (see RN Act).
On a national level, all nursing regulatory bodies in Canada have made continuing competence a priority. So, in addition to the professional benefits associated with keeping your competencies current, completing the College's CCP will also enhance your labour mobility within Canada - by helping you meet the continuing competence requirements of other provinces.
How was the program developed?
The research and development for the program took place between 1997 and 1999, with the input of hundreds of registered nurses across the province who were working in a variety of practice roles and settings. In 1997, CRNNS circulated a consultation paper to 600 RNs randomly selected from the registration database. This paper outlined various approaches to promote and maintain competence - and the recommendation of the RNs was for CRNNS to use a self-assessment approach. As a result, in 1998, and again in 1999, RNs were invited to participate in two pilot projects of self-assessment tools. Based on the feedback from these pilots, Building Your Profile™ was completed. Then in September 1999, the College's Council approved the Continuing Competence Program.
How is the program being implemented?
Anyone applying for or renewing an active-practising licence in Nova Scotia must complete the Building Your Profile (BYP)™ self-assessment tool, or an equivalent, to satisfy the requirements of the CCP. On their Application for a Licence to Practise Nursing, nurses must declare that they have met the requirements of the CCP, (i.e., Building Your Profile™ or an equivalent self-assessment tool).
What if a nurse already participates in activities similar to those outlined in Building Your Profile™?
Building Your Profile™ is not meant to duplicate existing assessment processes. Individuals could choose to use another tool, even their agency’s professional development or performance management system to meet the requirements, as long as what they do involves assessing their practice against the Standards for Nursing Practice, Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses and Entry-Level Competencies, and enables them to identify learning needs, develop and implement learning plans and evaluate the impact of their learning on their practice.
Will nurses have to send their profile to the College with their annual renewal form?
NO, it will never be expected that the profiles be submitted to the College. The declaration provided on the Application for Licence to Practise Nursing will be considered accurate and truthful.
Does the College plan to audit this program?
At the present time, there are no plans to audit participation in the CCP. However, given the self-regulatory function of the College it is quite possible that the CCP will be audited in the future. It is, however, important to note that before audits could be initiated, the College would have to develop regulations for the process and these regulations would have to be approved by the College registrants at an annual general meeting. Input from registered nurses would then be sought in the development of an auditing process/tool.
What happens if a nurse does not meet the program requirements?
Nurses who have not met the CCP requirements when applying for/renewing a licence (e.g., completed the BYP™ tool) will be issued a time-limited licence which will expire on the earliest of
- three months after its effective date,
- the last day of the licensure year, for which the licence has been issued, or
- the date on which the applicant satisfies the requirement of the continuing competence program and is issued a new licence for the remainder of the current licensure year.
The CCP requirements must be met by the expiry date to continue practising. Only one time-limited licence will be issued to an RN within a licensure year.
How will the College protect the confidentiality of Building Your Profile™?
First of all, the College will never request to see anyone’s profile. To further protect the confidentiality of self-assessment tools, the College's Council has approved a policy that protects these tools from being subpoenaed in relation to the professional conduct process. Nurses may decide to provide their profiles, but the College will never request to see them.
Also, according to the Regulations, any document or information prepared by a registered nurse for the purpose of satisfying the CCP requirement (i.e., self-assessment tool, Building Your Profile™) will be considered confidential. In a legal proceeding, no person will be authorized or required to disclose any information related to the content of a self-assessment without the express consent of the author (registered nurse).
More Information
If you are interested in learning more about Building Your Profile™ and the Continuing Competence Program contact:
College of Registered Nurses of Nova Scotia
Suite 4005 - 7071 Bayers Road
Halifax, NS B3L 2C2
Professional Practice & Policy Services
902.491.9744, ext 224
Toll-free in Nova Scotia 1.800.565.9744
dm@crnns.ca.
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