CNA News Room

CNA supports CIHI in developing data on nursing scopes of practice

  
https://www.cna-aiic.ca/fr/blogs/ic-contenu/2022/08/04/laiic-appuie-licis-afin-delaborer-des-donnees-sur

August 4, 2022 — The Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) is pleased to have supported the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) in the development of Health Workforce Scopes of Practice, a collection of resources and tools that provides a snapshot of legislated scopes of practice for registered nurses (RNs), registered psychiatric nurses (RPNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs).

“CNA is pleased to have supported the development of this important source of information. Canada is experiencing a health workforce crisis that is severely impacting the health-care system, leading to long and frustrating wait times, reduced access to care, cancelled medical and surgical procedures, and untenable working conditions for nurses,” said Sylvain Brousseau, president of CNA. “Better data is important to help ensure our workforce meets the health-care needs of people in Canada. A clear understanding of what nurses are authorized to do and how that is different across jurisdictions will better inform workforce planning.”

CIHI’s resources provide an excellent opportunity to better understand the many commonalities, and some differences, in nursing practice across the country. For example, between jurisdictions, there is a great deal of practice variation among RNs, RPNs and LPNs. CIHI’s tools will enable members of the public, professional associations, governments, policymakers, and researchers to make evidence-based decisions and continue to advance the profession for the health of everyone in Canada.

“This data can help jurisdictions identify gaps to facilitate nurses working to the full potential of their scopes of practice,” said Tim Guest, CEO of CNA. “Optimizing the nursing workforce through full scope of practice is critical to enable better and more accessible health-care services in areas where nurses do not practise the full range of their skills.”

CNA was pleased to participate in this important work, in particular by sharing its recent report, Regulated Nursing in Canada: The Landscape in 2021, with CIHI.

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About the Canadian Nurses Association
CNA is the national and global professional voice of Canadian nursing. We represent registered nurses, nurse practitioners, licensed and registered practical nurses, registered psychiatric nurses, retired nurses, and nursing students across all 13 provinces and territories.

For more information, please contact:

Lucas Veiga
Public Affairs Lead
Cell: 613-697-7497
Email: lveiga@cna-aiic.ca

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