Code of Conduct
This sets the standard of practice all nurses are accountable to.
What is the College of Nurses of Ontario’s (CNO) Code of Conduct?
Legislation that determines how the nursing profession is regulated in Ontario.
What is
The Nursing Act, 1991 and
The Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991?
The governing body for Registered Nurses (RNs), Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) and Nurse Practitioners (NPs) in Ontario, Canada
A range of activities that nurses’ have the legislated authority to perform.
What is scope of practice?
The primary purpose of the Code of Conduct.
What is to protect the public by promoting safe nursing practice?
It contains a scope of practice statement and controlled acts authorized to nursing, as well as provisions and regulations specific to the nursing profession.
What is the Nursing Act, 1991?
New government legislation, direction from council, and other external factors can play a role in helping the College identify and shape this.
What is policy development and College by-laws?
In addition to the Nursing Act and the Regulated Health Professions Act, these things also impact nurses’ decisions and accountability related to scope of practice.
What are employer policies, practice setting requirements, the individual nurse’s competence?
This principle of the code places clients at the centre of nursing care, ensuring that care is safe, compassionate, equitable, and free from discrimination.
What is Client-Centred Care?
It contains provisions regarding permitted actions and processes that are applicable to all regulated health professionals in Ontario.
What is the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991?
A privilege granted to professions that have shown they can put the interests of the public ahead of their own professional interests.
What is self-regulation?
To meet the expectations of this standard, a nurse must consider each of the following key concepts:
What is:
1. Authority
2. Context
3. Competence
When a nurse’s personal interests improperly influence their professional judgment or conflict with their duty to act in client’s best interest.
What is Conflict of Interest?
An act or omission that contravenes nurses’ legislated obligations and/or the standards of practice and ethics of the profession.
What is Professional Misconduct?
1. Establishing requirements for entry to practice, 2. articulating and promoting practice standards, 3. Administering its Quality Assurance Program, 4. Enforcing standards of practice and conduct
What is how CNO fulfills its role?
These acts may be performed only by authorized regulated health professionals and are considered potentially harmful if performed by someone who does not have the required knowledge, skill and judgment.
What are Controlled Acts?
1. Nurses respect client’s dignity, 2. Nurses provide inclusive and culturally safe care by practicing cultural humility, 3. Nurses provide safe and competent care, 4. Nurses work respectfully with the health care team, 5. Nurses act with integrity in client’s best interest, 6. Nurses maintain public confidence in the nursing profession
What are the six principles of the code of conduct?
A process Nurses use to maintain and enhance their competence through daily practice reflection, life long learning and by integrating that learning into their practice.
What is Quality Assurance (QA)?
Participating in the legislative process and sharing statistical information about Ontario’s nurses.
What are other ways the CNO supports the regulation of nursing in the public interest?
Two ways RNs and RPNs obtain authority to perform a controlled act.
What are: 1. Orders - either direct order or directive 2. Delegation - either delegation by nurses or delegation to nurses?