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Regulatory Amendments Affecting Nurse Practitioner Practice

The College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) has published a news item about legislative amendments affecting nurse practitioner (NP) practice to take effect October 1, 2011.  To view the news item, visit www.cno.org or click here.

 

The College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) has provided the following overview of regulatory amendments affecting nurse practitioner (NP) practice, which may have implications for CMLTO members. The following changes will take effect on July 1st,  2011.  

 

  • The NP laboratory list will be revoked on July 1st, 2011. NPs will be authorized to order lab tests as appropriate for client care and in compliance with expectations set out in the NP Practice Standard. This amendment does not affect the lists of drugs, x-rays and ultrasounds that continue to govern the clinical aspects of NP practice.
  • Amendments to regulation 965 under the Public Hospitals Act take effect on July 1st. The changes will permit NPs to order diagnostics and treatments for hospital in-patients (this is in addition to their current authority to treat hospital out-patients). With the exception of the laboratory list, which is being revoked on July 1st, the other lists (e.g., drugs, x-rays, ultrasounds) continue to apply to their practice.
  • If NPs have authority to order procedures under a profession-specific act (e.g., laboratory technology, respiratory therapy) or other applicable legislation (e.g., Healing Arts Radiation Protection Act for x-rays) these recent amendments will enable NPs to order these procedures for hospital inpatients starting July 1st. These may be procedures that are carried out by your members. 
  • Starting July 1st 2011, NPs will be authorized to certify death of a hospitalized patient subject to the conditions of the Vital Statistics Act (click here for conditions).  
  • Starting July 1st 2011, NPs will be authorized to discharge hospital clients subject to any rules / policies established by the facility.  
  • NPs are registered nurses in the extended the class. To confirm that a member of the CNO is an NP, click here  to view the register “find a nurse”.  
  • CNO has posted information on its website at:

http://www.cno.org/en/news/2011/06/regulation-amendments-affecting-np-practice/

http://www.cno.org/en/learn-about-standards-guidelines/educational-tools/nurse-practitioners/np-practice-resources/#title13  (scroll down to “hospital privileges”)

On July 1st CNO frequently asked questions will be updated to reflect the new authorities and the laboratory list will be removed from the website and replaced with an explanatory note.

http://www.cno.org/en/learn-about-standards-guidelines/educational-tools/nurse-practitioners/faqs-nurse-practitioners-and-scope-of-practice/            

http://www.cno.org/en/learn-about-standards-guidelines/publications-list/list-of-all-publications/amended-drug-laboratory-and-diagnostic-test-lists/#title1

 

The Ministry of Heatlh and Long Term Care (MOHLTC) issued an INFOBulletin on June 22nd regarding Laboratory Tests Ordered by Nurse Practitioners.  That bulletin may be accessed on the MOHLTC website at http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/providers/program/ohip/bulletins/bulletin_mn.html or by clicking here.  You may access the PDF version of the INFOBulletin by clicking here.

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