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 About CNO > Council & Committees > Meetings > Connecting with Council  

 Created April 14, 2004  

Connecting with Council

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March 2004

Connecting with Council provides updates on key decisions made at the most recent Council meeting. The meeting agenda and motions passed at the Council meeting are on the website.

Highlights of key decisions made at the March 10th and 11th Council meeting follow.

RPN Entry to Practice

Council reaffirmed its support that all new RPNs have a practical nursing diploma from an approved College program by January 1, 2005. At the same time, Council also asked that the provincial government expedite its approval of this change in entry to practice education to ensure that it comes into effect by the end of the year and is concurrent with the requirement that new RNs have a baccalaureate in nursing.

The Council initially proposed changing the RPN entry to practice regulation in December 2001, based on extensive research and consultation indicating that this education was needed to meet the health-care needs of the public. The proposed change was sent to the provincial government for approval at that time.

In October 2003, due to concerns of the previous government about the original proposal, Council approved an amendment to its original proposal. This amendment broadened the range of potential providers of RPN diploma programs. The amendment was published in Communiqué (December 2003) with a request for feedback.

The College received comments from 134 RPNs and RNs, 43 practical nursing students, 15 employers, several Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology, and a number of other organizations including the Registered Practical Nurses Association of Ontario. Almost all the responses supported the original 2001 regulation requiring a diploma from a College of Applied Arts and Technology. A key theme in the responses was the high quality of the new diploma RPN programs and of the programs' graduates.

The feedback from members helped Council to make its decision, as did confirmation from the current ministers of Health and Long-Term Care and Training, Colleges and Universities that they would support Council's decision when the government reviews the regulation.

Revised Practice Standard — Infection Prevention and Control

As part of the normal revision process and in response to new knowledge from the recent SARS outbreaks, Council approved a revised Infection Prevention and Control practice standard.

The standard outlines the expectations for safe practice in non-outbreak situations and provides strategies for safe and effective infection prevention and control practices.

In June, all members will receive the revised Infection Prevention and Control Standard with The Standard. It will also be available for download from the College's website. Regionl Education Sessions on the standard will begin in June.

RN(EC) Drug Lists

The list of drugs that can be prescribed by RN(EC)s are in regulation and changes require government approval. Since approximately 400 RN(EC)s work in under-serviced areas or sectors, it is important to update the list regularly so that their clients have access to up-to-date treatments.

The list of drugs approved by Council in October of 2002 had not been passed by government due to concerns about some drugs. To facilitate updating of the list, Council approved changes to meet the government's concerns. Council also supported strategies to expedite the approval process in the future.

 

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