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Last modified: March 2006 

Connecting with Council

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December 2005

Connecting with Council provides updates on key decisions made at the most recent Council meeting.

Highlights of key decisions made at the December 7, 2005 Council meeting:

RN (EC) laboratory test list

It is in the public interest that the clients of Registered Nurses in the Extended Class [RN(EC)s] have access to the most up-to-date laboratory tests. In September, Council approved a number of changes to the laboratory test list, which were submitted to the government for final approval. In December, Council approved the addition of four new tests: Creatinine clearance, Creatinine Kinase, Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) and Clostridium difficile toxin assay. The College has since received clarification from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care that the existing regulation authorizes RN(EC)s to order Clostridium difficile toxin assay.

Bylaw amendments related to the Annual Membership Renewal form and fees

The information collected on the College’s Annual Membership Renewal form is a vital source of human resource data for the nursing profession and the government. All members are required to properly complete the form each year. In September, Council approved amendments, for consultation, to support the integrity of the College’s data without incurring additional costs to the vast majority of members who complete their forms properly.

Member feedback was reviewed, and the amendments were approved. They include revisions to articles 44.2 and 44.3 of the General Bylaw which outline the expectations for the completion and submission of the membership form by December 31. The Fees Bylaw has been amended so that members who do not meet this requirement will receive a written notice, and those who do not submit the form on or before January 31 of the following year will be charged a fee of $23.36 + GST ($25). The revised bylaw is on the College website.

Proposed reinstatement amendment to the Fees Bylaw

The cost of reinstating a former member whose membership was revoked or suspended for longer than one year by a Discipline or Fitness to Practise committee is much greater than the current $50 fee. To emphasize the seriousness of a reinstatement request in these cases, the College is proposing to amend the Fees Bylaw to include a fee of $250 (including GST) for an application to reinstate under these circumstances. For more information, see the article on page 18.

Practical nurse programs approved

It is in the public interest that nurses graduate from a program that equips them to meet the needs of today’s complex health care system. For this reason, the College requires applicants for registration as a practical nurse to have graduated from a diploma program at a college of applied arts and technology approved by Council. In June 2004, Council established the Practical Nurse Program Approval Committee to review programs and advise it on program approval.

Based on the recommendations of the committee, who performed a rigorous review, Council approved the practical nurse programs at Cambrian College, Canadore College, Confederation College, Northern College and Sault College for a five-year term, until December 2010.

2006 Budget

Council approved the 2006 budget. Revenues for 2006 are estimated at $21.7 million, while expenses are estimated at $22.6 million, resulting in about an $880,000 deficit for the year. (A breakdown of how your membership dollars are spent will be published in the June issue of The Standard.)

When the current membership fee was approved in 2000, Council’s goal was not to raise the annual fee until 2005. Due to careful management and increased revenues, the College expects to end 2005 with an accumulated operating surplus of about $12.8 million. A fee increase is not anticipated until 2010 at the earliest, unless there are unforeseeable circumstances.

Council membership update

Three new public members — Grace Isgro-Topping, Hawaa Kabbashy and Meysa Maleki-Yazdi — have joined Council. Shamsul Islam and Busha Taa have resigned from Council.

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