Nurses and employers often question which category of nurse is prepared to meet various client needs since RNs and RPNs share a legislated scope of practice.

The College's Utilization of RNs and RPNs practice guideline interprets the level of autonomy and consultation required for each category of nurse, and guides the decision process through the examination of the characteristics of the nurse, client population and environment.

Objectives

1. Identify the similarities and differences between RNs and RPNs.
2. Outline the three factor framework.
3. Describe how each component of the three factor framework affects the choice of the appropriate category of nurse.
4. Apply the three factor framework to nursing practice examples.

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