1. What is the College's Quality Assurance (QA) Program?

The College bases its QA Program on the principle that lifelong learning is essential to continuing competence. The Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 requires that each health regulatory college develop, establish and maintain a quality assurance program that:

• promotes continuing competence and continuing quality improvement
• addresses changes in the practice environment
• incorporates standards of practice, advances in technology, entry-to-practice competencies and interprofessional care.

The College meets this obligation through its QA Program, which includes the following components: Self-Assessment, Practice Assessment and Peer Assessment.

In Component 1: Self-Assessment, all nurses are required to develop and maintain a Learning Plan.

Nurses who are randomly selected for Component 2: Practice Assessment will have their Learning Plans assessed and will complete objective tests based on the selected practice documents. Nurse Practitioners also have to complete an objective test based on the Nurse Practitioner practice standard; a subset of NPs will also participate in either a Chart Review and Interview assessment or a Practice Simulation assessment.

In Component 3: Peer Assessment, College-assigned Peer Assessors will review a nurse's Learning Plan and practice assessment results and make recommendations to the Quality Assurance Committee for remedial learning activities, if required.

It is mandatory for every nurse registered in the General, Transitional and Extended classes in Ontario to participate in the QA Program.

2. What am I required to do each year to participate in the QA Program?

You are required to:

• reflect on your practice and obtain peer input to help you determine your strengths and the areas you need to improve
• identify your learning goals and the activities necessary to achieve your goals
• complete your Learning Plan using the online QA Program
• update your Learning Plan on a continual basis and keep it for two years
• if randomly selected, participate in Component 2: Practice Assessment

3. Do I have to participate in the QA Program if I am registered with the College but not practising nursing?

Yes, it is mandatory for every nurse registered in the General, Transitional and Extended classes in Ontario to participate in the QA Program. Nurses registered in any of these three classes are eligible to be randomly selected for Practice Assessment after two years of registration, whether they are currently practising nursing or not. Nurses in the Retired Class are not required to participate in the QA Program; therefore they will not be selected for Practice Assessment.

4. How often do I have to participate in the QA Program?

Component 1: Self-Assessment is an ongoing process. You are expected to reflect on your practice and update your learning goals and Learning Plan on a continual basis. You must keep each Learning Plan for two years.

Nurses are eligible to be randomly selected for Component 2: Practice Assessment after two years of registration in that class. Once a member of the General or Transitional classes has completed Practice Assessment, they are removed from the selection pool for 10 years. Once an NP has completed Practice Assessment, they are exempt from selection for a minimum of five years.

5. How are practice documents selected for the year’s QA Program?

The practice documents are selected based on a number of factors, including relevance to the membership and trends and issues raised by the Outreach Advisory Groups and/or by the Professional Conduct department. They are also picked based on the need for addressing a particular topic or subject. For example, with the increasing use of electronic records, the Documentation, Revised 2008 practice standard is an appropriate choice for 2012.

Nurses are not limited to using the specified practice documents for their Practice Reflection and Learning Plans. It is important for nurses to review other practice documents and address other learning needs as part of reflecting on their practice or as a result of an organizational performance assessment. However, at least one learning goal must be created for each of the practice documents selected by the College.

6. I am a nurse registered in Ontario but working out of the country. Do I have to participate in QA?

No, if you have informed the College that you are maintaining your registration but you are not practicing in the province, you will receive a deferral from the process until you return to practice in Ontario. (Deferral requests must be approved by the Quality Assurance Committee.)

7. I am the only nurse working in my practice setting. As part of Practice Reflection, I have to get input from a peer – who is a peer in my practice setting?

The College defines a peer as a member of the interprofessional team who understands your role as a nurse. A peer does not have to be in the same role as you and can be working within or across practice settings. For example, a peer can be a physician you work with or the team manager.