Quality Practice - Summer 2008 Volume 7 Issue 2          Print

 

Ask CNO: Use of NP title

Q:
What title should Nurse Practitioners (NPs) use when signing their names – NP
or RN(EC)?

 

A:
In 1998, when the Extended Class was introduced, RN(EC) was the only protected title to identify a nurse as an NP. When the NP regulations passed in August 2007, Nurse Practitioner became a protected title. Now, only nurses registered in the Extended Class can use the NP title. The legislation created four RN(EC) specialty certificates: NP-Primary Health Care, NP-Adult, NP-Paediatrics and NP-Anaesthesia. You can use RN(EC), NP or NP with your specialty.

The purpose of a title is to provide role clarity. To the general public, the NP title identifies a nurse practising in an extended role.

The College is moving toward the use of NP as the legal title; however, it acknowledges that this requires a cultural shift. For close to a decade, Ontario health care practitioners have recognized RN(EC) as the legal title for NPs. The College is communicating recent NP title protection changes to stakeholders, including other health care professionals. Employers and members can contribute to these efforts by explaining the change to the practitioners they work with. Over time and with the support of employers and members, more health care professionals will become aware of the legislation and move toward understanding that an RN(EC) is an NP.

In this time of transition, RN(EC) needs to be used when filling out disability parking permit forms and statements of medical exemption for childhood immunizations.

In other documentation, such as prescriptions, laboratory and diagnostic requisitions, and client charts, NP can be used.

As the College continues to communicate title protection to various organizations, there will likely be future changes that will allow the use of NP more broadly.

For more information on the recent NP regulations, refer to the College’s Nurse Practitioners practice standard.