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Telephone:
416 928-0900
Toll Free in Ontario:
1 800 387-5526
Fax:
416 928-6507
What's New
News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 13, 2001
College of Nurses Says Public Interest Served by New Collaborative Programs for Nursing Education
(TORONTO) -- The regulatory body for the nursing profession in Ontario, the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO), has congratulated the province’s community colleges and universities for moving quickly to put new collaborative programs in place for the education of registered nurses (RNs). The new programs bring to fruition a proposal originally made by CNO Council more than two years ago, in December of 1998.
In April of 2000, on CNO’s recommendation and the support of other nursing organizations across the province, the provincial government approved a regulation requiring a bachelor’s degree in nursing for all new registered nurses by January 1 of 2005. Baccalaureate preparation will mean that from the first day of practising as an RN, nurses will be better prepared to join the complex health care environment as productive team members alongside their more experienced nursing colleagues.
"The baccalaureate requirement, which brings Ontario in step with many other provinces across Canada, was a promising move forward, which came out of extensive consultation with Ontario nurses, nurse employers, nurse educators and consumer groups" said CNO Executive Director Anne Coghlan, RN.
"For the College of Nurses, the principal purpose for the baccalaureate requirement is to protect the public interest," said Coghlan, "to ensure that nurses entering the profession are able to provide the high standard of client care that Ontarians have a right to expect. Today, that means higher levels of critical decision-making, and a body of nursing knowledge and skill that are more than a diploma can realistically provide."
"Ensuring appropriate preparation of future nurses required universities and colleges to sit down and work out the details of curriculum, and the roles each would play in jointly offering these new programs. Now, less than a year after the province’s decision, those details are in place, and several of the new programs will begin this fall. Nursing educators must be applauded for their diligence and dedication in making this critical change a reality so soon."
Most of the new programs are integrated (both partners providing baccalaureate education over the four years) or two plus two (two years college followed by two years university).
"Like the rest of the health care community," Coghlan said, "we’re excited about the new programs the colleges and universities have created together, and we look forward to celebrating with them this fall as the first students begin their preparation. It will be a day of progress for nursing care in Ontario."
The College of Nurses is governed by a 39-member Council, 21 of whom are nurses elected by their peers from across Ontario (14 RNs and 7 RPNs). The other 18 members of Council are appointed by the provincial government to represent the general public.
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For more information, please contact:
Deborah Jones
Manager, Communications
College of Nurses of Ontario
dmjones@cnomail.org
416-928-0900, Ext. 6309
or 1-800-387-5526, Ext. 6309
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