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Quality Assurance 

Page modified April 03, 2008

Frequently Asked Questions about Quality Assurance (QA)

 

Quality Assurance

1. What is the Quality Assurance Program?

The Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA) requires that each regulatory college develop, establish and maintain programs to promote continuing competence among its members. The College of Nurses of Ontario meets this obligation through its QA Program. The QA Program includes Reflective Practice and Practice Review. In 2007, the College began to review the current program and plan revisions to ensure that the program keeps pace with the evolving health care environment.

2. Why is the program changing?

The QA Program is changing to reflect member and stakeholder feedback as well as the research the College has conducted into advances in quality assurance for health professionals. The program is also being revised to comply with amendments to the RHPA that will require all health regulatory colleges to have a QA program that:

  • promotes continuing competence and continuing quality improvement;
  • addresses changes in the practice environment; and
  • incorporates standards of practice, advances in technology, changes made to entry to practice competencies and other relevant issues.

3. How does this change affect me?

While the College revises its QA Program, it will not be conducting the General Class random selection process for Practice Review. Practice Review continues, however, for those whose review is already in progress. As well, Practice Review for Nurse Practitioners is still in effect. All NPs are required to complete Practice Review after 1,800 hours of practice or three years of registration in the Extended Class, whichever occurs first.

4. When will the program change?

The College expects to begin to launch its new QA Program with a limited release in the fall of 2008 and to more nurses in June 2009. Full implementation is scheduled for 2010.

5. What is the limited release of the program?

In the coming months, nurses will be asked to volunteer to try the new program in the fall of 2008. The College will use the nurses’ feedback to fine-tune the program and its processes.

6. What do I need to do in 2008 to meet my QA obligations?

All RNs, RPNs and NPs are required to meet their Reflective Practice requirements. The five Reflective Practice steps are:

  1. Complete a self-assessment;
  2. Obtain peer feedback;
  3. Create a learning plan;
  4. Implement the learning plan; and
  5. Evaluate the learning and application of knowledge in practice.

    6. They are also required to document all five steps and declare that they have done so. A QA Participation declaration will appear on the 2009 Annual Membership Renewal form.

    7. How will Practice Review and Reflective Practice change under the new program?

    Practice Review was designed to complement Reflective Practice, the annual self-directed program that was launched in 1998.

    Both programs assess a nurse’s practice strengths and learning needs and provide a mechanism for feedback and development. Reflective Practice offers a subjective approach, while Practice Review provides the nurse with an objective review of her or his practice.

    Here’s a quick look at how the two programs work in the current QA Program:

    Reflective Practice

    Practice Review
    • All Ontario nurses participate every year.
    • The program is self-directed. The nurse determines how she or he will complete the five steps and can adapt the program to meet her or his individual needs.
    • Nurses select peers to provide feedback on practice.
    • Nurses select learning options based on self-assessment and peer feedback.
    • Only a limited number of randomly selected General Class nurses participate. NPs participate after three years of registration as an NP or 1,800 hours, whichever comes first.
    • The program is administered by the College. The College uses an objective tool to assess the participant’s practice in relation to a set of competencies.
    • The College provides objective feedback about the nurse’s practice.
    • The College provides suggestions for practice development or remediation, as required.


    Here’s a quick look at the new program:

    • Components include Self Assessment, Practice Assessment and Peer Assessment.
    • All nurses will be required to develop a learning plan.
    • Nurses selected for Practice Assessment will be required to submit their learning plans.
    • Peer assessors will review the member’s learning plan and recommend further remedial activities if necessary.

    8. What is a practising nurse?

    To practise as a nurse in Ontario, you must be registered with the College. Only those currently registered with the College can use the title nurse, Registered Nurse (RN), Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) or Nurse Practitioner (NP). These titles are protected under legislation. Practising nursing is not the same as being employed as a nurse. Nurses volunteering their services for a non-profit agency are still performing nursing services and are considered to be practising nursing. As such, they must be registered with the College. For more information, refer to the College’s fact sheet Am I Practising Nursing?.

     

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