Practice Support

Do you have questions about a practice situation or your scope of practice?

Our Practice Consultants are available to help nurses access the tools they need to make the best decision about providing safe, competent, and ethical nursing care. It is not always possible for our Practice Consultants to provide a simple yes or no answer as nursing practice is complex and what a nurse has the authority to do can vary based on legislation and employer policies that apply to a specific practice setting. The nurse is expected to determine whether they have the knowledge, skill and judgment to proceed with any task or role.

CNO Practice Consultants will help you identify the appropriate resources to guide decision-making and help understand nursing accountabilities by:

Directing you to our resources, such as educational tools, FAQ’s, and guidance documents, on our webpage that apply to your question
Helping you to identify nursing accountabilities
Explaining how the Code of Conduct and Standards of Practice apply to your situation
Referring you to additional sources of information

CNO’s duty is to serve and protect the public interest through the regulation of our members. Practice Support is one way that CNO assists nurses, stakeholders, and members of the public.

CNO is committed to protecting your privacy and confidentiality. Our privacy policy (available here) applies to our Practice Support activities. We document all Practice Support inquiries and consultations and store them securely. Records of Practice Support consultations are not available to other departments at the CNO. But if your questions involve patient safety or risk of harm, for example from the incompetence or incapacity of a CNO member, CNO might have to investigate. In this situation we will refer you to our Professional Conduct team, or alert them to the concern, and an investigator might contact you to continue the discussion. Practice Support can still provide you with guidance and resources in response to your questions about nursing practice.

In certain limited circumstances (for example, incidents that might involve child abuse or neglect), the law may require CNO to report information to other agencies.

How do I send my practice-related question?

You can submit your question(s) using this form.

How will I receive a response?

You will receive a response by email. If you need additional support, or there is a lack of clarity on the issue, we may call you and follow-up with an email summarizing the discussion.

How long does it take to get a response?

We respond to the majority of questions within one business day. However, if the scope of your inquiry goes beyond Practice Support and we need to consult with other areas of the College, or externally, it could take up to three business days to receive a response.

Who is practice support for?

Anyone who has questions about nursing practice.