If you have a physical or mental condition or disorder that may affect your ability to practice nursing safely, we may ask you to provide additional information with your application.
For each physical or mental condition or disorder, we may ask you to provide the following information:
- a personal statement that describes
- the specific details of your condition, disorder or disability
- the impact (if any) that your condition, disorder or disability will have on your ability to practice nursing safely and the strategies that you have in place to address this impact
- your understanding of your accountability as a regulated health professional as it relates to your condition, disorder or disability
- information about your condition, disorder or disability from your primary care provider or other relevant health care professional, which may include:
- information about your diagnosis
- a brief history and description of your condition, disorder or disability, including any treatment and medication
- their assessment of your current and past health status in relation to the condition, disorder or disability (this could include medical, psychological, psycho-educational, or other reports from your primary care provider or another health care professional)
- their opinion on whether your condition, disorder or disability impacts your ability to practice nursing safely
- evaluations from present or past nursing professors or clinical preceptors
- any other information as requested by CNO
How will CNO assess the information?
CNO will take into account several considerations when we review information about your physical or mental condition or disorder. For example:
- What is the nature of your condition, disorder or disability?
- Will your condition, disorder or disability affect your ability to practice nursing safely?
- What are the nature, type and extent of your functional limitations?
- What accommodations have you received in the past?
- Do you demonstrate an awareness of your condition or disorder?
- Does your condition or disorder create any limitations that would prevent you from having the required skills and abilities to practice nursing safely?
- Have you shown that you can work with any functional limitations so that you can provide nursing care safely?
- Have you complied with any medical or other treatment required?
To avoid delays, we strongly encourage you to ensure all supporting documents are sent to CNO as early as possible in the application process. You must provide information for each physical or mental condition or disorder that you declare or that is reported to CNO by a third party.
You are responsible for ensuring that all supporting documents from third-party sources (such as attending physicians or individuals providing references) are sent directly to CNO from the third party. If you forward the third-party information to CNO, it will not be accepted.