Question: What are the liability risks for nurses who work with unregulated care providers in collaborative care teams? Answer: New and evolving models for health-care delivery have increased the opportunity for collaborative practice between physicians, nurses and other health-care providers, some of whom may not be regulated. Unlike regulated health-care professionals, unregulated care providers (“UCPs”)…
Read MoreIn today’s busy health-care environments, delegation is a necessary component to assisting in facilitating effective and efficient patient care. However, when traditional nursing tasks are delegated to unregulated care providers (UCP) or workers, nurses should understand the associated implications for patient safety, quality of care and their own responsibility. 1. What is delegation? Delegation occurs…
Read MoreIn the nursing profession, patient advocacy is usually discussed within an ethical framework. Is there a corresponding legal duty? Canadian court decisions have recognized the existence of a legal nursing duty to obtain proper care for patients, even when this requires nurses to seek assistance outside the usual treatment team (i.e. by speaking to someone…
Read MorePlease note: In this document, “dispensing of medication” specifically refers to RNs dispensing medication in the absence of a medical order for the treatment of a specific condition(s) following the RN’s nursing assessment. In an effort to safely improve timely access to care for certain patient populations, an increasing number of Canadian provinces and territories have…
Read MoreSupervision entails initial direction, periodic inspection and corrective action when needed. It is the active process of directing, assigning, delegating, guiding, monitoring an individual’s performance of an activity to influence its outcome. Supervision can be direct (being physically present or immediately available while the activity is being performed) or indirect (providing direction through various means…
Read MoreTHIS PUBLICATION IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY. NOTHING IN THIS PUBLICATION SHOULD BE CONSTRUED AS LEGAL ADVICE FROM ANY LAWYER, CONTRIBUTOR OR THE CNPS. READERS SHOULD CONSULT LEGAL COUNSEL FOR SPECIFIC ADVICE. What are the legal risks in preceptoring? The key is accountability for all, whether you are the registered nurse or the student. Acting…
Read MoreOn June 17, 2016, the federal government’s Bill C-14 An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to make related amendments to other Acts (medical assistance in dying) received royal assent and became law in Canada. As a result of receiving royal assent, the provisions of Bill C-14 which amend the Criminal Code now form…
Read MoreTHIS PUBLICATION IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY. NOTHING IN THIS PUBLICATION SHOULD BE CONSTRUED AS LEGAL ADVICE FROM ANY LAWYER, CONTRIBUTOR OR THE CNPS. READERS SHOULD CONSULT LEGAL COUNSEL FOR SPECIFIC ADVICE. With Canada in the midst of a nursing shortage, many nurses are concerned about its impact on their own practice and their patients’…
Read MoreThe following Q&A may assist eligible nurses who have legal questions about providing professional nursing services during natural disasters, such as wildfires, flooding, earthquakes, etc. Question: Do I remain eligible for CNPS professional liability protection if I provide professional services during a natural disaster? Answer: Yes. CNPS beneficiaries continue to have access to CNPS services…
Read MoreTHIS PUBLICATION IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY. NOTHING IN THIS PUBLICATION SHOULD BE CONSTRUED AS LEGAL ADVICE FROM ANY LAWYER, CONTRIBUTOR OR THE CNPS. READERS SHOULD CONSULT LEGAL COUNSEL FOR SPECIFIC ADVICE. Cost-containment strategies have meant the loss of many registered nurse positions in health care facilities across Canada. Nurses are concerned about whether there…
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