Table of Contents What is the difference between the Cannabis Act and the Cannabis Regulations? Will the provincial or territorial legislation impose further limits on my nursing practice? Now that the Cannabis Act has come into force and cannabis is legal, am I free to do as I wish? Information for Nurse Practitioners Information for…
Read MoreQuestion: I am a nurse practitioner and I want to end my professional relationship with a client. What do I need to consider before doing so? Answer: Ending the nurse-client relationship is not simple, and you should seek legal advice from the CNPS before proceeding. If the relationship ends in unwarranted circumstances, it may be…
Read MoreQuestion: I am a nurse practitioner and my patient Jane is a 15-year old female who requires IV antibiotics for a foot infection. Jane lives away from home, attends school and is otherwise in good health. Is she capable of consenting to treatment, or must I obtain parental consent? Answer: The issue of consent is…
Read MoreQuestion: I am a nurse practitioner (NP) and am considering accepting a position working in a medical clinic. The contract for my services specifies that I will be compensated based on my billing to the public health insurance plan. I am aware that physicians are authorized to directly bill public health insurance plans, but is…
Read MoreQuestion : I am a nurse who is employed at a primary care clinic. I have recently become aware that the parents of a 10-year-old patient have divorced. The father is now requesting a copy of the child’s health records. Is he entitled to receive a copy of the records? What should I do? Answer: …
Read MoreIntroduction New and evolving models for healthcare delivery have increased the opportunity for collaborative practice between physicians, nurse practitioners (NPs) and other healthcare providers. Collaborative practice inevitably reinforces the need for healthcare professionals to ensure they individually have adequate personal professional liability protection and that the other healthcare professionals with whom they work collaboratively are…
Read MoreIs obstetrics a legally high risk area of nursing practice? There are several factors which lead to the characterization of obstetrics as a legally risky area of practice. Firstly, obstetrical and neonatal nurses frequently report lawsuits and occurrences. Secondly, it is not possible to predict which babies will have poor outcomes. In lawsuits about babies…
Read MoreOccupational health nurses (OHNs) deliver a variety of healthcare services in their workplace. Some areas of concern specific to occupational health nursing (OH nursing) are: Legislation Provincial, territorial, and federal legislation affecting OH nursing includes law governing occupational health and safety, workers’ compensation, employment and labour relations, and privacy. The employer must ensure compliance with…
Read MoreEach year, nurses working in the operating room are the second or third largest group of nurses reporting their involvement in lawsuits or occurrences1 to the Canadian Nurses Protective Society. Reported case law is an indicator of some of the potential risk areas facing operating room nurses. The most common lawsuits involve issues related to:…
Read MoreDocumenting accurately, as well as appropriate monitoring of both mother and fetus, is crucial in managing legal risks in obstetrical nursing. Perinatal nurses (those practising in labour and delivery, maternal care, and neonatal care) most frequently report lawsuits and occurrences – events which may become lawsuits – to the Canadian Nurses Protective Society (CNPS). In…
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