CNPE Call for Volunteers & Pharmacist Assessment Record Content Changes

Call for Volunteers: CNPE Exam Development & Exam Committee Member (SK Representative)

Meazure Learning is seeking subject matter expert (SME) volunteers to be item writers for the CNPE Exam. Each group of item writers is composed of a representative mix of four to eight participants from different jurisdictions and different areas of nursing expertise. Work related to exam development occurs throughout the year.

The CRNS is seeking an Exam Committee member to represent Saskatchewan at the Exam Committee meetings. The committee has several duties including reviewing content of the exam and establishing the standard for the exam. This is a 3-year term and would start in January 2026. 

For more information, click here.


Pharmacist Assessment Record Content Changes

There have been changes made to the overall Pharmacist Assessment Record (PAR) for prescribing by pharmacists (minor ailments, self care and other diseases).

The Saskatchewan College of Pharmacy Professionals’ (SCPP) Bylaws (Part K – Prescribing of Drugs – Pharmacist Assessment Record 3(3) ) require the entire Pharmacist Assessment Record be provided to the patient’s primary care practitioner (and where appropriate other practitioners involved in the patient’s care) when prescribing for minor ailments, self-care and other diseases identified by the Minister of Health or Designate. 

To support this requirement, the medSask Pharmacist Assessment Records have been updated.

  • The previously included Pharmacist Minor Ailment Prescribing Record page (the summary page that appeared last) has been removed.
  • An optional communication note has been added and indicates to practitioners why there has been a potential change.

Questions can be directed to Lori Postnikoff lori.postnikoff@saskpharm.ca at the Saskatchewan College of Pharmacy Professionals or Danielle Larocque danielle.larocque@usask.ca at the University of Saskatchewan. 


Contact a CRNS Practice and Education Nursing Advisor by email at practiceadvice@crns.ca or by phone at 1.800.667.9945.

NPR-FIPP Webpage & Seeking Feedback on RNSP Guideline

Nurse Practitioner Regulation Framework Implementation Plan Project (NPR-FIPP) Webpage

The Nurse Practitioner Regulation Framework Implementation Plan Project (NPR-FIPP) is a multi-year, multi-faceted initiative commissioned by the Canadian Council of Registered Nurse Regulators (CCRNR) with a priority that the NP entry-level education programs in Canada will prepare NPs for practice across the life span and practice settings.

The CRNS has implemented a new NPR-FIPP webpage, dedicated to providing access to NPR-FIPP information. On the page, you can review project objectives that have been completed, such as the NPR-FIPP work summaries, the NP Practice Analysis and the Canadian Nurse Practitioner Licensure Exam (CNPLE) Blueprint. Please visit the site regularly to stay informed of the latest updates on topics such as the development of the CNPLE as well as reviewing new information as it is released.


External Consultation: Registered Nurse Specialty Practice Guideline

The CRNS is revising the Registered Nurse Specialty Practice (RNSP) Guideline. The RNSP model optimizes RN practice to best serve the public by providing a framework for activities beyond entry-level competence.

As part of the external consultation process, the CRNS is seeking feedback on the RNSP Guideline from registrants and external partners, including the public. Please complete the following survey by May 8, 2025 at 4:00 pm.

Please access the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TF63BP3

Questions or comments are welcome and can be directed to Shayna Moore at smoore@crns.ca and/or Lana Prystai at lprystai@crns.ca.


Contact a CRNS Practice and Education Nursing Advisor by email at practiceadvice@crns.ca or by phone at 1.800.667.9945.

Joint Statement: Pharmacy Prescription Transfers for Controlled Drugs

The policy limiting pharmacy prescription transfers for controlled drugs (including opioid agonist therapy) to one time has been updated to permit a transfer back to the patient’s original pharmacy after being transferred away once.

The full joint communication from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan (CPSS), the Saskatchewan College of Pharmacy Professionals (SCPP), and the College of Registered Nurses of Saskatchewan (CRNS) can be accessed here.

CRNS Practice and Education Nursing Advisors are available to answer your questions. They can be contacted by phone at 1.800.667.9945 or 306.359.4227 or by email at practiceadvice@crns.ca.

New Services at Select Saskatchewan Pharmacies

On January 22, 2025, select pharmacies began providing treatment for pharyngitis and acute otitis media. The aim for this Ministry of Health initiative is to improve health outcomes by increasing timely access to care, and foster collaboration across the system to utilize health care resources most effectively. NPs and RN(AAP)s may provide follow-up care to patients who have been treated by pharmacists. Understanding the process and knowing where to find documentation is important for continuity of care.

Pharmacists must comply with all program requirements, including mandatory training, utilizing expert reviewed guidelines with a structured approach to patient assessment, prescribing and documentation. Pharmacist’s assessment and follow-up is documented in the Pharmacist Assessment Record (PAR). Pharmacists must provide the completed PAR to the patient’s primary health care provider (if they have one) when prescribing and when performing a Group A Streptococcus (GAS) point-of-care test (POCT).

Pharmacists must capture all assessment and GAS POCT results electronically into the pharmacy information program (PIP). Electronic results are not captured in the eHR Viewer’s Laboratory tab but will display in the PIP or the eHR Viewer’s Medication tab. For more information about the PIP or the eHR Viewer access please visit:

Additional information:

CRNS Practice and Education Nursing Advisors are available to answer your questions. They can be contacted by phone at 1.800.667.9945 or 306.359.4227 or by email at practiceadvice@crns.ca.

External Consultation: Code of Conduct

The College of Registered Nurses of Saskatchewan (CRNS), in collaboration with other nursing regulatory bodies across Canada, is replacing the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) Code of Ethics, 2017 with a Code of Conduct document. The CNA Code of Ethics, 2017 is considered aspirational and will continue to be available as a guide for nurses. 

The CRNS’s mandate is to protect the public through the regulation of RNs, RN(AAP)s and NPs. To further support this mandate, the CRNS has drafted the Code of Conduct that outlines the expectations of registrants to maintain professionalism, competence and ethical behavior to deliver safe client care. All RNs, RN(AAP)s and NPs will be expected to comply with the CRNS Code of Conduct.

As part of the external consultation process, the CRNS is seeking feedback on the Code of Conduct document from registrants and external partners, including the public. Please complete the following survey by Thursday, February 13, 2025 at 4 pm.

Code of Conduct Document for Review
Code of Conduct Feedback Survey

Questions or comments are welcome and can be directed to Catharine Wirth at cwirth@crns.ca

Anti-Racism Guideline

The CRNS is pleased to announce the release of the Anti-Racism Guideline, approved by CRNS Council on November 6, 2024.

The guideline defines individual and systemic racism experienced by Indigenous Peoples, people of color, visible minorities and co-workers. The guideline speaks to cultural humility and cultural safety and how RNs, NPs and RN(AAP)s practice cultural humility and provide culturally safe care to clients.

The guideline provides tools and strategies such as the CPR RACISM framework and the 4Ds Model of Intervention that RNs, NPs and RN(AAP)s can use to address racism in their workplace. Both provide actions that one can take when witnessing racist behaviors. 

Taking action when racist behaviors happen can be difficult if skills in this area have not been developed. This video has been developed to provide ideas for developing skills and using the CPR RACISM framework in nursing practice.

Watch the CPR Racism: A Guide to Address Racism in Health Care Video

CRNS Practice and Education Nursing Advisors are available to answer your questions or discuss specific situations. They can be contacted by phone at 1.800.667.9945 or 306.359.4227 or by email at practiceadvice@crns.ca.

Newly Updated Self-Employed Practice Guideline and the Aesthetic Nursing Resource

The CRNS is pleased to announce the release of the updated Self-Employed Practice Guideline that was approved by the CRNS Council on November 6, 2024. 

The guideline was updated to enhance the content related to the purpose of advertising and the professional responsibilities of self-employed CRNS registrants, including adding a compensation section. The guideline highlights that self-employed RNs and NPs comply with their practice standards, entry-level competencies, code of ethics, and practice within their legislated scope of practice and personal competence when providing care. 

The CRNS is also pleased to announce the release of the updated Aesthetic Nursing Resource.  

The resource was updated to enhance the clarity of the regulator requirements for CRNS registrants engaging in aesthetic nursing. It provides further guidance regarding advertising nursing services. This resource is a compilation of current CRNS guidelines and recommendations for registrants regarding aesthetic nursing and includes links to related information for RNs and NPs.

CRNS Practice and Education Nursing Advisors are available to answer your questions. They can be contacted by phone at 1.800.667.9945 or 306.359.4227 or by email at practiceadvice@crns.ca.

Joint Statement: Naltrexone Contraindicated with Opioid Agonist Therapy

Severe withdrawal has occurred in some cases where patients are prescribed Opioid Agonist Therapy with naltrexone. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan (CPSS), College of Registered Nurses of Saskatchewan (CRNS), Saskatchewan College of Pharmacy Professionals (SCPP) and Registered Psychiatric Nurses Association of Saskatchewan (RPNAS) have created a joint statement with information to support registrants practicing in this clinical situation. The joint statement can be accessed here.

Nurse Practitioners with questions can reach out to oud@crns.ca.

Resolving Professional Practice Issues Update

The CRNS is pleased to announce the release of the updated Resolving Professional Practice Issues: A Toolkit for Registered Nurses/Nurse Practitioners that was approved by the CRNS Executive Director on August 27, 2024.

The resource was updated to include Nurse Practitioners (NP), NP Practice Standards and NP Entry-Level Competencies. Reviewing this document may help to support RNs and NPs when addressing professional practice issues. 

CRNS Practice and Education Nursing Advisors are available to answer your questions. They can be contacted by phone at 1.800.667.9945 or 306.259.4227 or by email at practiceadvice@crns.ca.

Clinical Decision Tool Updates and RN(AAP) Scope of Practice Reminder 

Updates to two Clinical Decision Tools (CDT) are effective October 1, 2024:

  • Urinary Tract Infection (Cystitis and Pyelonephritis): Adult has been updated and now requires immediate consultation for pregnant patients presenting with a suspected urinary tract infection (UTI). There are clinical decisions that go beyond the CDT that may be important when treating pregnant clients who seemingly have a UTI and therefore consultation is required. 
  • Atopic Dermatitis: Adult and Pediatric CDT has had examples of signs and symptoms of systemic infection added to the immediate consultation section.

Reminders regarding scope of practice for RN(AAP)s

  • The CDTs contain the additional actions that RN(AAP)s are authorized to take when permitted by the employer. RN(AAP)s are responsible for immediately consulting with a Nurse Practitioner (NP) or physician when required in a CDT. 
  • Outside of the CDTs, RN(AAP)s are practicing within the RN role and scope of practice and must consult with an NP or physician to be authorized to perform activities such as administering medications, ordering tests or determining a course of treatment. Examples of this are the care and treatment of people living with diabetes and other chronic health conditions or emergency situations. 
  • RN Clinical Protocols developed using the RN Specialty Practices framework can provide the authority to provide care for clients in situations outside of the CDTs. CDTs and RN Clinical Protocols together can support many situations an RN(AAP) may be presented with in their practice.

All CDTs can be accessed here. CRNS Practice & Education Nursing Advisors are available to answer your questions. They can be contacted by phone at 1.800.667.9945 or 306.359.4227 or by email at practiceadvice@crns.ca

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