Nursing Practice Updates

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.

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.

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.

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. 

Saskatchewan Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are authorized in accordance with provincial and federal legislation to prescribe and/or dispense drugs listed in Schedules I, II and III of The Drug Schedules Regulations, 1997, as amended from time to time. The CRNS participates in the Prescription Review Program (PRP) established in Saskatchewan, and all practicing NPs engage in a reflective practice assessment specific to PRP from time to time. The primary objective of the CRNS’s PRP is ensuring patient safety through safe prescribing practices. 

The Prescription Review Program quality initiative (QI) helps to confirm that the NP’s prescribing practice is aligned with the relevant standards and guidelines. Many NPs find the opportunity to reflect on their prescribing practice as a valuable investment. This program will be launching this fall and you may be randomly chosen to participate. More information can be accessed here (add link to webpage).

Questions can be directed to the PRP Nursing Advisor at prp@crns.ca.

On August 29, 2024, changes to the both The Attending Health Professionals Amendment Regulations and The Special-care Home Regulations were approved. The Orders in Council can be accessed here. The changes in these regulations provide the legislative authority for NPs to:

• Admit and discharge a person as an in-patient; and,
• Perform admission assessments for residents being admitted to a special-care home.

NPs require employer policies and processes and individual competence prior to adding these areas to their practice. Practice information about admitting and discharging from acute care can be found here.

Questions about this update can be directed to the Nursing Advisors, Practice & Education at practiceadvice@crns.ca or by calling 1-800-667-9945.

The CRNS is updating advertising direction to its members who are self-employed and/or practice aesthetics nursing. The CRNS seeks feedback on two documents from members and external stakeholders, including the public, as part of the external consultation process. This process is in place to ensure relevant information is clearly presented. Feedback can be provided by accessing the following surveys and will be accepted until Friday, September 16, 2024, at 4:00 pm.

Self-Employed Practice Guideline Survey

Self-Employed Practice Guideline Survey

• Please note, that the focus of this survey is to seek feedback on the advertising and compensation sections of the Guideline and did not include a full review of the document content, however, minor changes have been made throughout. A full review of the document will be coming up in the future.
• For ease of providing feedback on the revised sections of the Guideline, in the survey these sections are required to answer(marked with an asterisk), and the other sections can be reviewed, and skipped if you have no further feedback.

Aesthetic Nursing Resource

Aesthetic Nursing Resource Survey

Questions or comments are welcome and can be directed to Shayna Moore at smoore@crns.ca and/or Virginia Deobald at vdeobald@crns.ca.

The CRNS is pleased to announce the release of the 2024 revision of the Nurse Practitioner (NP) Practice Standards. The NP Practice Standards will come into force and into effect on July 24, 2024.

The NP Practice Standards document is intended to identify the expectations and level of NP practice in Saskatchewan. A practice standard is an expected and achievable level of professional practice performance. The NP Practice Standards inform practitioners of the expectations for making informed, safe and effective decisions; guide employers in what to expect of NPs as employees; and, advise the public of the level of care they can expect to receive from NPs.  

• View the revised 2024 NP Practice Standards here. 
• For more information, a Question & Answer document is available here.
• Watch CRNS Advisors discuss the revised NP Practice Standards here. 

CRNS 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. 

The Saskatchewan Health Authority began the launch of the provincial Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) Management program on June 3, 2024. Implementation of the program involves a mandatory outpatient IV iron order set that can be accessed here. The order set is scheduled to be gradually rolled out across the province in the coming months. A memo containing a more detailed site-specific timeline can be found here. The program will affect ALL OUTPATIENT IV iron prescribing once implemented in your community.

IDA Management Program Pharmacists are available to answer your questions. Please find their info below. Live virtual education sessions will be offered for those interested. Dates to follow.

Ben Kinsley (Regina/South)                          Brent Vanin (Saskatoon/North)

Ph: 306 766 2896                                           Ph: 306 655 6077

Ben.kinsley@saskhealthauthority.ca         brent.vanin@saskhealthauthority.ca

RNs and NPs are professionally accountable for how they convey their self-employed practice/business to the public through advertising. The purpose of advertising is to provide information so the public can make an informed decision when selecting registered nursing services from a self-employed registrant. Registrants may engage in advertising their nursing services for the purpose of promoting, maintaining or restoring health; and, preventing illness and alleviating suffering.

Registrants who advertise nursing services shall:

• comply with federal, provincial and CRNS legislation; 
• present information in a manner consistent with the current practice standards, entry-level competencies and the code of ethics;
• advertise services only within the legislated scope of the registrant; 
• state full name and protected title in the advertisement;
  • CRNS designation may only be used once you obtain Recognition of Practice (ROP) approval, or if the nursing services are designated nursing activities as interpreted by the Act; 
• provide an accurate written description of the services provided, including risks and benefits of the service; 
• address any actual, potential or perceived conflict of interest;
• obtain informed consent and always maintain client privacy and confidentiality;
• use reasonable and appropriate illustrations, images, representations or claims; 
• keep a copy of all advertisements for a reasonable time (suggested 5-year retention, or as suggested per legal counsel) for your record keeping;
• only provide and advertise health services or products that are authorized for sale in Canada by Health Canada;
• avoid comparative statements that claim or imply superiority over others or include promotional/sale advertising;
• ethically manage the potential risks associated with endorsements, refraining from endorsing products, product line or health care services that are not related to the care or services provided;
• do not mislead the public with exaggerated claims of the effectiveness of the service being provided; and,
• ensure advertisements are presented in a manner that maintains the public’s trust and are accurate, factual, evidence-based, verifiable, ethical and professional. 

CRNS 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. 

Resources

Aesthetics Nursing Resource

Self Employed Practice Guideline

Recognition of Practice (ROP) Information Page

The Canadian Code of Advertising Standards

The Registered Nurses Act, 1988

The Saskatchewan Ministry of Health has provided updated information regarding the prescribing and dispensing of COVID-19 therapeutics such as Paxlovid. The May 30, 2024 letter can be accessed here.

CRNS 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. 

There have been several questions and requests for clarification in follow up to the Long-Term Care – Authorized Prescriptions joint statement that was sent out by CPSS, CRNS, CLPNS and SCPP. Legislation requirements were included in the original joint statement. This second joint statement has been issued to provide further clarity regarding the use of verbal/telephone orders to dispense a prescription in a Long-Term Care (LTC) setting.

Pharmacists

• Must receive orders to dispense a prescription directly from a physician, NP, RN (AAP), dentist and other authorized prescribers.
• May accept a verbal/phone or faxed original prescription written and signed by an authorized prescriber.
• May receive a faxed transcribed order from a nurse as a means of communication so the pharmacist can expect an order from the authorized prescriber and alerts the pharmacist to follow up with the prescriber if the prescription is not received.

Physicians

• May provide nurses with a telephone/verbal order to facilitate timely patient care.
• Must provide pharmacists with an order directly to authorize the pharmacist to dispense a prescription.

Nurses

• May take telephone/verbal orders from an authorized prescriber and may fax the transcribed order to the pharmacist for communication purposes.
• Cannot act as a third party in the direct communication required between the authorized prescriber and the pharmacist when there is an order to dispense a prescription.

CRNS 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.

Nurse Practitioners (NPs) provide excellent care in primary health care settings and a variety of specialized clinical contexts throughout Saskatchewan. CRNS has become aware of a clinical practice issue that is having negative impacts on patient outcomes and leading to potential patient privacy breaches due to misrouted medical imaging reports. Several of the identified causes are listed here:

• Many NPs have more than one clinical site where they work. 
• NPs may concurrently work within and outside of the SHA and order or request medical imaging studies for clients.
• The CRNS database that verifies registration status of NPs does not contain clinic phone numbers, fax numbers or addresses. Therefore, it is not a resource that enables technologists to appropriately forward medical imaging reports.
• The Radiology Information System (RIS) can only support one fax number per provider. Providers working at multiple sites must make arrangements with clinic staff at that site (the one with the distribution fax), to create a workflow so that the NP’s can receive their patient’s reports and booking notifications at any/all sites that they are providing patient care.
• There are many different requisitions/ forms that are utilized when NPs order or request medical imaging studies in the various settings where they work.
• Paper requisitions are not handled consistently by all SHA facilities. The SHA Medical Imaging Department cannot guarantee that the information on the requisition is translated through from request to finalization. The SHA Medical Imaging Department requires one fax for ALL reports and booking confirmations.

These factors can create barriers that lead to delays in care or privacy issues. CRNS is raising awareness of this issue and is recommending the following:

• NPs ensure that clinic specific information is included on the medical imaging requisitions to enable more timely and accurate delivery of results to the appropriate location. 
• NPs currently working only in one location may wish to ensure that their contact information is up to date.
• NPs should update the RIS team each time they change their work location to ensure the best possible outcomes. 
• NPs working in multiple sites should make arrangements with clinical staff to create a workflow to ensure that they are receiving all of their patient’s results in a timely manner.

The Saskatchewan Biosimilars Initiative was created to improve the uptake of biosimilar drugs. The Biosimilars Initiative means that patients are covered for a biosimilar version of their biologic medication where one is available. 

Visit the Biosimilars Initiative website for the most current and up-to-date news regarding this initiative.

The CRNS is pleased to announce the release of the updated Medical Assistance in Dying Guideline (2024). The Medical Assistance in Dying Guideline was approved by CRNS Council on February 23, 2024.

The guideline was updated to reflect best practices and standards as outlined in the nationally developed Model Practice Standard for Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) and the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) MAID program; Nurse Practitioner (NP) Entry-Level Competencies (ELC) were updated to the 2023 version; and the date in which people whose sole underlying medical condition is mental illness and wish to seek MAID was updated to reflect federal legislation and is March 17, 2027.

Reviewing this document will assist you in knowing the expectations of RN and NP practice in providing care to people seeking MAID. CRNS Practice 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.

The SCPP, the CRNS, the CLPNS, and the CPSS have issued a joint statement regarding verbal orders generated from Long Term Care (LTC) Facilities. A pharmacist may only accept a verbal or faxed original order written and signed by an authorized prescriber e.g. physician, NP, dentist. A pharmacist may not accept a verbal or faxed written order (transcribed) from an RN. The full statement can be accessed here.

CRNS 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. 

Cervical cancer screening in Saskatchewan recently changed when the revised cervical cancer screening clinical practice guidelines were updated in November 2023. Key changes to the new guidelines include:

• Screening will start at age 25 or three years after becoming sexually active, whichever is later;
• Routine screening will now be every three years until the age of 69; and,
• The addition of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) reflex testing. 

These new evidence-based changes ensure people continue to benefit from screening while avoiding unnecessary tests and follow-up treatment. 

Click here to find information about the guidelines, including the new guidelines document. (link to: http://saskcancer.ca/health-professionals-article/cancer-screening-guidelines-and-resources/cervical-cancer-screening)

The SCA has collaborated with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Division of Continuing Medical Education to create a free accredited course on the guidelines. The course will be available until July 2024. It can be found here. (link to: https://cmelearning.usask.ca/learn-here/cme-online-courses/cervical_cancer_guidelines_online-course.php)

If any questions arise about the guidelines, please feel free to reach out to the Screening Program for Cervical Cancer at ED.Coordinator@saskcancer.ca.

The evolution of independent for-profit (stand-alone) clinics providing intravenous (IV) hydration therapy has prompted many calls to the CRNS. After completing environmental scanning and a review of best practices, the CRNS has determined that it is within the scope of practice of Registered Nurses (RN) to administer IV hydration therapy and medications, vitamins, and/or electrolytes (additives) while working in stand-alone clinics so long as the nursing process is implemented and appropriate policies and supports are in place to support safe, competent, and ethical care of this client population.  

RNs and Nurse Practitioners (NP) are accountable to practice within their legislated scope of practice and personal competence and to adhere to their Practice Standards and Code of Ethics as they would in any other practice setting.  Registrants must complete the Recognition of Practice process to use the title RN and/or NP and to count the practice hours they have worked in an IV hydration clinic towards licensure.

With the growing popularity of IV hydration therapy and individuals “self-selecting” treatments – for example, to relieve the effects of a hangover, there is an increasing trend of complaints related to unsafe practices and untoward events reported in Canada and the United States.  It is essential for RNs and NPs engaged in this practice to understand that IV hydration is a medical treatment and, therefore, there must be a medical condition for the client to obtain the treatment. As with all treatments and interventions, the risks of accepting treatments should be disclosed to the client and informed consent obtained.   

To provide safe, competent nursing care and to meet the requirements for Recognition of Practice, the following must be in place when performing IV hydration therapy treatments:

1. Appropriate policies, procedures, and resources.
2. A health history and physical examination must be performed and documented by the prescribing NP or physician to ascertain if underlying co-morbidities, such as congestive heart failure or kidney disease, might be a contraindication to the client receiving treatment.
3. Provision for diagnostic testing, as indicated for co-morbidities, should be completed as part of the client assessment. Diagnostic testing should be considered to establish a baseline for ongoing treatment.
4. The infusion must be prescribed to treat a diagnosed medical condition; clients must not “self-select” treatments. 
5. There must be an order from an NP or physician for the RN to initiate the IV and/or administer the IV solution and additives.
6. There must be appropriate documentation, including the client assessment, client consent, treatment ordered and administered, and client response to that treatment.
7. The supplies, including IV lines, solution, and additives, must be procured from a reputable source and stored and handled in alignment with current infection prevention and control (IPAC) best practices and principles. 
8. There must be an ability to manage untoward events, including having the necessary emergency equipment on site.

For more information or to inquire about recognition of practice, please contact a nursing practice advisor practiceadvice@crns.ca.

In the 2022 updated regulatory bylaws that were approved and published in the September 9, 2022, Saskatchewan Gazette and came into effect on November 1, 2022, it included an update to Bylaw VI Categories of Practice, Section 3 Nurse Practitioner Category, which enables NPs to order or request medical imaging. This involves the application or detection of forms of energy for diagnostic and screening purposes and to receive and interpret reports, or to perform ultrasound imaging for the sole purpose of point-of-care diagnostic assistance when it is in the best interest of the client, in accordance with their practice standards and code of ethics, when they have the competence and judgment to safely do so, when it is in alignment with best practice evidence and when agency policy permits.

In our work to facilitate RNs and NPs practicing to their full scope, we’ve worked with the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) to minimize disruptions and fully support NPs with equal opportunity to order diagnostic imaging exams SHA provides to General Practitioners (GP).

This allows access to almost all diagnostic testing services.

For MRI and PET/CT exams, NPs and GPs may require additional documentation of approval following a discussion with a radiologist, or a recommendation for such an exam in a previous medical imaging diagnostic report.

If an NP is experiencing challenges ordering diagnostic imaging, please get in touch with Jordan Vercaigne, Manager of Provincial Diagnostic Imaging Standards and Operations, at 306.491.8220.

Effective March 31, 2022, tramadol will be removed from the Prescription Drug List (PDL) and listed in Schedule 1 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA). Tramadol will also be listed as item 19 in the Schedule of the Narcotic Control Regulations (NCR). This means that tramadol will be subject to all the regulatory requirements set out in the CDSA and NCR. The rational to change the listing is to reduce risks to human health, and to facilitate the detection and prevention of diversion of tramadol.

For a full explanation, including impact to practice, please visit:

https://gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p2/2021/2021-03-31/html/sor-dors43-eng.html

If you have any question about your NP practice, please contact practicadvice@crns.ca.  If you have any questions about prescribing controlled drugs and substances or the CRNS

Prescription Review Program, please contact prp@crns.ca