Back to Health workforce scopes of practice
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| N.L. | P.E.I. | N.S. | N.B. | Que. | Ont. | Man. | Sask. | Alta. | B.C. | Nun. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment and therapeutic management | |||||||||||
| Refer to other health professionals | Full | Full | Restricted | Full | Full | Full | Full | Restricted | Restricted | – | Restricted |
| Order X-rays | Out of scope | Out of scope | Restricted | Out of scope | Restricted | Out of scope | Restricted | Restricted | Restricted | Restricted | Restricted |
| Communicate diagnoses and test results to patients | Out of scope | Out of scope | Restricted | Restricted | Restricted | Out of scope | Full | Restricted | Restricted | Restricted | Restricted |
| Treatments/interventions | |||||||||||
| Perform an electrocardiogram | Full | Full | Full | Restricted | Full | Full | Full | Full | Full | Full | Full |
| Apply cast | Full | Full | Full | Restricted | Restricted | Out of scope | Out of scope | Out of scope | Full | Restricted | Restricted |
| Apply restraints | Restricted | Full | Full | Restricted | Full | Full | Full | Full | Full | Full | Full |
| Conduct mental health screening | Full | Full | Full | Full | Restricted | Full | Full | Full | Full | Full | Full |
| Conduct substance use screening | Full | Full | Full | Full | Full | Full | Full | Full | Full | Full | Full |
| Pharmacotherapy | |||||||||||
| Prescribe pharmacotherapy | Out of scope* | Out of scope | Restricted | Out of scope | Restricted | Out of scope† | Restricted | Restricted | Restricted | Restricted | Out of scope |
| Prescribe controlled substances | Out of scope | Out of scope | Out of scope | Out of scope | Out of scope | Out of scope | Out of scope | Out of scope | Out of scope | Restricted | Out of scope |
| Administer vaccines | Full | Full | Full | Full | Full | Full | Full | Full | Full | Restricted | Full |
| Other | |||||||||||
| Independently manage labour and delivery | Full | Out of scope | Out of scope | Restricted | Restricted | Out of scope | Full | Restricted | Full | Restricted | Restricted |
| Pronounce death | Full | Out of scope | Full | Full | Full | Full | Full | Full | Full | Restricted | Full |
| Admit to long-term care facilities | Out of scope | Out of scope | Out of scope | Restricted | Out of scope | Out of scope | Out of scope | Out of scope | Out of scope | Out of scope | Out of scope |
| Hold disease management clinics (foot care, diabetes) | Full | Full | Full | Full | Full | Full | Full | Restricted | Full | Full | Full |
Notes
This publication presents the status of selected scopes of practice for registered nurses (RNs) in participating provinces and territories as of December 2021. Any updates made to scopes after December 2021 are not reflected. For the status of additional scope items, please refer to Health Workforce Scopes of Practice in Canada, 2021 — Data Tables (XLSX).
* In Newfoundland and Labrador, RN prescribing is permitted per the Registered Nurses Act but has not yet been passed in the Registered Nurses Regulations.
† In Ontario, the Nursing Act has been amended to authorize RN prescribing. The amendments will take effect when regulations under the act are approved and come into force.
— Data is not available or not applicable.
Data from Yukon and the Northwest Territories is not available.
Data from Nunavut reflects scopes of practice for RNs employed by the Government of Nunavut.
Full scope of practice refers to legislation allowing health care professionals to perform the identified activity without any constraints.
Restricted scope of practice refers to legislation limiting or reducing the ability of health care professionals to perform the identified activity. Limitations include requirements for additional education or training, an order or prescription from another health care professional specifying the work to be done, and other limitations on the performance of the activity.
Out of scope refers to legislation prohibiting health care professionals from performing the identified activity.
For additional context and information regarding data on scopes of practice, please refer to Health Workforce Scopes of Practice, 2021 — Interpretive Notes (PDF).
Sources
Regulatory bodies for RNs in Canada.
Government of Nunavut.