User:Rlytho/Working/Nursing Designations by Jurisdiction (Canada)/Alberta

🗃Parent: User:WhatsBest/Working/Nursing Designations by Jurisdiction (Canada)

College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CARNA) "professional and regulatory body for Alberta’s more than 37,000 RNs"

Nursing designations
There are three groups of professional nurses in Alberta:

Registered Nurses (RNs)

 * Regulatory body: College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CARNA)
 * Educational requirement: Bachelor's degree in nursing (prior to 2010 an RN diploma was also acceptable)
 * General program length: 4 years
 * Educational institutions: University of Alberta, one of the UofA's Collaborative Program sites (Red Deer College, Keyano College, Grande Prairie Regional College), other universities

Registered Psychiatric Nurses (RPNs)

 * Regulatory body: College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Alberta (CRPNA)
 * Educational requirement: diploma in psychiatric nursing
 * General program length: 2 years
 * Educational institutions: Grant MacEwan University

Licensed Practice Nurses (LPNs)

 * Regulatory body: College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta (CLPNA)
 * Educational requirement: diploma in practical nursing
 * General program length: 2 years
 * Educational institutions: NorQuest College, Red Deer College, Bow Valley College, etc.

When making decisions about RN, RPN, and LPN utilization, there are three key factors to consider: the client, the nurse, and the environment. RNs, RPNs, and LPNs are expected to maintain and adhere to each individual scope of practice. These factors will determine when LPNs can practice autonomously or when an RN or RPN must be involved and/or providing the nursing care (see Collaborative Nursing Practice in Alberta for further detail).

Nurse Practitioner
Becoming an NP in Alberta requires an application to the College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta and the following:


 * holding current RN registration in Alberta or a Canadian jurisdiction
 * completing an approved NP program in Alberta or a recognized NP program elsewhere in Canada
 * successfully passing the NP registration exam for the stream of practice

AHS Job duties
Nurse practitioners provide health care services with focus on health promotion, prevention and rehabilitation within a defined scope of nursing practice. They perform comprehensive assessment, diagnosis (including the ordering and interpretation of tests), intervention (including the prescribing of medications), management, referral and evaluation of client care across the full continuum of health care services.

There are a variety of roles available for nurse practitioners at AHS. As the profession continues to grow, so do the opportunities for nurse practitioners. Nurse practitioners may also be referred to as a primary health care nurse practitioner (PHC NP), registered nurse-extended class (RN[EC]), acute care nurse practitioner (ACNP), clinical nurse specialist/nurse practitioner (CNS/NP), nurse practitioner-specialist (NP-S) or a specialty acute care nurse practitioner (SACNP).

CARNA Job duties
What is a nurse practitioner?

Nurse practitioners (NPs) are registered nurses who have undertaken graduate education and training in advanced clinical practice.

NPs conduct comprehensive health assessment, diagnose health/illness conditions, treat and manage acute and chronic illness within a holistic model of care. NPs order and interpret screening and diagnostic tests, perform procedures and prescribe medications and therapeutic interventions.

Download the scope of practice standards for nurse practitioners

Adult Guardianship and Trusteeship Act (AGTA)
The Adult Guardianship and Trusteeship Act (AGTA) provides options and safeguards to protect vulnerable adults who may want assistance or are not able to make all of their own decisions. It provides a range of options from supported decision-making or co-decision-making to full guardianship and trusteeship.

The Office of the Public Guardian recognizes the key role that registered nurses have with individuals who require decision-making support. Under the AGTA, registered nurses may receive three-day intensive training to become designated capacity assessors.

Examples of the ways this legislation impacts members include:


 * During emergency decision-making, physicians may obtain a written 2nd opinion from a registered nurse before providing emergency health care to adults.
 * Nurse practitioners will also be able to designate a specific decision-maker to make decisions on behalf of an adult who is incapable when timely decisions are required.

RESOURCES


 * Office of the Public Guardian
 * Adult Guardianship and Trusteeship Act - Alberta Health Services
 * Registered Nurses and the Adult Guardianship and Trusteeship Act fact sheet

CARNA Bylaws
The College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta Bylaws govern our day-to-day operations. They define how CARNA is governed and structured and the rights, duties and responsibilities of members.

Government Organization Act
Schedule 7.1 of the Government Organization Act defines Health Services Restricted Activities. These are activities deemed to be high risk and that require specialized competencies and skills.

Health Information Act (HIA)
The Health Information Act (HIA) deals with complex issues concerning the collection, use, disclosure and protection of health information used in the health-care system. It provides individuals with the right to request access to health records in the custody or control of custodians and covers the actions of affiliates.

All regulated members of CARNA are custodians for the purposes of the HIA unless they are an affiliate of another custodian.

Examples of custodians include:


 * Alberta Health Services
 * Covenant Health
 * Nursing home operators

Registered nurses employed by these organizations are affiliates.

An &#x22;affiliate&#x22; is:


 * an individual employed by a custodian,
 * a person who performs a service for a custodian as an appointee, volunteer or student or under a contract or agency relationship with the custodian, and
 * a health services provider who is exercising the right to admit and treat patients at a hospital as defined in the Hospitals Act.

Learn more about the Health Information Act and what you should know about Netcare and Privacy Impact Assessments.

RESOURCES FOR RNS AND NPS

From CARNA

CARNA Privacy Modules


 * Please note: this course is currently being updated to align with recent amendments to the Act to reflect the Duty to Report a Privacy Breach. We encourage you to review the following most current standards and resource.

Privacy and Management of Health Information Standards (2020)


 * This standard document outlines the responsibilities of regulated members when managing health information and outlines the HIA requirements for custodians and affiliates of health information.

[Privacy and Security Polices A Guide for Custodians: Information and Templates (2020)](https://nurses.ab.ca/docs/default-source/document-library/standards/privacy-and-security-policies-for-custodians-information-and-templates-(.pdf?sfvrsn=9bf57c6d_4)


 * This document provides information and templates that will assist regulated members as custodians of health information to establish policies and procedures that will facilitate their compliance with section 63 of the HIA and sections 8 and 8.1(1) of the Health Information Regulation (2001)

Outside of CARNA


 * The Health Information Act
 * A Guide for Registered Nurses, How to gain access to the Alberta Netcare Electronic Health Record
 * Alberta Netcare
 * CNA fact sheet on Privacy of Personal Health Information
 * CNPS Info Law: Confidentiality of Health Information
 * Electronic Health Record Regulation
 * Health Information Regulation
 * Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta
 * Guidance for Electronic Health Record Systems (2016)

Health Professions Act (HPA)
The Health Professions Act (HPA) provides a framework for governance, registration, restricted activities, discipline and continuing competence. It defines the requirements that regulated health professions in Alberta need to follow to provide safe and competent care to the public.

Registered Nurses Profession Regulation
Registered Nurses Profession Regulation under the HPA defines the rules that govern registered nursing practice in Alberta, including:


 * the practice statement for registered nurses
 * protected titles
 * registration requirements
 * annual practice permits
 * continuing competence
 * authorized restricted activities

Internationally educated nurses
Internationally educated applicants