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The College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) is the self-governing organization for Registered Nurses (RN), Registered Practical Nurses (RPN), and Nurse Practitioners (NP) in the province of Ontario, Canada. It is responsible for licensing, setting requirements for entry, establishing standards, and assuring the quality of practice for nurses across Ontario.

Overview
CNO was established in 1963 to regulate the practice of nursing. The Nursing Act of 1991 establishes the authority of the College of Nurses of Ontario and defines the scope of the nursing profession within Ontario. Nursing in Ontario is defined as the promotion of health, the assessment of health, and the provision of care for individuals. It is also the treatment of health conditions through supportive, preventative, therapeutic, palliative, and rehabilitative means in order to maintain or attain the optimal function of an individual. Only members of the CNO can call themselves nurses in Ontario, which includes Registered Nurse, Registered Practical Nurse, and all variations, abbreviations, and equivalents in other languages.

The College establishes and maintains the requirements to practice nursing within Ontario. It has a registration process and an examination that all applicants must complete before becoming members. It also provides a code of conduct to which it subjects every member to. The College provides practice guidelines for specific practice-related issues and educational/consultative services to educate nurses on the standards of practice. CNO also maintains a Quality Assurance Program in order to assess the continuing competence of nurses. The public or employers can search for any member on CNO’s website and file complaints against an individual nurse. A committee will review the complaint and decide if a nurse has broken conduct. CNO publishes and archives the outcomes including the punishments on their website.

Registration Classes of Nurses
Nurses of the College are divided into Registered Nurses and Registered Practical Nurses, which comprise various classes.


 * General Class: Most of the College’s Registered Nurses and Registered Practical Nurses are registered in this class.


 * Extended Class: This class comprises Registered Nurses who are classified as Nurse Practitioners (NPs). They have completed additional competency requirements beyond the General Class and have one of three specialty certificates: NP-Adult, NP-Paediatrics, and NP-Primary Health Care.


 * Temporary Class: This class is comprised of recent graduates or applicants who come from outside the province of Ontario and have met all registration requirements except successful completion of the registration exam. This class can practice as Registered Nurses or Registered Practical Nurses, but is subject to specific terms.


 * Special Assignment Class: A short-term, non-renewable registration for individuals who come from outside of Canada who have an appointment or assignment with an approved facility in Canada. This class can operate as Registered Nurses or Registered Practical Nurses, but is subject to specific terms.


 * Emergency Assignment Class: This class comprises Registered Nurses and Registered Practical Nurses who are from outside of Ontario. Certificates for this class are usually given when the provincial government asks the College too.


 * Non-Practising Class: Members of this class are previous members of the General Class or Extended Class. These members may not practice or represent themselves as qualified to practise nursing within Ontario.

Magazine/Newsletter
CNO has a digital magazine called The Standard for members and subscribers. It offers updates on practice standards, regulations, legislation, and any other relevant news to nursing practice in Ontario.

Quality Practice is the CNO’s free newsletter. It publishes information on nursing regulation, competent nursing practice, and quality practice settings. It is published six times a year.

Committees
The CNO is governed by a council of twenty-one members. Fourteen are Registered Nurses, and seven are registered, practical nurses. Between fourteen to eighteen members are appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council who are not members of the college. The council elects a president and two vice-presidents annually, with at least one vice-president being a registered nurse, and the other being a registered practical nurse.


 * Discipline Committee: Responsible for holding hearings for cases involving RN, RPN, or NP who has been referred by the Inquiries, Complaints, and Reports Committee.


 * Executive (Patient Relations) Committee: Fulfills role of the Patient Relations Committee. Provides leadership to Council, ensures proper functioning of the Council and committees, and handles decisions between Council meetings.


 * Finance Committee: Advises Council on financial affairs of the College including fiscal policies and monitors the implementation of those policies.


 * Fitness to Practice Committee: Responsible for determining if a nurse is fit (mentally or physically) to practice.


 * Inquiries, Complaints, and Reports Committee: Responsible for addressing public complaints or information received through reports that the College receives.


 * Quality Assurance Committee: Responsible for ensuring that members of the College comply with the Quality Assurance Program.


 * Registration Committee: Responsible for assessing an applicant’s qualifications to practice nursing in Ontario.