 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
Telephone:
416 928-0900
Toll Free in Ontario:
1 800 387-5526
Fax:
416 928-6507
FastFax Service:
1 877 963-7502
General E-mail:
cno@cnomail.org
Website Help:
website@cnomail.org
Page modified February 10, 2009
Quality Assurance
Glossary
Client
The client refers to a person or persons with whom the nurse is engaged in a professional therapeutic relationship. In most cases, the client is an individual. The client may also be a family, group (as in counselling) or community (as in the public health field). In research, the client is a subject or participant; in education, the client may include students. In Ontario, “client” is preferred over the narrower term “patient.”
Competence
Competence is the nurse’s ability to integrate the professional attributes required to perform in a given role, situation or practice setting. Professional attributes include knowledge, skill, judgment, attitudes, values and beliefs.
Controlled act
The Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 (RHPA) established 13 controlled acts. These controlled acts are considered potentially harmful if performed by unqualified persons. There are three controlled acts authorized to RNs and RPNs, and additional controlled acts authorized to NPs.
Culture
Culture refers to the learned values, beliefs, norms and ways of life of an individual that influence thinking, actions and decisions.
Incompetence
Incompetence occurs when the care that a member provides a client displays disregard for the client’s welfare or a lack of knowledge, skill or judgment. Incompetence includes care of a nature or to an extent that demonstrates that the member is unfit to continue to practise, or that the member’s practice should be restricted. Acts of incompetence that are reported to the College of Nurses of Ontario must be investigated and can lead to disciplinary proceedings.
Learning plan
A learning plan consists of a nurse’s ongoing learning activities and projects related to her or his practice setting. The plan is guided by the learning needs identified through self-assessment and peer feedback.
Member
A member is an individual registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario.
Nurse
Nurse refers to a Registered Nurse, Nurse Practitioner or Registered Practical Nurse. Only a registered member of the College can call herself or himself a nurse, and practise in Ontario.
Nursing Act, 1991
The Nursing Act, 1991, along with the RHPA, authorizes the development of standards and regulations for nursing. It protects the titles nurse, Registered Nurse, Registered Practical Nurse and Nurse Practitioner. Only individuals currently registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario may use these titles.
Peer feedback
Peer feedback involves asking colleagues for their views on your strengths and areas in your nursing practice that need developing.
Practice Review
Practice Review, a component of the Quality Assurance Program, assesses and addresses the needs of nurses who require additional support to practise within the standards of practice.
Professional accountability
Professional accountability refers to being responsible for one’s actions and decisions, and accepting the consequences. Nurses demonstrate accountability through their decision-making process, competency and integrity. It is reflected through a nurse’s actions and accurate documentation.
Quality Assurance Program (QA Program)
The RHPA requires each regulatory college to develop, establish and maintain a program to promote continuing competence among its members. The College of Nurses of Ontario meets this obligation through its Quality Assurance (QA) Program. Reflective Practice and Practice Review are included in the QA Program.
Reflective Practice
Reflective Practice is a component of the Quality Assurance Program. This five-step process helps nurses maintain their competence in today’s rapidly changing health care environment. Every year, all nurses practising in Ontario are required to complete the Reflective Practice program and declare their participation in the program during the Annual Membership Renewal process.
Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA)
The RHPA is the core legislation that applies to all regulated health professionals, including nurses. The focus of the RHPA is openness, consumer choice and quality care.
Scope of practice statement
The scope of practice statement for nursing in Ontario is a statement set out in the Nursing Act that describes what nursing does and by what means: “The practice of nursing is the promotion of health and the assessment of, the provision of, care for, and the treatment of health conditions by supportive, preventive, therapeutic, palliative and rehabilitative means in order to attain or maintain optimal function.”
Self-assessment
Self-assessment is the process through which nurses identify the knowledge and skills they possess as well as those they need to strengthen to improve their practice.
Self-regulation
Self-regulation means that the profession governs itself, both through the College of Nurses of Ontario and individually, in the sense that each member is responsible for practising in accordance with the standards of the profession, and for keeping current and competent throughout her or his nursing career.
[top]