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Modernizing Standards
CNO is working on modernizing practice standards to reflect the evolving health care needs of patients and the dynamic nature of the nursing profession.
Refer to this page regularly to be notified about ongoing work on the Modernizing Standards project.
Why is CNO modernizing standards?
CNO’s practice standards exist to promote safe nursing practice. With constant changes to the health care needs of patients and the nursing profession, our practice standards need to be modernized to better reflect current practice realities, public expectations and societal values.
A comprehensive review to modernize standards will:
- reduce duplication
- address gaps in content
- promote consistency
- increase accessibility
- align with CNO’s strategic plan, and
- ensure they are contemporary and relevant to complexities and risks of nursing practice
What will modern standards look like?
Modern standards will:
- target risk by identifying specific and relevant risks of harm
- be evidence-informed by leveraging insights from current data from sources such as literature, jurisdictional scans and stakeholder perspectives.
- reflect current health care needs, nursing practice, health system environment and societal values (for example, including diversity, equity and inclusion principles).
- be consistent with legislative requirements
- move away from detailed clinical standards
- focus on outcome-oriented standards and principles relevant to regulation, for example medication standard with principles focusing on authority, competence and safety
- be clear and easy to understand by nurses, employers and the public
- be easily accessible to nurses, employers and the public by leveraging current technology
Current work
On Dec. 7, 2022, Council approved CNO's modernized Code of Conduct (Code). The new version of the Code will take effect, June 5, 2023. This will allow time for CNO to develop resources to support the modernized Code and the system to adapt to this change.
Next steps
In 2023, we will start work on modernizing other practice standards.
We are very excited about these progressive changes. Please stay tuned to this webpage for details. .
Resources provided to council
- Discussion Note – Dec. 2021
- Discussion Note – Sept. 2021
- Discussion Note – June 2021
- Discussion Note – Mar. 2021
- Discussion Note – Dec. 2020
Additional information
CNO Strategic Plan 2021-2024 Outcomes