June 2024

Q&A Sessions

NANB is inviting NPs to participate in one of the upcoming virtual information sessions during which the revised Standards of Practice for NPs will be presented, key changes to the NP standards will be reviewed, and NPs will have an opportunity to ask questions in relation to the application of the standards in their practice. The session will be held via TEAMS.

To register for one session, please click on the preferred date below to complete the online registration form:

• Session 1 – Wednesday June 19 from 12:30 – 13:30 PM
• Session 2 – Thursday June 20 from 12:30-13:30 PM
• Session 3 – Tuesday June 25 from 12:30-13:30 PM

If you are having trouble registering in one session, please contact NANB Communications at nanb@nanb.nb.ca

The Standards of Practice for NPs are intended to define safe, competent, compassionate, and ethical NP practice when delivering care to clients of all ages across the lifespan and in all settings, supporting varied population health needs and evolving health care systems, and enabling advanced and autonomous NP practice.

The revised standards of practice for NPs build on the Standards of Practice for RNs to reflect the advanced scope of NP practice. All NPs must understand the standards and apply them to their practice, regardless of their setting, role, or area of practice. It is important to note that employer policies do not relieve NPs of their accountability and primary obligation to meet the standards.

For more information, refer to the Standards of Practice for Nurse Practitioners that come into effect July 1, 2024.

Nurse practitioners (NPs) have been globally identified as an essential component of effective and sustainable models of healthcare delivery¹. NPs are well-poised as agents of change in the healthcare system, and this is reflected in Standard 4: Professional relationships, leadership, and advocacy. This standard serves as a benchmark for professional NP engagement to support healthcare reform and achieve a range of health outcomes (i.e., client, education, policy). It is known that NP leadership within organizations and health systems positively influences healthy work environments²; recognition of this professional accountability in the revised Standards of Practice for Nurse Practitioners supports NPs working in all role dimensions so they continue to achieve optimal healthcare outcomes through safe, competent, and ethical practice. 

1. Splane, J., Horvath, S., Ziegler, E., Savard, I., Carter, N., Kilpatrick, K., Bryant-Lukosius, D., & Martin-Misener, R. (2023). Retention of advanced practice nurses: What will it take? Canadian Journal of Nursing Leadership, 36(1), 16-32. doi:10.12927/cjnl.2023.27126. 

2. Ulrich, B., Cassidy, L., Barden, C., Varn-Davis, N. & Delgado, S. A. (2022). National nurse environments – October 2021: A status report. Critical Care Nurse, 42(5), 59-70. doi:10.4037/ccn2022798. 

Before summer beings take a couple of minutes to update your CCP learning plan and record any completed learning activities. Complete these updates in your ‘’My Profile’’ account via the Learning Plan tab on the left on your home screen.

Don’t forget that completion of the Privacy and Confidentiality Learning module is mandatory to renew your registration. To access the learning module, log into your “My Profile’’ account and go to “STEP 3:LEARNING MODULE of your learning plan.

For all information on CCP, visit the NANB website.

An infringement of your nursing registration occurs when you practice without a valid registration. It’s very important to renew your registration prior to resuming practice. Several infringements occur annually after the renewal period ends on December 1. Other times infringements happen when people return from extended absences such as maternity leave or sick leave.

Infringements can result in large fines and are often distressing for the registrant. This can be avoided by renewing your registration during the renewal period and contacting NANB before returning to work from an absence or taking a new employment opportunity.

While the individual nurse is responsible to ensure that her registration is current, the employer also has an obligation, to verify the registration status of nurses in its employ (See Nurses Act, Section 15[1]). Checking registration status can be done quickly from the “Find a Nurse” on the NANB website.

Authorized Prescribers

NANB nurse consultants are sometimes asked who an authorized prescriber is. Authorized prescribers are practitioners who are lawfully entitled to prescribe treatments or medications according to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. In NB, current authorized prescribers include nurse practitioners, physicians, optometrists, dentists, pharmacists, midwives, veterinarians, and physician assistants (PA) if a supervising physician has determined the PA is qualified to prescribe.  

RNs often ask whether they can accept orders from a prescriber who is located outside of NB. NANB does not specify if the authorized prescriber needs to be registered in NB. NANB recommends that employers have supporting policies providing direction on management of out of province orders. Check out our FAQ: Taking Orders from Out of Province Prescribers for more information.  

Terminating the Nurse-Client Relationship 

Termination of the nurse-client relationship occurs in situations where the relationship ends prior to reaching the normal or expected conclusion of the client’s care. NANB often receives questions on when and how appropriate termination should occur. These situations most often arise when there is a significant breakdown in the nurse-client relationship. This can be a result of conflicts of interest, prescription fraud, and/or behavior that significantly disrupts the practice, including abusive or threatening language. Nurses must make reasonable efforts in trying to resolve any issues affecting their relationship with the client before termination.  

When considering whether a situation is appropriate to initiate ending the nurse-client relationship ask yourself: Has the mutual trust and respect between the nurse and client have been undermined, and if so whether the relationship is beyond repair? 

For more information on when, when not, and how to consider terminating the nurse-client relationship, please review the following resources: 

• Standards for the Nurse-Client Relationship 
• Fact Sheet: Abandonment 
• Guideline for Nurse Practitioner Practice 
• Practice Guideline: Conflict of Interest 

If you are still unsure whether it is professionally acceptable to end a nurse-client relationship, contact a nurse consultant at practiceconsultation@nanb.nb.ca and/or the Canadian Nurses Protective Society. 

Correction: In May's e-bulletin, Niyi Oguntuna was listed as a President Award Recipient for UNB Fredericton. In fact, he was the recipient for the UNB Moncton campus. We apologize for this error.