IV Hydration Therapy

The evolution of independent for-profit (stand-alone) clinics providing intravenous (IV) hydration therapy has prompted many calls to the CRNS. After completing environmental scanning and a review of best practices, the CRNS has determined that it is within the scope of practice of Registered Nurses (RN) to administer IV hydration therapy and medications, vitamins, and/or electrolytes (additives) while working in stand-alone clinics so long as the nursing process is implemented and appropriate policies and supports are in place to support safe, competent, and ethical care of this client population.  

RNs and Nurse Practitioners (NP) are accountable to practice within their legislated scope of practice and personal competence and to adhere to their Practice Standards and Code of Ethics as they would in any other practice setting.  Registrants must complete the Recognition of Practice process to use the title RN and/or NP and to count the practice hours they have worked in an IV hydration clinic towards licensure.

With the growing popularity of IV hydration therapy and individuals “self-selecting” treatments – for example, to relieve the effects of a hangover, there is an increasing trend of complaints related to unsafe practices and untoward events reported in Canada and the United States.  It is essential for RNs and NPs engaged in this practice to understand that IV hydration is a medical treatment and, therefore, there must be a medical condition for the client to obtain the treatment. As with all treatments and interventions, the risks of accepting treatments should be disclosed to the client and informed consent obtained.   

To provide safe, competent nursing care and to meet the requirements for Recognition of Practice, the following must be in place when performing IV hydration therapy treatments:

  1. Appropriate policies, procedures, and resources.
  2. A health history and physical examination must be performed and documented by the prescribing NP or physician to ascertain if underlying co-morbidities, such as congestive heart failure or kidney disease, might be a contraindication to the client receiving treatment.
  3. Provision for diagnostic testing, as indicated for co-morbidities, should be completed as part of the client assessment. Diagnostic testing should be considered to establish a baseline for ongoing treatment.
  4. The infusion must be prescribed to treat a diagnosed medical condition; clients must not “self-select” treatments. 
  5. There must be an order from an NP or physician for the RN to initiate the IV and/or administer the IV solution and additives.
  6. There must be appropriate documentation, including the client assessment, client consent, treatment ordered and administered, and client response to that treatment.
  7. The supplies, including IV lines, solution, and additives, must be procured from a reputable source and stored and handled in alignment with current infection prevention and control (IPAC) best practices and principles. 
  8. There must be an ability to manage untoward events, including having the necessary emergency equipment on site.

For more information, please contact a nursing practice advisor practiceadvice@crns.ca, or to inquire about recognition of practice, please contact  regulation@crns.ca.

Nurse Practitioner Entry-Level Competencies (2023) Document 

The CRNS is pleased to announce the release of the Nurse Practitioner (NP) practice document Nurse Practitioner Entry-Level Competencies (2023). The Nurse Practitioner Entry-Level Competencies (2023) come into force and into effect on September 25, 2023.

The Entry-Level Competencies for NPs reflect the foundational knowledge, skills, and judgement required of NPs to provide safe, competent, ethical, and compassionate care. While NPs’ roles and responsibilities may vary by context and client population, this document outlines the competencies that all NPs must possess to be competent when they begin to practice. You will find this document under Nursing Practice Resources, NP Resource. 

In addition to reviewing the revised document, you may find the key summary page  helpful. In addition, we invite you to tune in to a Facebook live on September 7, 2023, at noon. The presentation can be watched on #replay if you cannot make that time.

CRNS Nursing Advisors are available to answer your questions. They can be contacted by phone at 1.800.667.9945 or 306.359.4227 or by email at practiceadvice@crns.ca

External Consultation: Nurse Practitioner (NP) Practice Standards

The CRNS is collaborating with the Nurses Association of New Brunswick to revise the NP Practice Standards document. The practice standards are the expected levels of professional practice performance that guide safe and effective decision-making in nursing.

CRNS staff have reviewed and revised the existing document and are now seeking feedback from the public, partners, and registrants as part of the external consultation process. This process is in place to ensure the revised NP Practice Standards reflect current NP practices and are clearly presented. Feedback can be provided by accessing this survey and will be accepted until Monday, August 14, 2023, at midnight.

Final approval of the document is through the CRNS Council. Questions or comments are welcome and can be directed to smoore@crns.ca and/or dcooke@crns.ca.

Working with Unregulated Care Providers Resource

The CRNS, RPNAS and SALPN are pleased to share a collaborative document developed to guide your decision-making when working with Unregulated Care Providers. Regulated nurses are expected to utilize the nursing process, their knowledge, critical thinking, and judgement when making client care decisions. Not all scenarios can be captured in a document, and the responsibility remains with the regulated nurse to make decisions in the client’s best interest.  

When there are ongoing concerns, the regulated nurse is responsible for working with the health care team to resolve them. Involvement of nursing management and senior administration may be required. Entry-Level Competencies, Practice Standards, and Code of Ethics are resources to guide the discussion. Nursing Advisors are also available to assist.
 
Read the Working with Unregulated Care Providers Resource here.

For those currently working with Unregulated Care Providers, please review this resource and consider how it may relate to your practice. CRNS Nursing Advisors are available to answer your questions. They can be contacted by phone at 1.800.667.9945 or 306.359.4227 or by email at practiceadvice@crns.ca

Aesthetics Nursing Resource

The Aesthetics Nursing resource has been developed for RNs and NPs in response to the evolution of aesthetics nursing and the many questions CRNS registrants have asked regarding this practice area. In this resource, you will find information about the legislated scope of practice, personal competence, education, accountabilities, and expectations for using the nursing process in this area of nursing. In addition, you will find information on the process for obtaining recognition of practice and engaging in self-employed practice for aesthetic nursing.

For those currently practicing or planning to practice aesthetics nursing, please review this resource and consider how it may relate to your practice. CRNS Nursing Advisors are available to answer your questions. They can be contacted by phone at 1.800.667.9945 or 306.359.4227 or by email at practiceadvice@crns.ca

Ending the NP-Client Relationship Resource

The CRNS is pleased to announce the release of the NP practice resource Ending the NP-Client Relationship CRNS, 2023. This resource has been developed to support the professional practice of registrants of the CRNS by providing considerations for NPs on ending the NP-client relationship. You will find the resource under NP Practice Resources.

Please review this document and consider how it may relate to your practice. If you have any questions, please get in touch with a CRNS Nursing Advisor by phone at 1.800.667.9945 or 306.359.4227 or by email at practiceadvice@crns.ca.

Northumberland Pharmacy Closure

Be advised that Northumberland Pharmacy at Unit F3 924 Northumberland Avenue Saskatoon has been closed by Saskatchewan College of Pharmacy Professionals (SCPP) as of the beginning of business day February 28, 2023.

Due to the sudden closure of the pharmacy, patients will not have access to their prescription(s), or the pharmacy-specific records maintained at the pharmacy. Records of filled prescriptions will be available on the Pharmaceutical Information Program (PIP).

Prescriptions which were faxed to Northumberland Pharmacy will no longer be accessible to either the patient or another pharmacy if they were not processed by the pharmacy prior to the closure. This could include new refill authorizations and acute care medications. As such, SCPP staff will be faxing prescriptions with a cover letter back to the practitioner as the patients will need to be contacted to see where they would like their prescription(s) sent. The SCPP apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause.

The pharmacy provides OAT medications to ten patients. The SCPP is working with the Drug Plan and Extended Benefits Branch (DPEBB) and Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) to ensure the transition of care in terms of adjudication of prescriptions.

Pharmacists are enabled under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) section 56 exemption and SCPP Prescriptive Authority Bylaws to continue existing prescriptions to maintain continuity of care for the patients.

SCPP has also provided an email to pharmacists to assist them with managing the situation. Signage has also been placed on the pharmacy exterior doors to assist patients with the name, location, and phone number of surrounding pharmacies to assist them, which includes pharmacies that provide OAT services.

While SCPP has put as many provisions as possible in place to be able to manage this unfortunate situation, they wish to alert CRNS registrants to the possibility of increased requests for prescriptions for patients of Northumberland Pharmacy.

Thank you for your attention to this matter and any questions or concerns from practitioners can be addressed to Deputy Registrar Lori Postnikoff at lori.postnikoff@saskpharm.ca or by contacting 306-584-2292.

NPs Enabled to Order or Request Medical Imaging

In the 2022 updated regulatory bylaws that were approved and published in the September 9, 2022, Saskatchewan Gazette and came into effect on November 1, 2022, it included an update to Bylaw VI Categories of Practice, Section 3 Nurse Practitioner Category, which enables NPs to order or request medical imaging. This involves the application or detection of forms of energy for diagnostic and screening purposes and to receive and interpret reports, or to perform ultrasound imaging for the sole purpose of point-of-care diagnostic assistance when it is in the best interest of the client, in accordance with their practice standards and code of ethics, when they have the competence and judgment to safely do so, when it is in alignment with best practice evidence and when agency policy permits.

In our work to facilitate RNs and NPs practicing to their full scope, we’ve worked with the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) to minimize disruptions and fully support NPs with equal opportunity to order diagnostic imaging exams SHA provides to General Practitioners (GP).

This allows access to almost all diagnostic testing services.

For MRI and PET/CT exams, NPs and GPs may require additional documentation of approval following a discussion with a radiologist, or a recommendation for such an exam in a previous medical imaging diagnostic report.

If an NP is experiencing challenges ordering diagnostic imaging, please get in touch with Jordan Vercaigne, Manager of Provincial Diagnostic Imaging Standards and Operations, at 306.491.8220.

Extension to the Temporary Exclusion of Eligibility for MAiD 

On February 2, 2023, the Ministers of Justice and Health of the Government of Canada introduced legislation, Bill-39, to extend the temporary exclusion of eligibility for MAiD where a person’s sole medical condition is a mental illness until March 17, 2024. The one-year extension would provide the federal government with additional time to prepare for the safe and consistent assessment and provision of MAID where the person’s sole underlying medical condition is a mental illness. 

The CRNS will continue to monitor updates from the Federal government, work with Saskatchewan Health Authority MAiD program partners and provide updates as they become available.

More information is available from the Department of Justice Canada website, MAiD Media Release.

If you have any questions, please get in touch with Practice Advice at practiceadvice@crns.ca

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