Complaints can be submitted by the public, employers and co-workers. Employers are required to report any “termination with cause” of an RN. RNs also have a duty to report concerns about professional incompetence and/or misconduct of other nurses, as outlined in Sections 25 and 26 of The Registered Nurses Act, 1988.

Please note that if you are not the patient named in the complaint, the CRNS will not share any of the patient’s personal health information with you without the proper authorization.

You may have questions about how to submit a complaint or want more information about the CRNS investigation process. The following questions need to be considered before submitting a complaint.

Is the individual you're concerned about a Registered Nurse?

The CRNS only regulates Registered Nurses (RN), Nurse Practitioners (NP), Registered Nurses with Additional Authorized Practice (RN(AAP)), Graduate Nurse Practitioners (GNP), and Graduate Nurses (GN) in Saskatchewan. Nurse License Check can be used to confirm if the individual is a CRNS registrant. If you're unsure of the nurse’s name, contact the organization that employs them, the Client Concerns Office or facility Patient Advocate.

Have you tried to resolve your complaint already?

You can address your concerns directly with the nurse, their manager or employer. Concerns about a nurse's competence and/or conduct can often be resolved at the local level. The CRNS encourages low level resolution where possible. However, if you’ve already tried this approach or think it is not the right option, contact the CRNS Professional Conduct team before submitting your complaint.

What the CRNS cannot do. 

• Address complaints about the facility where the incident occurred.
• Address complaints about other health care professionals who are not Registered Nurses. For example, physicians, registered psychiatric nurses, licensed practical nurses, continuing care assistants.
• Directly intervene in a patient’s care.
• Process complaints without notifying the nurse about the complaint.

How to submit a complaint?

You will need the  following information to complete the online complaint form:

• Full name of the nurse;
• Name of facility/location where incident occurred;
• Date and time of the incident(s);
• Witness names and contact information; and,
• A detailed outline of what your complaint is, what happened and why you are concerned about the registrant’s competence and/or conduct.

By submitting this complaint, the CRNS:

• may obtain your personal health information if you are the patient, or the personal health information of the patient the complaint is about, for the purpose of investigating your complaint.
• will notify the nurse of your complaint and will provide the nurse with a copy of it.

Online Complaint Form

If you have trouble submitting your complaint, please contact CRNS Professional Conduct by email at professionalconduct@crns.ca or by phone at 1.800.667.9945 ext. 240 or (306) 359-4240.

After the Complaint is Submitted

A member of the CRNS Professional Conduct team will contact you to explain the investigation process and answer any additional questions that you may have. Written complaints submitted to the CRNS alleging the professional incompetence and/or misconduct of a CRNS registrant will be reviewed and investigated.

After the Investigation

Once the Investigation Committee makes a decision, both you and the CRNS registrant named in the complaint will be notified of the outcome. A report with an overview of the investigation along with the Investigation Committee’s reasons for their decision is prepared and sent to you and the CRNS registrant once finalized.

Learn more about the investigation process.