The CCP is a mandatory, ongoing education program that ensures all RNs and NPs are continually enhancing their practice through self-directed learning. Every RN and NP must complete the CCP annually as part of the requirements to hold a license to practice registered nursing in Saskatchewan.
What is the CCP?
The CCP is based on reflective practice that includes:
- A personal assessment of the nurse’s practice according to the practice standards applicable to the nurse’s practice category (What will the nurse work on this year?);
- A written learning plan developed from the personal assessment and implemented throughout the licensure year (How will the nurse learn this?); and,
- A written evaluation of the result of the learning plan on the practice of the nurse (How does the learning impact the nurse’s practice in the practice setting?).
Watch a video overview of the CCP program.
CRNS registrants are required, at a minimum, to select a Practice Standard to focus on, add a related learning goal and an activity to the online CCP module.
During the renewal process you will need to document in the CCP module that you have completed at least one standard, one related learning goal, one activity and complete the evaluation. The evaluation is related to the entire learning plan and should highlight the impact of the learning on your practice.
Who should complete the CCP?
All CRNS registrants are required to complete the CCP, with the exception of the following:
- You are registered with a non-practicing license;
- You are registered with a retired license; or,
- You are a graduate nurse requesting a second license extension – in this case you are required to complete the CCP self-assessment and learning plan, but are not required to complete the evaluation.
If you are unable to complete the CCP requirements due to extenuating circumstances, contact practiceadvice@crns.ca.
What is the recommended timeline?
Here is the recommended timeline to develop, implement and evaluate your annual learning plan:
How to complete your CCP
You can access the CCP module in Alinity and start documenting your CCP goals and activities by:
- Logging into your Alinity account.
- Finding the ‘My Learning’ menu item on the left-hand side to access your CCP.
- Click the arrow to the right of the year to open your learning plan or click on the + box to add a current year CCP learning plan if you haven’t started yet.
- Start or complete your plan by selecting a standard and adding a learning goal.
- Click the ‘Save for later’ button.
- Then add your activities and click the ‘Save for later’ button again.
- To add more than one goal or standard, click the ‘Add’ button.
Watch a video on how to complete your CRNS CCP requirements.
Tips for Completing Your CCP
Rather than including a general statement such as, “attending learning sessions,” try “I plan to attend our unit’s Annual Education Day.” Your CCP learning plan is available year-round, so you can always add session details later. The more detail you include, the easier it will be to track your progress and complete a self-evaluation, plus it will be a great asset later if you're selected for verification.
Additional learning goal tips:
- Learning goals should align with the most appropriate practice standard. Each registrant is required to review the applicable practice standards document for their designation each year including the indicators underneath each practice standard. Select the standard that best aligns with your learning goal.
- Learning goals should not be about what you intend to teach others, be a ‘copy and paste’ of the indicator statements included below the practice standards for your designation, and should not outline performance expectations of your job (being on time and ready to provide care/ wearing your nametag at work/ listening to your clients when they report symptoms/ completing assessments of the clients, etc.).
General terms like courses, textbooks, articles or online sessions aren’t enough. Instead, include full details like the course name, provider, dates and how it applies to your role. It may be an online learning session offered by your employer providing certification for the first time in a specific skillset that applies to your context of care. More detail helps to clearly connect your learning goals to your activities.
Additional learning activity tip:
Activity dates must fall within the specified timeframes for the registration year. The verification process that is underway was for December 1, 2023 to November 30, 2024 so activities that were completed prior to that timeframe are not applicable, nor are activities you target for 2025
The evaluation allows you to reflect on what you learned through the specific learning activities that you completed while also detailing how the learning has impacted your practice.
Additional evaluation tip:
- What do I do now that is different or better because of what I learned?; or,
- Why was it meaningful and valuable in helping me be more competent in my role?
Learning Activities to Support your Learning Goals
A sample list of learning activities can be found below.
Act as a resource - for others on the unit/facility who would benefit from your expertise.
Bedside learning sessions - participate in, lead or contribute to bedside learning sessions with the Clinical Educator, Resource Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, physician or other health care professional by sharing expertise, pertinent information or consolidating statistics/data.
Clinical case studies - participate in clinical case studies to learn more about a specific registered nursing issues/topics and explore how this learning impacts the care you provide.
Prepare an education session - identify a learning need or gap for a unit, department or nursing group and research, prepare and/or organize a formal education session (or collaborate with others).
Role play - apply strategies you recently learned related to new skills development (e.g., communication, conflict resolution, etc.).
CRNS Mentor - educate colleagues on predetermined practice issues, support and role model professional practice as a CRNS Mentor.
Mentorship - provide mentorship for a novice or experienced Registered Nurse who is transitioning to practice in your area, unit and/or facility.
Preceptor - a nursing student.
Professional committee and/or a member group at a provincial, national and/or international level - active participation in a professional committee and/or a member group at a provincial, national and/or international level (CNA Professional Practice Groups or Special Interest Group Executives such as the Operating Room Nurses Association of Canada (ORNAC), Regulatory Body Committees such as College of Registered Nurses of Saskatchewan, etc.).
Best practice guidelines - review best practice guidelines and apply learning to your context.
Nursing best practices - search reputable internet sites for registered nursing best practices, patient teaching materials, etc. and explore ways that this may improve your practice.
Evidence-based tools - identify evidence-based tools that help you support clients with specific care needs and reflect on the impact of those tools on the care you deliver.
Independent rater - become an independent rater of clinically published registered nursing evidence for online sources, such as McMaster’s MORE Evidence program.
Legislation or regulations - review current legislation or regulations related to a registered nursing issue applicable to your practice.
Organizational policies and procedures - applicable to a registered nursing issue to deepen your understanding and impact your practice.
Research topics - to enhance professional performance (e.g., time management, managing stress, resilience training, managing difficult conversations, use of technology, etc.).
Recent textbooks - read nursing textbooks to expand your knowledge of specific registered nursing topics and apply learning to the care you provide.
Educational videos - watch videos regarding registered nursing topics applicable to your learning goal(s) and list ways your learning could benefit the clients you care for (e.g. CRNS YouTube videos, etc.).
Develop a new policy - beneficial within your work context and work with your employer to finalize it for use.
Case study - create and share a case study example describing participation in a successful “evidence to practice change” initiative that you led in your work setting.
Article or newsletter - write a one-page article or newsletter for an online or paper-based journal, intranet or other publication on a relevant issue or topic.
Presentation - prepare and deliver a presentation/share knowledge related to a registered nursing issue or topic that relates to your learning goal.
Policy or procedure - self-directed update or collaborate with others to update an existing registered nursing policy or procedure then follow process for approval and implementation of same.
Publish a journal article - publish an article in a peer-reviewed professional journal.
Research projects - actively participate in registered nursing research projects.
Interview a subject matter expert - conduct an interview with an expert related to a registered nursing issue applicable to your context to consolidate your learning.
Network with subject matter experts - expand your understanding of specific registered nursing issues, skills, competencies and reflect how this learning impacts the care you give.
Journal club - complete independent reviews of scholarly registered nursing journal and/or participate in a registered nursing journal club.
CRNS Liaison - actively share communication between CRNS and employers as a CRNS Liaison.
Professional Practice Group (PPG) and/or Special Interest Group (SIG) - actively participate in a PPG and/or SIG where you access educational opportunities and network with others.
Attend rounds - grand nursing or medical, mortality and morbidity, quality and safety, etc. and link what you learned to your practice while maintaining client confidentiality.
Volunteer for registered nursing activities - utilization of registered nursing skills outside of employment (e.g., creating and delivering presentations on health promotion for a community event).
Specialty certification - obtain registered nursing specialty certification (e.g., Canadian Nurses Association 22 specialties such as perianesthesia; wound, ostomy and continence; gerontology or others).
Workshops, conferences, teleconferences or webinars - attend/participate in registered nursing workshops, conferences, teleconferences or webinars offered outside the work setting.
Continuing education courses - enroll in and complete continuing education courses that are not specifically nursing focused but enhance your learning in ways that align with your learning plan (leadership, coaching, resilience training, use of technology, conflict resolution, etc.).
Nursing courses - complete educational registered nursing courses from an accredited institution.
Certificate or diploma courses - complete online or in-person courses delivered by a credible registered nursing source that lead to a certificate or diploma in specific roles or capacities — leadership, diabetes educator, critical care, hemodialysis, etc.
Employer-provided continuing education - complete employer-provided continuing education that aligns with your learning goal (can only count each learning opportunity once upon initial completion; recertifications for the same activity does not qualify as new learning or competence development).
In-services, seminars, education days or complete learning modules -attend registered nursing in-services, seminars, education days or complete learning modules offered within the work setting (unit or facility educator, product representative, subject matter experts, etc.). Content should align with CCP learning goal.
How can you reach us?
Contact a CRNS Practice and Education Nursing Advisor by email at practiceadvice@crns.ca or by phone at 1.800.667.9945.