Nursing Practice Updates

The Ministry of Health will be launching the second phase of the Saskatchewan Biosimilars Initiative in February 2026. This phase builds on the progress of the first phase of the Biosimilars Initiative, which was successfully completed in April 2024, and will continue to promote the use of biosimilar medications.

Under the Biosimilars Initiative, patients receive Saskatchewan Drug Plan coverage for a biosimilar version of their biologic medication where one is available and listed on the Saskatchewan Formulary. Biosimilars present a significant opportunity for cost savings and long-term health system sustainability while providing safe and effective medication options. Continued expansion of the Biosimilars Initiative supports patient access to public drug plan coverage.

For more information, visit:

The College of Registered Nurses of Saskatchewan (CRNS) is revising the Prescribing Medication Guideline and the RNs Recommending & Administering Non-prescription Drugs Guideline.

As part of the external consultation process, the CRNS is seeking feedback on both guidelines from registrants and external partners, including the public. Please complete the following surveys by Wednesday, December 4, 2025 at 4 pm.

Prescribing Medication Guideline Survey

RNs Recommending & Administering Non-Prescription Drugs Guideline Survey

Questions or comments are welcome and can be directed to Catharine Wirth at cwirth@crns.ca

Effective October 1, 2025, family physicians/general practitioners with additional qualifications may be eligible to bill a new fee code (14B) for consulting patients referred by a nurse practitioner (NP).

The Saskatchewan Medical Association (SMA) and the Ministry of Health have worked collaboratively to establish a solution within current legislative boundaries of the Saskatchewan Medical Care Insurance Payment Regulations, that enables family physicians with additional training to bill a new service code (14B) comparable to a consultation when seeing patients referred to them by NPs.

Relevant details regarding this service code are available on the SMA website.

CRNS Practice and Education Nursing Advisors are available to answer your questions by phone at 1.800.667.9945 or 306.359.4227 or by email at practiceadvice@crns.ca.

The Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) Clinical Decision Tool (CDT) for RNs with Additional Authorized Practice [RN(AAP)s] has been revised to reflect current evidence-informed practice. The previous H. pylori CDT is no longer in effect. All RN(AAP)s are highly encouraged to review the updated CDT.

The CRNS CDTs are specific evidence-informed documents that guide RN(AAP)s in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of limited common medical disorders encountered in primary care settings in Saskatchewan. 

CRNS Practice and Education Nursing Advisors are available to answer your questions by phone at 1.800.667.9945 or 306.359.4227 or by email at practiceadvice@crns.ca.

The Graduate Nurse (GN) Practice Guideline has been reviewed on the five year cycle incorporating both internal and external recommendations, to provide updated direction to employers and registrants in the following areas:

• Bylaw references.
• Language referencing professional conduct.
• Clarification on when a complaint regarding GN practice can be made.
• Content focused on supporting GNs to deliver safe care. 

CRNS Practice and Education Nursing Advisors are available to answer your questions by phone at 1.800.667.9945 or 306.359.4227 or by email at practiceadvice@crns.ca.

The Registered Nurse Specialty Practice (RNSP) Guideline has been revised to provide further clarity in the following areas:

• Roles and responsibilities for employer, authorizer and registrants engaged in self-employed practice; 
• Graphic depicting the RNSP model;
• Enhanced description of the four essential components: client at the centre, supporting evidence, authorizing mechanism and RN competency requirements; and,
• An updated RN Clinical Protocol Checklist that can be utilized during the development, implementation and evaluation of the RNSP. 

CRNS Practice and Education Nursing Advisors are available to answer your questions by phone at 1.800.667.9945 or 306.359.4227 or by email at practiceadvice@crns.ca.

The CRNS has confirmed the Health Canada Subsection 56(1) Class Exemption for Nurse Practitioners to Prescribe Anabolic Steroids for Therapeutic Use applies to Saskatchewan Nurse Practitioners (NP) who have the knowledge, skill and judgment to care for clients experiencing the common medical disorder applicable to the exemption. 

NPs who incorporate this exemption into their practice are encouraged to monitor for updates from Health Canada as the exemption could be revoked or replaced by another exemption at any time. The CRNS Prescribing Controlled Drugs and Substances for NPs resource has been updated to reflect the applicability of the exemption in Saskatchewan.

CRNS Practice and Education Nursing Advisors are available to answer your questions by phone at 1.800.667.9945 or 306.359.4227 or by email at 

PRP@crns.ca.

Nurse Practitioners (NP) interested in prescribing for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) or Methadone for Pain Management are required to complete a CRNS application to be approved as a prescriber. While the requirement remains the same, we are pleased to inform registrants that the application process is now available online in Alinity. 

We encourage NPs interested in becoming a prescriber to submit their application prior to completing the practicum requirement. For more information and instructions, please visit Nursing Practice > Prescribing.  

CRNS Practice and Education Nursing Advisors are available to answer your questions by phone at 1.800.667.9945 or 306.359.4227 or by email at OUD@crns.ca.

The Saskatchewan Cancer Agency (SCA) has requested that Myeloma resources be shared with NPs. Attached is the Think Myeloma card, a quick reference guide to help primary care providers recognize key Myeloma signs and symptoms, order essential tests and access the Monoclonal Gammopathies (MG) Clinic Referral Form and Pathway. The card can be printed for quick reference on a wall or desk or used digitally.

Also attached is a note from the project lead, Dr. Julie Stakiw (Hematologist at SCA). It includes a letter with links to Myeloma resources, including the Think Myeloma card, the MG Clinic Referral Form and Pathway, as well as other relevant materials.

This revised process focuses on evolving and innovative RN and NP roles and settings, relying on the nurse as expert, and incorporating principles of right touch regulation.

Confirming Nursing Practice (CNP) is a regulatory process whereby the registrant confirms the activity or service they provide meets all the legislative requirements and definition of RN or NP practice. 

To complete the CNP Process:

• review the CRNS Legislated Scope of Practice Self-Assessment Tool;
• watch the CNP educational video; and,
• log into your Alinity account to submit the CNP form on your dashboard.

CNP is meant for registrants who are or who will be working in non-traditional roles or settings, who are self-employed, engaged in independent practice, or who are in a role that does not specifically require the knowledge and competency of an RN or NP.

Visit the CRNS Confirming Nursing Practice (CNP) webpage for up-to-date information and to access instructions.

Contact a CRNS Practice and Education Nursing Advisor by email at practiceadvice@crns.ca or by phone at 1.800.667.9945.

In light of ongoing and persistent drug shortages, Health Canada has issued clarification regarding pharmacist dispensing authority under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and its regulations. Please access the communication provided from the Saskatchewan College of Pharmacy Professionals here.

CRNS Practice and Education Nursing Advisors are available to answer your questions by phone at 1.800.667.9945 or 306.359.4227 or by email at practiceadvice@crns.ca.

The Canadian Council of Practical Nurse Regulators (CCPNR) and the Canadian Council of Registered Nurse Regulators (CCRNR) are working together to update their respective entry-level competencies for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and Registered Nurses (RNs) across Canada. This collaboration will result in two documents: the updated entry-level competencies for Licensed Practical Nurses and the updated entry-level competencies for Registered Nurses. 

Entry-level competencies reflect the knowledge, skills, critical thinking and judgement expected of an entry-level licensed/registered practical nurse and registered nurse to provide safe, competent and ethical care. 

We invite you to share your insights by completing a short survey that will inform the update of the entry-level competencies for Licensed /Registered Practical Nurses and for Registered Nurses in Canada. Your responses will guide the steering committees in identifying what’s working well, where gaps exist, and what changes are needed to reflect current and emerging realities in nursing and health care.

Survey Details:

• Takes approximately 15 minutes to complete.
• Includes a save and continue option.
• Can be completed in English or French.
• Responses are confidential and reported only in aggregate form.

To complete the survey, visit: 

https://survey.alchemer-ca.com/s3/50381613/CCPNR-CCRNR-Registrant-Survey

Deadline to participate is August 15, 2025 at 5:00pm EST. 

Questions can be directed to Mariam Kilyana at mariam.kilyana@sensenous.ca.

Thank you for your valuable contribution to this important initiative for the CCPNR and CCRNR.

With the recent release of the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) Code of Ethics for Nurses 2025, we want to clarify which version applies to CRNS registrants.

For clarity, CRNS registrants will be held to the expectations within the CNA Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses, 2017, as it is the version approved by CRNS Council and the Ministry of Health and is referenced in CRNS Bylaw XV (p. 47).

While the newly released 2025 version may be used as a current, evidence-informed resource for ethical guidance, it is not the standard to which registrants are currently held, but rather aspirational.

As part of our commitment to align ethical expectations nationally, the CRNS is working towards implementing its own Code of Conduct. We appreciate your patience during this period of transition; more details will be shared as progress continues over the coming months.

CRNS Practice and Education 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.

The College of Registered Nurses of Saskatchewan (CRNS) is revising the Graduate Nurse (GN) Practice Guideline, which provides direction and support for GN practice across the province.

The consultation period is from May 27 to June 24. Please submit your feedback no later than June 24, 2025 at 4:30 pm.

This review is being conducted through a survey and administered on a secure website. Your responses will be anonymous and confidential.  

GN Practice Guideline for External Consultation

Survey for GN Practice Guideline

If you have any questions, please email Donna Marin at dmarin@crns.ca and/or Lana Prystai at lprystai@crns.ca.

Thank you for your participation.

The CRNS is participating in a national project to review the RN Entry-Level Competencies (ELC). The project’s main objectives include:

• Assessing changes in health care impacting RN roles;
• Conducting a thorough review of current competencies to identify trends and gaps; and,
• Revising and developing competencies relevant across diverse practice settings.

A consulting firm, Sense & Nous, has been hired to assist with the project. They are looking for volunteer subject matter experts (SME) to take part in the review. 

Each session will be a one hour virtually facilitated one-on-one interview. Interviews will be scheduled based on the SME’s availability and held between June 1 and August 1. A consultation guide will be sent beforehand to allow time to prepare. 

To express interest, contact a CRNS Practice and Education Nursing Advisor by email at practiceadvice@crns.ca no later than Tuesday, June 3, 2025.

The Prescribing Controlled Drugs and Substances (CDS) for Nurse Practitioners resource has been revised. 

Updates include information on the Prescription Review Program (PRP), controlled drugs and substances (CDS) that can and cannot be prescribed, medical Cannabis, as well as PRP prescription requirements, part fills and more.

For more information, contact the Prescription Review Program via email at PRP@crns.ca.

Saskatchewan pharmacists may prescribe in specific situations outlined by the Saskatchewan College of Pharmacy Professionals here. Details of and updates to pharmacists prescribing for minor ailments can be accessed through the Saskatchewan Health Information Resources Program (SHIRP) and the medSask section. If you do not have a SHIRP account, you are encouraged to sign up. These and many other resources are accessible through SHIRP.

Contact a CRNS Practice and Education Nursing Advisor by email at practiceadvice@crns.ca or by phone at 1.800.667.9945.

The Aesthetic Nursing Resource has been revised to provide further clarity in the following areas of the document:

• RNs Working with Physicians
  • Outlining the details of a directive.
• Nursing Process
  • Accountability to engage in the nursing process and evaluate the care plan.

Contact a CRNS Practice and Education Nursing Advisor by email at practiceadvice@crns.ca or by phone at 1.800.667.9945.

Nurse Practitioners (NP) are expected to cooperate with investigations processes conducted by regulatory bodies, including but not limited to the CRNS and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan (CPSS) by responding to requests for information in accordance with the Health Information Protection Act. 

Section 36(1) stipulates that written requests are responded to within 30 days. NPs comply with self-regulation practice standards by adhering to current relevant legislation such as the Health Information Protection Act. Not responding in a timely manner or at all could be considered professional misconduct.

The Canadian Nurse Protective Society (CNPS) or CRNS Practice and Education Nursing Advisors can be contacted for questions related to releasing information. 

Contact CNPS by phone at 1.800.267.3390.

Contact a CRNS Practice and Education Nursing Advisor by email at practiceadvice@crns.ca or by phone at 1.800.667.9945.

Call for Volunteers: CNPE Exam Development & Exam Committee Member (SK Representative)

Meazure Learning is seeking subject matter expert (SME) volunteers to be item writers for the CNPE Exam. Each group of item writers is composed of a representative mix of four to eight participants from different jurisdictions and different areas of nursing expertise. Work related to exam development occurs throughout the year.

The CRNS is seeking an Exam Committee member to represent Saskatchewan at the Exam Committee meetings. The committee has several duties including reviewing content of the exam and establishing the standard for the exam. This is a 3-year term and would start in January 2026. 

For more information, click here.

Pharmacist Assessment Record Content Changes

There have been changes made to the overall Pharmacist Assessment Record (PAR) for prescribing by pharmacists (minor ailments, self care and other diseases).

The Saskatchewan College of Pharmacy Professionals’ (SCPP) Bylaws (Part K – Prescribing of Drugs – Pharmacist Assessment Record 3(3) ) require the entire Pharmacist Assessment Record be provided to the patient’s primary care practitioner (and where appropriate other practitioners involved in the patient’s care) when prescribing for minor ailments, self-care and other diseases identified by the Minister of Health or Designate. 

To support this requirement, the medSask Pharmacist Assessment Records have been updated.

• The previously included Pharmacist Minor Ailment Prescribing Record page (the summary page that appeared last) has been removed.
• An optional communication note has been added and indicates to practitioners why there has been a potential change.

Questions can be directed to Lori Postnikoff lori.postnikoff@saskpharm.ca at the Saskatchewan College of Pharmacy Professionals or Danielle Larocque danielle.larocque@usask.ca at the University of Saskatchewan. 

Contact a CRNS Practice and Education Nursing Advisor by email at practiceadvice@crns.ca or by phone at 1.800.667.9945.