Tag: nursing practice

The College of Registered Nurses of Saskatchewan (CRNS) is revising the RNs Working in Special-Care Homes resource. As part of the external consultation process, the CRNS is seeking feedback from registrants and external partners, including the public. 

This review is being conducted through an online survey that will allow you to provide feedback on individual sections of the resource document. A draft copy of the updated resource is available to review while completing the survey.

• Review the updated draft RNs Working in Special-Care Homes
• Access the survey here

The deadline to provide feedback is September 17, 2026, at 4:00 pm. Your responses will be anonymous and confidential.

Questions or comments are welcome and can be directed to Carole Reece at creece@crns.ca.

Given the nature of the work/services provided by Registered Nurses (RN) and Nurse Practitioners (NP) in independent practice, there is potential for increased risk to the public. Effective March 9, 2026, registrants who operate in an independent practice must register the practice with the CRNS. 

RNs and NPs in independent practice are self-employed and provide professional nursing services in a variety of ways:

• as an individual;
• in association with other self-employed health professionals; and/or, 
• as an employer of other health professionals. 

These nursing services are provided independent of an employer or health care agency. As they do not operate under the direct control of another health professional, employer or health care institution, RNs and NPs are legally accountable for the professional services they provide as well as the business matters related to the independent practice. 

RNs and NPs may also be subject to various laws and regulations regarding the organization of the services provided (i.e., the business) in addition to those that regulate the practice of nursing (CNPS, 2021). Examples of independent practice may include but are not limited to health promotion services (smoking cessation, prenatal classes); or curative/restorative/palliative care (foot care, home care, aesthetics). 

Registering an independent practice is a separate process from Confirming Nursing Practice. The confirmation process may also be required. 

To register your independent practice:

• Sign into your CRNS profile.
• On the left side of the screen, click “Add independ. practice” to complete a two-step registration process.
• There is no associated fee.

A separate register will be housed on our website at CRNS.ca  where the public can look up a registrant and their independent practice.

CRNS Registration Nursing Advisors are available to answer your questions by email at regulation@crns.ca.

The CRNS recently updated three documents now available on the CRNS website.

• Prescribing Medication Guideline
  Updated on the CRNS five-year review cycle to include references to applicable bylaws, current practice standards and entry-level competencies, headings for increased readability and RN(AAP) prescribing.
• Recommending and Administering Non-Prescription Drugs Guideline
  Updated on the CRNS five-year review cycle to include references to applicable bylaws, current practice standards and entry-level competencies, and RN authority to administer seasonal vaccines, epinephrine and naloxone.
• Prescribing Controlled Drugs and Substances for Nurse Practitioners Resource
  Updated to include education and practice recommendations for NPs prescribing methadone for pain management.

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.

On December 19, 2025, the Ministry of Health approved changes to CRNS Bylaws that replace the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses with the CRNS Code of Conduct.

The CRNS Code of Conduct (the Code) is a set of six principles that describes the accountabilities RNs have to clients, employers, colleagues and the public. The Code explains what the public can expect from RNs, and what RNs do to maintain professionalism, competence and ethical behavior to deliver safe client care. 

The Code is effective February 17, 2026. 

Although the words may be different, the practice expectations of RNs and NPs have not changed. Getting to know the Code is a great focus for your 2026 Continuing Competence Program learning plan. A couple of resources to help familiarize yourself with the Code are:

• CRNS Code of Conduct 
• CRNS Code of Conduct FAQ
• Key differences between the Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics

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.