Legislation and Regulation

Legislation Governing Registered Nurses in Certified Practice

The Health Professions Act, the Nurses (Registered) and Nurse Practitioners Regulation, and the Nurses (Registered Psychiatric) Nurses Regulation provide for recognizing the certified practice of Registered Nurses (RN) and Registered Psychiatric Nurses (RPNs) who successfully complete a certified practice course and evaluation approved by the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) and who apply to BCCNM for a certified practice designation.

CRNBC Bylaws made under the Health Professions Act establish:

• Certified practice designations 
• Requirements for initial certification and maintenance of certification
• Details for inclusion on the public register
• Fees associated with certified practice

 

RNs who hold a certified practice designation may use the title “Registered Nurse (Certified)” or the abbreviation “RN(C)”, and they have an expanded scope of practice in one or more of four practice categories: Remote Practice, Reproductive Health (Contraceptive Management and/or Sexually Transmitted Infections), RN First Call, and Opioid Use Disorder.

RPNs who hold a certified practice designation may use the title “Registered Psychiatric Nurse (Certified)” or the abbreviation RPN(C), and they have an expanded scope of practice in one category: Opioid Use Disorder. 

Other Legislation Affecting RN(C)s and RPN(C)s

Registered Nurses and Registered Psychiatric Nurses who hold a certified practice designation (RN(C) or RPN(C)) can independently refer eligible Medical Services Plan (MSP) beneficiaries for a selected menu of laboratory tests approved as within scope for RN(C)s and RPN(C)s by BCCNM.

The Medicare Protection Act (1996) and the Medical and Health Care Services Regulation established the Medical Services Commission (MSC) and set out its organizational structure, and functions. The MSC is mandated to facilitate reasonable access throughout British Columbia (B.C.), to quality medical care, health care and diagnostic facility services for residents of B.C. under the Medical Services Plan (MSP). It is responsible for administering the provision and payment of medical services through the MSP. The Commission is accountable to Government through the Minister of Health. 

Changes made to the Medical and Health Care Services Regulation Section 45 enable RN(C)s and RPN(C)s to independently make referrals to MSP for selected laboratory medicine tests approved as within scope for RN(C)s and RPN(C)s by BCCNM.

An individual must be a resident of B.C. in order to qualify for medical coverage under MSP. A resident is a person who meets all of the following conditions:

• must be a citizen of Canada or be lawfully admitted to Canada for permanent residence;
• must make his/her/their home in B.C.; and
• must be physically present in B.C. at least six months in a calendar year, or a shorter prescribed period.*

*Note: Effective January 1, 2013, eligible B.C. residents (citizens of Canada or persons who are lawfully admitted to Canada for permanent residence) who are outside B.C. for vacation purposes only, are allowed a total absence of up to seven months in a calendar year.

Health Insurance BC (HIBC) is the agency contracted by the government to handle the administrative operations of MSP and PharmaCare, including Fair PharmaCare, on behalf of the Ministry of Health.

British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) 

BCCNM is the regulatory body for Licensed Practical Nurses, Registered Nurses, Registered Psychiatric Nurses, Nurse Practitioners and Midwives in British Columbia.

BCCNM sets standards, limits and conditions related to the practice of RNs, including RN(C)s; RPNs, including RPN(C)s; and Nurse Practitioners, under the Nurses (Registered) and Nurse Practitioners Regulation and the Nurses (Registered Psychiatric) Regulation.

BCCNM has developed a rigorous framework that provides a foundation to appropriately and effectively regulate the practice of Registered Nurses and Registered Psychiatric Nurses within applicable legislation. 

For information on the education, competencies, standards, limits and conditions for certified practice and registration requirements for RN(C)s and RPN(C)s, contact BCCNM at register@bccnm.ca.