Nursing is a regulated healthcare profession serving a pivotal role in our Canadian national and provincial healthcare systems, along with a rich array of regulated and non-regulated healthcare professions, serving the best interest of the Canadian public (Canadian Nurses Association, 2015). Nursing in Canada is uniquely autonomous being a self-regulated profession with standards of practice and ethical values developed by each provincial governing body (GB), as well as being derived from provincial legislature such as, Ontario’s Nursing Act and Regulated Health Professions Act (College of Nurses of Ontario [CNO], 2018a; CNO, 2020a; CNO, 2020b).
On pan-provincial level, nursing registration educational requirements range from diploma to masters and doctorate of nursing practice-trained. To attain a nursing registration to practice in Ontario, nursing graduates must complete their studies at a recognized program and comply with entry-to-practice competencies developed and routinely updated by the CNO (CNO, 2019a). Reflective of Ontario’s healthcare system complexities and trends, entry to practice competencies are set to assure promoting the public’s interest and wellbeing (CNO, 2019a).
When reflecting on my professional identity and values, both intertwine under the professional nursing principles and standards represented in the CNO’s code of conduct and guidelines respectively (CNO, 2019b; CNO, 2018b). In addition to my passion for leadership, I plan to hone my passion and curate my identity through advocating for equitable and efficient healthcare delivery systems, such as interacting and educating the public via professional social media presence. It is both my professional and personal values to treat as I wish to be treated, with respect and dignity, while assuring excellence in care delivery (CNO, 2018b; CNO, 2019b).
Undoubtedly, healthcare is a rich field with professionals from various walks of lives whom professional journeys often inspire their colleagues and team members to excel in practice and academia. It was summer of year 2017 when I decided to pursue my nursing specialty in adult critical care, thus, further my clinical and professional knowledge of advanced nursing practice. When reflecting on my future in nursing and what would my role and career trajectory map out, being a seasoned critical care nurse and part of a world-renowned Cardiac program team, I find myself surrounded by highly achieving and education-promoting leaders and policy makers. Being surrounded by such rich and empowering environment of healthcare pioneers and trailblazers, pursuing my post-graduate degree was the sound next step in my professional journey.
As a seasoned critical care nurse and novice leader, I view my role in the Canadian healthcare system as that of an advocate for transformational nursing leadership to promote highly functioning nursing teams through practicing dialogue and respectful collaboration (Suranto, 2018). Looking at my recent blog launch, I view it as an opportunity to enhance nursing publicity and advocate for their presence at command tables involving healthcare delivery such as, Ontario’s COVID-19 health command table, missing all but physicians and politicians (Government of Ontario, 2020). My role as a future Canadian healthcare leader, entails advocating for nursing involvement in policy-making pertinent to equitable care delivery systems and crisis mitigation strategies.
References
Canadian Nurses Association. (2015, November). Framework for the Practice of Registered
Nurses in Canada. Retrieved from: https://www.cna-aiic.ca/~/media/cna/page-
content/pdf-en/framework-for-the-pracice-of-registered-nurses-in-canada
College of Nurses of Ontario. (2018). Professional Standards, Revised 2002. Retrieved
February 01, 2021, from
https://www.cno.org/globalassets/docs/prac/41006_profstds.pdf
College of Nurses of Ontario. (2018, December 18). Retrieved February 01, 2021, from
https://www.cno.org/en/what-is-cno/regulation-and-legislation/legislation-governing-
nursing/#title2
College of Nurses of Ontario. (2019, December 11). Nursing Education Program Approval.
Retrieved February 01, 2021, from https://www.cno.org/en/become-a-nurse/nursing-
education-program-approval/
College of Nurses of Ontario. (2019). Practice Standard: Code of Conduct. Retrieved
February 01, 2021, from https://www.cno.org/globalassets/docs/prac/49040_code-of-
conduct.pdf
College of Nurses of Ontario. (2020a, February 13). Legislation and Regulation: An
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https://www.cno.org/globalassets/docs/prac/41064_fsnursingact.pdf
College of Nurses of Ontario. (2020b, January 03). Legislation and Regulation RHPA: Scope
of Practice, Controlled Acts Model. Retrieved February 01, 2021, from
https://www.cno.org/globalassets/docs/policy/41052_rhpascope.pdf
Government of Ontario, Queen's Printer for Ontario. (2020, March 02). Ontario Implementing
Enhanced Measures to Safeguard Public from COVID-19 [Press release]. Retrieved
February 01, 2021, from https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/56030/ontario-
implementing- enhanced-measures-to-safeguard-public-from-covid-19
Suratno, K., Ariyanti, S., & Kadar, K. S. (2018). The Relationship between Transformational
Leadership and Quality of Nursing Work Life in Hospital. International Journal of
Caring Sciences, 11(3), 1416-1422.
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