Review of approach to fitness to practise
CARNA is responsible for ensuring that registered nurses in Alberta are capable of providing safe and competent care. This includes ensuring that registered nurses in Alberta are fit to practise.
In February 2019, CARNA initiated an external review to evaluate its current approach to fitness to practise.
Review of Approach to Fitness to Practise
Action plan
To meet the recommendations from Field Law, CARNA took the following actions.
Recommendation | Action |
| Eligibility questions on application Changes to questions to be simple, straightforward and written in a manner where the nurse is asked if their condition is/could impair their ability to provide safe care | Completed Questions were revised and in place for renewal 2019-2020. |
Assessment of fitness to practise forms
| Completed Forms were updated allowing for collection of sufficient information which enables staff to make a determination on fitness to practise requirement. |
| Determination of application status Ensure public safety and alignment with human rights legislation | Completed Reviewed on an individual basis upon initial application and at renewal. While considering the guidance from Human Rights legislation, CARNA staff use right touch principles and risk assessment to determine if a registrants fitness to practice concern can be managed safely and reliably without risk to public safety (e.g., through use of conditions). |
| Policy Changes made to clearly outline what information should be considered when assessing FTP, when deciding if conditions should be placed on practice permit and what process to follow when applicant is/maybe incapacitated | Completed Policy has been revised |