COVID-19 resources for nurses

April 13, 2021 | Phase 2C COVID Vaccination Bookings Open for Eligible Health Care Workers

As of April 12, 2021, eligible health care workers may book their immunization appointments through Alberta Health or their local pharmacy.

This does not represent all of Group C. Those workers not included at this time will become eligible in the coming weeks.

Please check with Alberta Health for eligibility, booking links and the latest information on the immunization process, including what you will need to bring to your appointment. You can print your proof of registration by signing in to MyCARNA.

March 17, 2021 | Alberta nursing regulator's statement on high volume vaccination clinics

The Alberta Nursing Regulators: The College and Association of Registered Nurses, the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta and the College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Alberta recognize that the COVID-19 pandemic is a public health emergency and mass immunization clinics are being put in place to protect Albertans from COVID-19. As a result, Alberta Health Services (AHS) has put forward protocols for use in AHS COVID-19 High Volume Vaccination Clinics. These protocols apply to specific locations, for a specified time frame and will be reviewed periodically. The Nursing Regulators wish to provide the following information to their registrants.

All nurses are expected and required to abide by their Practice Standards. It is important to acknowledge that the Practice Standards of each regulatory college recognize the need for health care professionals to exercise their evidence-informed professional judgment given the circumstances.

The Colleges recognize that the first duty of health professionals is to their patients, and that in certain circumstances appropriate patient care involves exercising professional judgment as to the best means of protecting patients from risk of serious harm.

In addition, nurses should follow their employer requirements for administering medications within their competence and scope of practice, while at the same time adhering to their professional accountability and responsibility. COVID-19 has impacted how we work together as a greater community in addressing public health interests, directives, and mandates.

January 18, 2021 | Scheduled appointment needed FOR MASSAGE THERAPY

The Chief Medical Officer of Health for Alberta issued CMOH Order 01-2021, amending CMOH order 49-2020. Today, the following changes are in effect:

• Personal and wellness services may reopen for appointments only, with all public health measures in place.
• Referrals for massage therapy are no longer required.

In this Order, 'personal service' has the same meaning given to it in the Personal Services Regulation AR 1/2020 under the Public Health Act. 'Wellness service' means a business or entity offering or providing a wellness service, including massage therapy services and reflexology services.

January 14, 2021 | Referrals for massage therapy

On Dec. 22, 2020, the Chief Medical Officer of Health for Alberta issued an exemption to CMOH Order 42-2020, allowing massage therapy services providers to continue to provide services in certain conditions.

Background

CMOH Order 42-2020 set out several public health measures across the province to limit the risk of transmission of COVID-19. The exemption now enables Albertans to receive massage therapy services with a written prescription from a physician or a written referral from another regulated health professional. As a result of this exemption, Albertans have been approaching registrants to request a referral for massage therapy services.

Requirements

It is within the legislated scope of practice of registrants to make referrals to other health care professionals. Registrants who choose to issue a massage referral are responsible to:

• Follow all current legislation, public health guidance, practice standards, and Code of Ethics.
• Ensure there is an established therapeutic nurse/ client relationship.
• Ensure referrals are part of their role, and there is support from their employer.
• Practice competently and ethically and ensure they are competent to do the appropriate assessment and make the referral.
• Assess and consider if the referral should come from another health professional.
• Assess the client and determine that a referral is in the best interests of the client.
• Evaluate the client need against the public health measure designed to minimize the spread of COVID-19.
• Document their assessment and recommendations in the client care record and follow employer requirements.

Questions: practice@nurses.ab.ca or 1.800.252.9392 ext. 504

December 21, 2020 | Guidance for nurses – delivery of health services versus personal services

The latest restrictions in Appendix A of CMOH Order 42-2020 set out that any business or entity offering either a personal service (as defined in the Personal Services Regulation) or wellness service must be closed to the public at this time of public health state of emergency. These restrictions are meant to extend to regulated health professionals and would include commercial settings, home-based settings and mobile operations. While personal service provision is not permitted, retail space in personal service clinics can be open to a maximum of 15% of fire code capacity to allow for the sale of retail goods (i.e. cosmetic products, devices).

There are no restrictions on the delivery of a health service.

December 10, 2020 | AHS now hiring support for the COVID-19 response

You can make a difference in the fight against COVID-19 as you provide much-needed healthcare support to the provincial pandemic response.

Whether newly-minted, recently retired, or somewhere in between, there’s a need for qualified nurses to assist in a variety of roles across the health sector. They need people like you who can use their nursing training and skills. Help with crucial tasks such as contact tracing, assisting in assessment centres, or providing necessary on-the-ground support -particularly in casual/relief roles across the province in continuing care and acute care.

Thank you for your interest and your time. We couldn’t do it without you!

Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses

Apply here

November 30, 2020 | Public Health Emergency Order

On November 28, Alberta declared a Public Health emergency Order 40-2020 to protect the health of Albertans and reduce the impact of COVID-19 on the health care system. Stronger public health measures were required to address the increasing number of cases.

Alberta Health - COVID-19 information

July 24, 2020 | Renewal 2021 in COVID-19

Renewal 2021 will continue with fees remaining the same as last year. Please follow these steps and renew your permit before September 30.

College office closure

As part of our measures to minimize the risk of COVID-19, the CARNA office remains closed to visitors of the public without an appointment. Our renewal staff are available through online platforms to assist you with renewing your permit. To book an appointment, please call 780.451.0043 and press 0 to speak with reception.

Cash will not be accepted as a form of payment to minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission.

If you have any COVID-19 symptoms or if you are feeling unwell, please self-isolate, do not visit the CARNA office and call 811 for further direction.

Do you have questions about how this year's renewal is affected by COVID-19? Check our Registration and renewal help to guide you in renewing your permit. 

July 2, 2020 | Revised Guidelines for Self-Employed Nurses

The guidelines for Self-Employed Nurses during Alberta’s Relaunch Strategy have been revised to align with current CMOH orders under stage 2 of the relaunch.

May 14, 2020 | Alberta Relaunch Guidelines for Self-Employed Nurses

As part of Order 16 regulators were asked to create guidelines for self-employed healthcare practitioners during Alberta’s Relaunch. The College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta (CLPNA), the College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CARNA), and the College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Alberta (CRPNA) developed The Guidelines for Self-Employed Nurses during Alberta’s Relaunch Strategy.

May 8, 2020 | Guidance for the relaunch of self-employed practice

CARNA is developing guidelines to align with the three-phase relaunch strategy announced by the Government of Alberta on April 30, 2020. This strategy allows for a phased reopening of many areas of the economy and includes medical and health-care procedures.

The Chief Medical Officer of Health published an amendment to Order 7. This order, allows non-essential health services to resume, prescribes that colleges need to initially follow existing guidelines, and expects colleges to develop guidelines specific to their professions. Appendix A to Record of Decision – CMOH Order 16-2020 is Workplace Guidance for Community Health Care Settings that is to be used until CARNA posts their specific guidelines. CARNA guidelines will be provided as soon as possible.

View full Orders and guidelines

May 7, 2020 | Ethical decision making

CARNA’s new module Ethical Decision Making: A Framework will help you learn about making ethical decisions during a pandemic using the Canadian Nurses Association Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses (2017) values and responsibility statements to guide the process. Access the module under the Practice Advice tab below.

May 4, 2020 | Removal of legislative barriers to NP practice in continuing care

Ministerial Order 6/2020 modifies the Nursing Homes General Regulation and the Nursing Homes Operation Regulation to enable nurse practitioners and other regulated health professionals to work to their full scopes of practice in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Changes will remain in effect until August 14, unless the order is terminated earlier or the public health emergency is reduced or extended.

Nurse practitioners, as autonomous and independent health professionals, provide essential health services and have the competencies to conduct a comprehensive health assessment, diagnose health/illness conditions, and treat and manage acute and chronic illness within a holistic model of care. They order and interpret screening and diagnostic tests, perform procedures and prescribe medications and therapeutic interventions.

April 20, 2020 | Infection prevention and control

What better time to refresh your Infection Prevention and Control skills! Our Infection Prevention and Control – 2020 course is the newest version and includes the Alberta Health Reusable & Single-Use Medical Devices Standards, Infection Prevention and Control Standards, and Guidelines for Medication and Vaccine Injection Safety. Learn more by signing into MyCARNA and earn your certificate of completion today!

April 14, 202

Dr. Deena Hinshaw announced that all workers in continuing care and designated supportive living facilities must only work at one site.

Any staff or residents who display any symptoms at continuing care facilities are being tested.

Staff in these facilities who need to be within two metres of others during their work are required to wear face masks during their shift.

Enhanced cleaning and disinfection requirements, and mandatory outbreak protocols have now been implemented to protect staff and residents at these facilities.

April 13, 2020

In the weeks since the first case in Alberta, the provincial lab has increased its capacity for testing to meet the demand. Eligibility requirements for testing have been expanded to ensure access to testing.

Anyone in Alberta who has a fever, cough, shortness of breath, runny nose or a sore throat is eligible to be tested.

April 7, 2020 

Premier Kenney addressed all Albertans about the future of the COVID-19 pandemic in our province. Statistics for COVID-19 in our province as of today show the steady increase of cases.

Alberta Health has projected the two scenarios below:

• Probable: Alberta will hit the peak of infections in mid-May. From the beginning of the outbreak to the end of summer, we could see as many as 800,000 total infections, and between 400 and 3,100 deaths.
• Elevated: This more serious but less likely scenario, would see infections peak at the beginning of May, with as many as 1 million total infections, and between 500 and 6,600 deaths.

Alberta’s strategy to defeat COVID-19 is to push down the peak of infections as much as possible, while pulling up the capacity of our health-care system to cope with the demand.

The Premier encourages us all to rigorously follow these infection prevention and control measures:

• Wash your hands frequently for at least twenty seconds with warm, soapy water.
• Sneeze or cough into your elbow or arm.
• When you can, stay home.
• Try to stay at least six feet away from other people outside your home.
• Wear a covering over your nose and mouth if you are going into a crowded area.
• Stay at home for two weeks if you are sick, or have returned from outside the country.

We cannot thank our registrants and other health-care workers enough for their continued dedication to the care of Albertans. The more we do to stop the pandemic now, the faster we can restart our economy, and pave a path to recovery.

April 6, 2020 | Message from President Dennie Hycha and CEO Joy Peacock

Instead of the usual newsletter this month, we would like to use this space to acknowledge all of the nurses of Alberta.>

To all of the nurses serving patients, residents and families, as well as those that support through research, education and administration in all practice settings, thank you.

You are responding to this unprecedented event with compassion, skill and integrity. We know that you are being asked to do more than ever before. There are no easy answers to many of the issues; however, we are confident that patients can count on your best professional judgement.

A pandemic situation calls for extraordinary effort from all health-care personnel. In the midst of all this, you are providing and will continue to provide safe, competent, compassionate and ethical care to your fellow Albertans. We know that nurses are experienced in dealing with challenging health issues, including infected patients, on a daily basis. But this unprecedented time requires agility, creativity and innovative options. You possess these qualities and you will be called upon in the weeks and months ahead to continue displaying them.

During these challenging times, we are doing our best to support you. This includes updating our website with COVID-19 resources and extended Practice Consultation support. One of our ongoing priorities has been to reinstate and register as many nurses as possible. We will stay open (virtually) during the upcoming Easter weekend to help reinstate as many nurses as we can. Please check nurses.ab.ca regularly for the latest information.

There are many affected Albertans and regrettably a number of deaths due to the virus. We join all Albertans in extending our heartfelt gratitude for all you are doing. Please remember to take some time to care for yourself and your colleagues.

Stay safe and be well.

Dennie Hycha, President | Joy Peacock, CEO

April 3, 2020

During the pandemic, the focus for healthcare delivery is on meeting the most urgent and emergent needs of Albertans.  However, many Albertans have other healthcare needs that continue during this time and alterations in care delivery are being developed to address these needs.  In order to maintain access to controlled substances for medical treatments (e.g. for treatment of substance use disorders and chronic pain), the Federal Government has made several exemptions for pharmacists and authorized prescribers to assist with ensuring patients have access to their medications.

Visit Health Canada for more information. 

April 1, 2020

As a regulated member who is self-employed you are responsible for developing an approach to the COVID-19 pandemic appropriate to the nature of your practice and the population served. During this time of a declared state of public health emergency regulated members who are self-employed need to evaluate their services based on the Government of Alberta’s public health orders to only provide critical, urgent, or emergency care.

March 31, 2020

CARNA has developed a video tutorial Infection Prevention and Control in the context of COVID-19 for regulated members to learn more about COVID-19 and how to break the chain of transmission to protect clients, staff and the public from infection. This video tutorial examines best practices for hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette and personal protective equipment as ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This tutorial is found below under Practice Advice Infection Prevention and Control

March 20, 2020

CARNA supports Nurse Practitioners (NPs) in having the capacity to provide quality client care during this pandemic through virtual care. Nurse practitioners and their employer have an accountability to ensure clients are receiving safe and competent care. While in the midst of this pandemic, nurse practitioners and employers are accountable to work together to make the best decisions based on the information at hand, fully recognizing that the evolving situation may result in a different decision at a different time.

CARNA supports the use of virtual care platforms that are recommended and supported by the employer. We recognize that in highly challenging circumstances an NP may need to depart from established procedures in order to care for clients and people using health-care services. It is reasonable that if the employer is supporting temporary use of unregulated communication technologies based on the principle of matching intervention to need, then CARNA would also support this use as the Practice Standards for Regulated Members state that the RN and NP follow policies relevant to their practice setting.

March 19, 2020

Effective Friday, March 20, 2020 the Edmonton office of the College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CARNA) is closing its doors to walk-in visitors without appointments as part of ‘social distancing’. CARNA has implemented this measure to minimize the risk of transmission and ensure the continuity of critical services.

CARNA remains open for business with staff available by email or phone during regular business hours.

The Registration call centre is open and available by phone or email to answer your questions. Call 780.451.0043 (toll free 1.800.252.9392) ext. 548 or email registration@nurses.ab.ca.

Policy and Practice Consultants are working extended hours and weekends to be available by phone and email to address your practice questions. Call 780.451.0043 (toll free 1.800.252.9392) ext. 504 or email practice@nurses.ab.ca.

Hearing Tribunals and other business functions as appropriate will be conducted virtually. We thank you for your patience as workflow and logistical changes are made. CARNA will monitor the situation carefully and adjust as appropriate.

We will communicate any changes via our website, social media, and emails to registrants and stakeholders.

March 17, 2020

Former registrants who wish to assist with the COVID-19 pandemic are asked to contact their previous employer, the Talent Acquisition & Recognition team of Covenant Health at careers@covenanthealth.ca or AHS at careers@ahs.ca to inform them of their availability. Employers will send a list of names to CARNA and we will reach out to those who are identified on the Alberta Health or the health care provider organizations list to begin the process of reinstating practice permits for the pandemic response.

If you are contacted by CARNA you will be required to complete an application and meet all eligibility requirements before being assessed.

In the meantime, please ensure that your contact information is updated in your MyCARNA profile.

March 16, 2020

Return to practice permits will be issued to retired/associate/former registrants at the request of health-care provider organizations or in the event Government requests extra staff for pandemic response. This request must come through the employers. Please ensure your contact information is up-to-date in your MyCARNA. Please ensure your contact information is up-to-date in your MyCARNA.

Each application will be expedited and assessed to ensure eligibility requirements are met. These permits will be in effect until 30 September 2020 and with the condition "Permit issued for Pandemic response".

Can I refuse to care for someone who may be infected if I feel I may be at risk?

During a pandemic, RNs and NPs provide care using appropriate safety precautions. They have a duty to provide care. A duty to provide care refers to a nurse’s professional obligation to provide clients receiving care with safe, competent, compassionate and ethical care. We know that nurses are experienced in dealing with challenging health issues, including infected patients, on a daily basis. A pandemic situation calls for extraordinary effort from all health-care personnel.

As part of planning preparations, it’s our responsibility to make sure you’re aware that the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses (2017) and CARNA’s Practice Standards for Regulated Members continue to apply. Pages 38-40 of the Code of Ethics explain what you should do to make sure people’s individual needs are recognized, assessed and responded to without undue delay.

It’s also important that you’re supported to take account of your own safety and wellbeing. Your employer is there to help by managing resources effectively and dealing with risk so that the quality of care or service you provide for people can be maintained.

I’m worried that my registration/license is at risk if I need to act outside my normal job. What should I do?

We recognize that in highly challenging circumstances you may need to depart from established procedures in order to care for patients and people using health-care services.

Our regulatory standards are designed to provide a framework for decision-making in a wide range of situations.

In line with the CNA Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses (2017 ) (pages 38-40), use your professional judgement, working with other colleagues across all disciplines to assess risk, find the best way to provide care for people while recognizing and working within the limits of your competence to ensure essential care is provided to clients.

What does the CNA Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses and the Practice Standards for Regulated Members tell me to do in this type of emergency situation?

Some professional standards and behaviours, as set out in the Code, that may be particularly helpful for RNs and NPs to bear in mind at this time include:

• Acting in the best interests of people at all times within the limits of your knowledge and competence
• Understanding you have a professional obligation to ensure that any actions they take do not compromise client safety
• Supporting decisions with evidence-based rationale
• As well as your own safety and fitness to practice, taking account of the safety of others and the availability of other options for providing care
• Using appropriate information and resources that enhance client care and the achievement of desired client outcomes
• Exercising reasonable judgement and setting justifiable priorities in practice
• Integrating infection prevention and control principles, standards and guidelines in providing care and service to protect the health and well-being of clients, staff and the public

You will be expected to do what any reasonable, prudent nurse would do in this same situation and make informed and reasonable decisions based on the context, length and severity of the pandemic situation at this time.

What should I consider if I get re-deployed to an unfamiliar practice setting during the COVID-19 outbreak?

All RNs and NPs may be asked to work in an area that they are less familiar with during a pandemic. Temporary re-deployment is a legitimate employer practice to ensure they can meet the needs of the clients they serve every day. You and your employer have an accountability to ensure clients are receiving safe and competent care. It is also very important to note that a public health emergency, such as a pandemic, is not a usual circumstance. While in the midst of this pandemic; registered nurses, nurse practitioners and employers are accountable to work together to make the best decisions based on the information at hand, fully recognizing that the evolving situation may result in a different decision at a different time.

We expect that RNs and NPs are responsible and accountable for the care they provide and must practice to their level of competence. Although there are elements of nursing knowledge and entry-level competencies that cross all client groups and practice, the RN or NP may not be able to do all interventions or carry a full client assignment in the setting to which they will be re-deployed. The RN or NP need to assess and communicate the interventions that they can do competently. The discussion with the manager could include asking for an orientation to the new practice setting, asking questions to understand the expectations of them in this situation, and asking for an identified experienced staff member to be a buddy to answer questions when needed.

I am a former member of CARNA how can I help with the pandemic?

Former members who wish to assist with the COVID-19 pandemic are asked to contact their previous employer, or AHS at careers@ahs.ca, or Covenant at Careers@covenanthealth.ca to inform them of their availability. Employers will send a list of names to CARNA and we will reach out to those who are identified on the Alberta Health or the health care provider organizations list to begin the process of reinstating licenses for the pandemic response.

If you are contacted by CARNA you will be required to complete an application, and meet all eligibility requirements before being assessed.

In the meantime, please ensure that your contact information is updated in your MyCARNA profile.

Nurses like all individuals, can do their part to stop the spread of the virus. Nurses can direct clients and the public to reliable sources for information and must also take a leadership role in reminding others to prevent the spread of the virus by:

• Self-isolating yourself or your family members if feeling sick
• Washing your hands frequently
• Covering coughs and sneezes
• Avoid touching your face

Virtual Care during the COVID-19 pandemic

CARNA supports regulated members in having the capacity to provide quality client care through virtual care during this pandemic. Regulated members and their employer have an accountability to ensure clients are receiving safe and competent care. While in the midst of this pandemic regulated members and employers are accountable to work together to make the best decisions based on the information at hand, fully recognizing that the evolving situation may result in a different decision at a different time.

CARNA supports the use of virtual care platforms that are recommended and supported by the employer. We recognize that in highly challenging circumstances there may be a departure from established procedures in order to care for clients and people using health-care services. It is reasonable that if the employer is supporting temporary use of unregulated communication technologies based on the principle of matching intervention to need then CARNA would also support this use as the practice standards for regulated members state that the RN and NP follow policies relevant to their practice setting.

Ethical Considerations During a Pandemic

In addition to the above ethical decision-making module, CARNA recommends the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA), Ethical Considerations During a Pandemic. This document illustrates the ethical problems experienced in a pandemic and applies the CNA Code of Ethics for registered nurses to help nurses understand and navigate these problems. The CNA Code of Ethics may be accessed here. 

Infection, Prevention and Control (IPC)

At this time, it appears the virus is transmitted by larger droplets, like from a cough or sneeze. It is also possible for people to be exposed to the virus from contaminated objects or surfaces by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth.

Alberta Health and health care employers in Alberta are recommending Contact and Droplet Precautions in addition to Routine Practices for health care employees involved in the care of suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19. As nurses you need to know how to properly don, use, and doff personal protective equipment (PPE) in a manner that prevents self-contamination or contamination of others. Follow your employer policies on infection prevention and control.

General Prevention

There are many common respiratory viruses circulating in Alberta and globally. To help protect against all respiratory illnesses, including the flu and COVID-19, you should:

• use good hygiene practices, such as frequent handwashing
• stay at home and away from others if you are feeling ill
• clean high-touch surfaces

Information

Alberta Health

Alberta Health: COVID-19

Alberta Health Services: COVID-19

Canadian Nurses Association

Code of Ethics

Ethical Considerations During a Pandemic

Canadian Nurses Protective Society (CNPS)

Canadian Nurses Protective Society (CNPS)

Legal Considerations When Working in a Pandemic

CARNA

Infection, Protection and Control (IPC) Standards

Guidelines for Hand Hygiene

Health Canada

Exemptions regarding controlled drugs and substances