Independent Practice Support

Registered nurses (RNs) or nurse practitioners (NPs) may work in self-employed practice.

If you are practising nursing as an RN or NP in Alberta, you must be registered and hold an active practice permit with the CRNA before you start working (including any orientation).

Nurses who meet the requirements to hold an active practice permit and are engaged in self-employed RN or NP practice can use these protected titles, count practice hours, and have CNPS professional liability protection.

Requirements for RN or NP Practice

• Does your practice meet the components of the practice statement of the registered nurses profession as outlined in Schedule 24 of the Health Professions Act (HPA)?
  
  
• Does your practice include any restricted activities authorized by the Registered Nurses Profession Regulation?
  
  
• Does your practice meet the definition of RN or NP practice based on Registered Nurses Profession Regulation and Scope of Practice for Registered Nurses or Scope of Practice for Nurse Practitioners?
  Members must demonstrate the application of nursing knowledge, skills and judgment as an integral part of their practice?
  
  
• Does your practice meet the professional practice standards and guidelines and Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses?
  These must be demonstrated and maintained throughout the practice. Nurses promote and use the principles of primary health care and social determinants of health in their provision of health-care services. These services are provided in any setting and across the continuum of care including promotion, prevention, active treatment, rehabilitation and palliation.
  
  
• Does your practice meet the RN or NP practice competencies?
  The practice includes the RN or NP entry-level competencies and requires critical thinking, problem solving, professional judgment, accurate interpretation of complex information from various sources and is limited to the nurse’s specific competence and clients’ needs. The totality of the service is not too restrictive or limited in scope (e.g., only teaching CPR courses), limited to unregulated activities (e.g., doula, reiki), or regulated by another regulatory body (e.g., Naturopaths, LPN practice hours are not counted towards RN currency). Contact the CRNA when the practice is related to dual registration.
  
  
• Are the steps of the nursing process integral to your practice?
  The nursing process is integral to RN and NP practice and includes assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation and evaluation.
  
  

Self-employed Assessment Checklist: Am I Practising Registered Nursing?

• Identify the requirements for RN or NP practice
• Review specific requirements for NP practice in addition to RN practice
  
  

Self-assessment Checklist for Self-employed RN or NP Practice

• Determine if your practice is within the scope of practice of an RN or NP practice based on the definition of Schedule 24 of the Health Professions Act
• Identify and analyze some of the potential self-employed practice risks
• Access resources that may help mitigate these risks