RNs are autonomous health-care professionals who practise collaboratively with other health-care professionals (such as physicians and NPs) where they:
RNs can engage in self-employed practice and are held to all the CRNA’s standards, guidelines and Code of Ethics.
There are specific supervisions standards for GNs as registrants on the Provisional Register. For more information, please refer to Standard 5 of the Supervision Standards (2022).
NPs begin as RNs and then advance through specialized education and clinical training, enabling them to practice autonomously:
NPs have a broad, autonomous and independent scope of practice, and are essential members of the interdisciplinary team and within independent practice.
The RN role requires foundational nursing education obtained in an undergraduate (bachelor’s) nursing education program.
RNs usually hold four years of undergraduate/academic training:
The NP role requires advanced knowledge and decision-making skills gained through a graduate (master’s) or postgraduate program consisting of focused clinical experience in conjunction with research and theoretical education.
NPs usually hold a minimum of six years of (undergraduate and graduate) academic training plus clinical experience:
Visit the Post-Secondary Education Requirement page to learn more about the education requirements for both RNs and NPs.
An NP has a master’s degree in nursing with a nurse practitioner focus, which includes clinical expertise development in a specific area. A master’s degree in nursing (MN), or another field (MEd, MBA), does not qualify an RN for NP registration.
Visit the Post-Secondary Education Requirement page to learn more about the education requirements for both RNs and NPs.
An NP has a master’s degree in nursing with a nurse practitioner focus, which includes clinical expertise development in a specific area. A clinical nurse specialist (CNS) or having RN specialty certification does not qualify an RN for NP registration.
Visit the Post-Secondary Education Requirement page to learn more about the education requirements for both RNs and NPs.
Scope of practice refers to the interventions RNs and NPs are authorized, educated and competent to perform.
The scopes of practice for RNs and NPs are different and serve to further identify and describe the domains of practice, as well as specific roles and responsibilities.
RNs and NPs should refer to their respective scope of practice document for more information.
RNs can make a nursing diagnosis to identify a patient’s condition caused by signs and symptoms.
The role of the RN in clinical practice includes the assessment, planning, provision and coordination of care, based on communication and collaboration with other health-care professionals, such as physicians and nurse practitioners.
NPs have a scope of practice that gives them the authority to assess a patient, determine a medical diagnosis and treat patient health conditions.
RNs who meet the outlined competencies and expectations for RN prescribing can become authorized to:
NPs have the authority to:
RNs are required to have a PracID if they are an authorized prescriber as part of the RN prescribing and ordering diagnostic tests authority. The PracID is associated with the RN in their specific practice setting and is not transferrable to other settings.
NPs obtain a PracID to prescribe medications and order diagnostic tests.
Eligible RNs and NPs will apply for a PracID through Alberta Health.
The authorization of restricted activities (RA) for RNs and NPs are outlined in the Restricted Activities Standards (2022). NPs are authorized all the RAs that RNs are authorized to perform. However, this does not mean that an RN or NP can perform any restricted activity in any situation or in any clinical practice area.
All registrants must practice within the limits of their own competence, perform restricted activities that are appropriate to the registrant’s area of practice, and ensure the restricted activities are performed within the context of care, in the best interests of the client.
Some examples of restricted activities (RA) that RNs can perform include:
NPs are authorized to perform advanced interventions, both invasive and non-invasive procedures determined by the competence of the individual NP, the patient’s health care needs and employer requirements.
The RN has a responsibility to monitor the patient to determine:
NPs monitor patient response to therapeutic interventions and determine interventions as required in order to address the patient’s health care needs.
RNs manage and coordinate care, while the most responsible health practitioner (MRHP) provides the referral to address actual or potential care. The RN, along with the care team, takes part in assessing and determining activities of care planning, implementation, evaluation and referrals.
The responsibility for follow up with the patient after referral remains with the MRHP.
NPs consult with and refer to other health care providers when the NP has determined that the patient’s condition warrants it. NPs are also consulted by other health care providers, including physicians, when the NP is the most appropriate care provider.
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Additional Resources