Consultation Overview
The Search for a Nurse is the Nova Scotia College of Nursing (NSCN)’s public nurse directory and provides information on registrants registered and licensed in Nova Scotia. This feature allows the public, employers and others to confirm that the nurse who is providing nursing services in Nova Scotia is authorized to do so. Registrant employment contact information is not publicly available.
Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and Registered Nurse Authorized Prescribers (RN-APs) are authorized to order screening and diagnostic tests such as laboratory and radiology tests and referrals to other health care providers (HCPs) as part of their client assessment and prescribing treatment plans. NSCN frequently receives requests from other HCPs for NPs and RN-APs employment contact information when the HCP has questions about test results, specialist referrals or the prescribing treatment plan. The existing process may cause delays in results or referrals reaching the requesting provider in a timely manner and potentially impacting client care and treatment.
The proposed by-laws authorize NSCN to ensure employment contact information for NPs and RN-APs is readily available on Search for a Nurse. This solution directly relates to enhancing public safety as HCPs can use the publicly available resource to send important client information to the provider.
NSCN sought feedback on the proposed by-laws respecting publication of employer’s telephone number for Authorized Prescribers (APs) through the following consultation opportunities:
- The proposed by-laws were made publicly available on the NSCN website during a 30-day period beginning on October 18, 2024 to November 17, 2024 in accordance with section 9(2) of the Nursing Act. All registrants were invited to participate in the consultation opportunity and were notified by email and through the NSCN newsletter.
- All registrants authorized to prescribe (NPs and RN-APs) were invited to provide their feedback in two additional consultation opportunities including a webinar held on October 17, 2024 and a survey which opened on October 18, 2024 and closed November 17, 2024.
Participation and Response
- 11 responses were received on the draft by-laws posted on the website.
- 14 (NP and RN-AP) registrants attended the webinar.
- The survey was completed by 109 participants (NP -91% and RN-AP-9%).
The majority of responses received were in support of publishing the employer contact information of an authorized prescriber to improve timely communication regarding client care. Concerns were expressed with a telephone number being the only contact option. Participants suggested NSCN consider other options for employer contact information such as an email address or fax numbers.
The following are the key themes that emerged from the participants’ feedback:
- Administrative/Workload Issues: Participants expressed publishing an employment telephone number could increase their workload as many do not have administrative support to answer phone calls. Others have reported they have support, but this would increase the workload of others on their team.
- Suggesting other methods for communication (email, fax): Participants expressed that the phone may not be the preferred method for communication suggesting that other methods such as email and fax would be more feasible given clerical resources.
- Processes are already in place to facilitate communication between providers: Participants shared that their contact information is already readily available to providers with the same employer through internal directories and within a client’s electronic medical record.
- Obligation to update contact information: Majority of participants agreed that requiring the authorized prescriber to update their information within 30 days of changing employers will facilitate timely communication.
Impact on the Project
The consultation feedback was carefully reviewed and assessed by NSCN staff. Based on the review, the by-laws were amended to address the concerns expressed by consultation participants.
The following changes were made to the proposed by-laws:
- Fax number and email address were added to employment or practice-related contact information, addressing the concerns of the potential additional workload for administrative support if only a phone number was published.
- NPs and RN-APs will have the ability to choose which type of employer or practice-related contact information will be publicly available on Search for a Nurse, NSCN’s public nurse directory.
Next Steps
The NSCN Board approved the proposed by-laws on February 20, 2025, which come into effect June 2, 2025. The amended by-laws will be posted to NSCN’s website at this time.
Before the by-laws come into effect on June 2, 2025, NSCN will contact NP and RN-AP registrants through newsletters, practice support tools and webinar to advise on where and how to update their employer contact information in the registrant portal to ensure their information is up-to-date prior to being published publicly on Search for a Nurse.
Questions?
If you have questions, please contact practice@nscn.ca.
