At NSCN, we recognize that we have a responsibility to make sure that our work remains relevant to the needs of our communities and the healthcare system. We are committed to principles-based innovation to promote regulatory excellence and efficiency.
Since the creation of NSCN, we have used right-touch regulation and relational regulation as guiding regulatory philosophies.
In 2024, NSCN began the work to build on these foundational concepts through the development of Regulatory Guiding Principles. These principles are rooted in our regulatory philosophies and adapted to NSCN’s specific context as the Nova Scotia nursing regulator. We consulted on the draft principles with stakeholders, which provided important insight into the expectations of the publics we serve and the nurses we regulate. The principles promote consistent, principled decision-making to effectively fulfil our regulatory role.
Learn how the feedback impacted NSCN’s Regulatory Guiding Principles.
The overall response to the draft guiding principles was very positive:
- Nearly 84% of respondents agree or strongly agree that the draft principles promote the publics’ interests. Only 5% disagree or strongly disagree, with the remainder being neutral.
- For each individual principle, we asked participants whether they agreed that it was appropriate to guide NSCN’s regulatory work. The responses ranged from 78% to 87% agree or strongly agree.
Additionally, there were other themes that emerged from the feedback, which provide insightful information for future work with the guiding principles. The themes included:
- Interest in how NSCN will implement the guiding principles
- The delicate balance of risk tolerance and proportionality
- The importance of consistency in NSCN’s regulatory response
- The role of evidence-based decision-making and connection between NSCN and the clinical practice environment
- NSCN’s leadership role
- Collaboration with employers to meet the shared responsibility of safe nursing practice
See the consultation summary here.
Regulatory Philosophies
Right-touch regulation is a principles-based framework that was developed by the UK Professional Standards Authority. It has been adopted by regulators across Canada and the world.
Right-touch regulation involves assessing the risk of harm to the public and deciding on the most proportionate and effective response to mitigate that risk. As a ‘right-touch’ regulator, we strive to apply the minimal amount of regulatory intervention required to achieve a desired outcome. We seek to understand problems before jumping to solutions and avoid unintended or disproportionate consequences.
Right-touch regulation allows us to recognize that there is usually more than one way to solve a problem, and regulatory intervention may not always be the best answer. The Board and staff of NSCN incorporate right-touch regulation in all aspects of our work.
As a relational regulator, we find new and innovative ways of strengthening our relationships through better engagement with those impacted by nursing regulation. We look to create greater opportunities for our stakeholders to engage and provide feedback that will inform our regulatory policies. And we are committed to proactively addressing issues and providing solutions.
Our goal is always to cultivate and sustain relationships by being respectful, inclusive, genuine and consistent in all that we do while delivering on our mandate to protect the public.