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Legislation, standards, competencies, codes of ethics, and scopes of practice are not the same across healthcare providers.  We are not interchangeable.  It is not acceptable for other providers to take on registered nurse roles, responsibilities, and requirements without authority.  Members and employers have joint obligations to uphold professional and regulatory registered nurse requirements.
 
The requirements for a being registered nurse are not negotiable.  It is a privilege to be a registered nurse.  We are the only legislated nurses who have this privilege.  Empowering your professional practice includes practicing fully to your designation and scope of practice, speaking up when this is not possible, and seeking solutions.
 
The deterioration of registered nursing practice can happen in subtle ways in day-to-day practice.  
 
In a recent arbitration decision – SUN received confirmation that the Nursing Practice, Nursing Advisory Committee, and Independent Assessment Committee articles are the process to best support professional practice.  The collective agreement articles for professional practice must be used to identify, address, and escalate issues in professional practice.  These articles have been deemed to be the structure and process to address concerns, seek solutions, and find change.
 
We have the tools for change within professional practice.  By using them we also meet our professional obligations to advocate and lead within our professional practice work environments. 
 
Members, Locals, and SUN Provincial must work as a team to identify, develop action plans, and escalate professional practice concerns to address: 

• professional practice and the working environment deficiencies,
• the inability to perform and function to your full registered nurse practice in all settings and locations,
• address professional practice issues where attempts are being made to remove registered nurses from core professional practice, and
• to address risks to your license.

SUN is committed to advocating and advancing professional practice concerns, seeking clarification and changes from the Employer, and advancing the profession of registered nursing in Saskatchewan.  SUN Provincial cannot do these things without You and our Locals.  This requires communication and documentation on Work Situation Reports (WSRs).  Nothing changes without action.

• Standards, Competencies, Code of Ethics & Scope of Practice
• Employer Policy, Procedure, Protocol & Work Standards applicable to your practice environment
• Specialty & Best Practice Guidelines

• Absence, replacement, or elimination of registered nurses
• Model of care changes
• Other providers completing registered nurse work.

• Anytime professional practice, workload, staffing, and safety concerns exist, and a solution is not found.
• Consistent completion on WSRs when the situation does not change. 

1. Local President:  Your Local President is your expert on your collective agreement and professional practice in your working environment.
2. Nurse Practice Officers (NPOs):  Your Nurse Practice Officers are your SUN Provincial professional practice experts who support, advise and intervene to find solutions in practice.  Their primary responsibility is applying your professional responsibilities and accountabilities into your professional practice working environment, and addressing issues through the nursing advisory process, work situation reports and the Joint Nursing Advisory Committee. 
3. Regulatory Bodies:  Your regulatory bodies are mandated for the protection of the public.  Their mandate requires that they fulfill the following activities:  registration; licensure; setting standards, competencies, and ethical obligations; approving nursing education for entry to practice requirements; interpreting the regulated scope of practice; continuing competence; and, responding to concerns about members. 

QUESTIONS? Contact SUN Provincial @