Saskatchewan removes provisions to expand scope of practice for nurses

Saskatchewan is updating its clinical policies to remove a number of provisions that limited the scope of practice for nurses in the province.

According to the Ministry of Health, the provincial government has updated and revised more than 240 policies that limited the scope of practice for licensed practical nurses, registered psychiatric nurses and nurse practitioners, “enabling qualified and appropriately trained nurses to work to their full legislated scope of practice.”

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The ministry said the changes, which took effect on Friday, will enable the more than 15,000 nurses working in Saskatchewan to utilize their entire skill set when treating patients, in an effort to improve access to care for residents across the province.

“By removing more than 240 policy barriers, we are maximizing the contribution of LPNs, RPNs and NPs, and strengthening how care is delivered across our health system,” Jeremy Cockrill, Saskatchewan’s health minister, said in a statement.

Derek Miller, chief operating officer for the Saskatchewan Health Authority, said the changes will remove barriers that prevented nurses from fully performing certain activities that fall within their legislated scope.

“These are important steps in strengthening team-based care and will enable health care teams to base practice decisions on modern standards that strengthen timely, safe, quality patient care,” Miller said in a statement.

“In addition to removing provisions, SHA is accelerating the standardization of nursing policies and clinical standards where LPNs, RPNs and NPs currently practice, through a phased approach to be completed by September 30, 2026,” the ministry added.

“As part of this work, examples of duties being standardized include intravenous (IV) care, pain management support and the use of devices to safely deliver medications, fluids and other treatments.”

The updates were welcomed by the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan Association of Nurse Practitioners, the College of Registered Nurses of Saskatchewan and the Association of Professional Nurses of Saskatchewan.