Standards of Practice for Rehabilitation Nurses
From the introduction to the Standards of Practice booklet:
As the professional association for rehabilitation nurses, the Ontario Association
of Rehabilitation Nurses (OARN) is responsible for establishing standards for
professional rehabilitation nursing practice.
... The standards for rehabilitation nursing
practice describe a competent level of professional care and professional practice
common to all rehabilitation nurses engaged in clinical practice. The development
of nursing standards describes the responsibilities for which its practitioners are
accountable and are essential for ensuring that quality care is provided to clients.
Free for new members. Request additional copies, now only $2.50 each for members, $5.00 for non-members (taxes, shipping and handling included).
Rehabilitation Nursing Certification
A Rehabilitation Nursing Certification credential is an important indicator to patients, employers, the public and professional licensing bodies that the certified nurse is qualified, competent and current in a nursing specialty. Certified nurses meet rigorous requirements to achieve an expert credential.
Check out the CNA Certification page for more information about eligibility, cost and how to obtain an application guide.
To help you in your studies, free webcasts are available at the Toronto Rehab
'epresence' site.
Select the webcast that you would like to watch. A new page is displayed and click on the Windows Media logo near the bottom of the page.
Important: Toronto Rehab is unable to provide technical support for non-Toronto Rehab participants. Toronto Rehab's staff can contact CSS (ext. 3835) if they have any difficulty accessing webcasts.
Information on Self-Reporting Requirements
to the College of Nurses of Ontario
posted: January 21, 2016
It has come to the attention of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO) that there have been some questions raised regarding self-reporting requirements to the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO). The responses from RNAO to these questions is posted below for the convenience of members. If you have any further questions, contact details are provided below.
Clarification on Nurses' Obligations for Self-Reporting
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is the obligation for nurses to self-report charges new?
No, since January 1, 2013, nurses have been required to self-report charges against them to the College. This obligation was part of changes made to College regulations.
Do other professionals have a similar obligation to self-report to their governing bodies?
Yes, nurses are just one group of health professionals that have mandatory self-reporting obligations. Physicians, for example, must also report charges to their regulator, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.
Should nurses inform the College about every kind of charge?
Nurses must self-report the following charges:
- An offence under the Criminal Code of Canada
- An offence under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
- Other offences that could be relevant to practice. For example, if a nurse is charged with a provincial offence under the Personal Health Information Protection Act for inappropriately accessing personal health information.
Do nurses have to tell the College if they get a speeding or parking ticket?
Speeding or parking tickets do not have to be reported to the College. As accountable professionals, nurses should use their judgment and knowledge of the nursing profession and the practice standards when considering whether a charge may be relevant to suitability to practice nursing and therefore should be reported.
Does the College investigate every self-report?
No, the College does not investigate every self-report that is received. The College's Executive Director reviews the self-report, determines what level of risk may be posed to the public, and makes a decision about an appropriate response.
There are many options available to the Executive Director that do not involve an investigation. For example, a nurse may be advised to review practice standards and in some cases, may be asked to meet with a representative from the College's professional conduct department to discuss the matter.
Does the College learn about charges only through self-reporting?
No, the College receives information from a wide variety of sources. Some of these sources include employers, the police, the public, and the news media.
What happens if a nurse does not self-report a charge?
A nurse who does not meet his or her self-reporting obligation could be investigated and may face professional conduct allegations.
Will the College make the charges public?
Charges that are assessed as being relevant to a nurse's suitability to practise will be posted on the nurse's profile on Find a Nurse, the College's public register.
Visit the Transparency section of the website for more information.
Who should I contact if I have questions about self-reporting?
For assistance or more information on the self-reporting process, email the College at investigations-intake@cnomail.org or call 416 928-0900 ext. 6988 (toll-free in Ontario 1 800 387-5526).
Visit the Self-Reporting section of the website for more information.
Toronto Rehab's New Online Event Resource Centre
posted: November 21, 2011
Toronto Rehab is pleased to announce its online event resource centre where you can: learn from experts with a wealth of practical experience, watch interactive multimedia presentations, ask questions directly to the experts on the discussion board, and meet and network with other online participants.
The link provided above will take you to a site that is owned and operated by Learning Technology Solutions Inc.
Canadian Best Practice Recommendations for Stroke Care
posted: December 2008
updated: December 2013
The Canadian Stroke Strategy is
pleased to announce the release of the 2008 update of the Canadian Best Practice Recommendations for Stroke Care.
This information will be of interest to front-line staff caring for stroke patients, program leaders,
administrators, planners and funders. It is available on the web site of the Canadian Medical Association Journal at
www.cmaj.ca, December 2, 2008, volume 179 (12).
Recent newsletters, kindly made available by the National Nursing Stroke Council (NNSC), can be found on the
NNSC Newsletters site. A link to the NNSC and other stroke related sites are provided on our more organizations page.
updated: December 2013
Canadian Stroke Network: Publication
The Canadian Stroke Network has published a resource that may be of interest to Rehabilitation Nurses. It is titled: Getting on with the Rest of Your Life after Stroke / La vie après un AVC.
Instructions for obtaining this document are available at www.canadianstrokenetwork.ca.