Self-Employment

The Newfoundland and Labrador College of Nurses, is the regulatory body for nurses in the province. The mandate of the College is to protect the public through regulation of the nursing profession in accordance with the Nurses Act.

This document provides Registered Psychiatric Nurses (RPNs), Registered Nurses (RNs), and Nurse Practitioners (NPs) with the principles that require reflection when engaging in self-employment and questions to consider when examining their self-employed practice.

Self-employed¹ RPNs, RNs, and NPs hold a current practicing licence and operate their own economic enterprise to provide nursing services. There are various forms of self-employment that may include non-traditional roles and domains that are outside traditional acute care hospital settings. Therefore, it is important to have a clear understanding of your individual employment arrangement and how you meet regulatory practice expectations. Review Appendix A for factors that indicate self-employment status.

Practice Expectations

As self-regulated professionals, RPNs, RNs, and NPs are responsible and accountable to practice in accordance with the current applicable professional standards, standards of practice, and code of ethics. The Scope of Practice document provides definitions of practice as an RN or NP and outlines the accountability and responsibility for RNs and NPs to know what they are educated, authorized, and competent to perform. Psychiatric nursing practice is defined in the Nurses Act.

RPNs, RNs, and NPs in self-employed nursing or psychiatric nursing practice must adhere to the following principles:

Principle: Practise only within their legislated scope of practice, individual competence, and the range of roles, functions, responsibilities, and activities which they are educated, competent, and authorized to perform.

RPNs, RNs, and NPs must critically assess their nursing knowledge, skills, competence, and experience and ensure they possess the necessary knowledge, skills, judgement, and ability to manage the outcomes of the nursing services they provide.

Principle: Adhere to all regulatory requirements and evidence-informed best practices.

RPNs, RNs, and NPs must adhere to regulatory requirements included in their applicable professional standards, standards of practice, scope of practice, and Code of Ethics, and all other relevant College documents (e.g., Documentation Principles, Virtual Nursing Practice, etc.).

RPNs, RNs, and NPs must incorporate evidence-informed best practices in their self-employment practice setting. RNs, RPNs, and NPs should connect with national and/or provincial associations and/or special interest groups for any specialty standards (e.g., Canada Association of Self-Employed Nurses (CASE), Canadian Association of Footcare Nurses (CAFCN), National Competencies for Advanced Foot Care in Canada, Canadian Society of Aesthetic Specialty Nurses (CSASN), etc.).

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