Toolkit for Resolving Professional Practice Issues

The Newfoundland and Labrador College of Nurses¹ is the regulatory body for nurses in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL). The mandate of the College is to protect the public through regulation of the nursing profession in accordance with the Nurses Act.

Nurses are accountable and responsible for making decisions that are consistent with safe, competent, ethical practice. At the same time, nurses may face diverse and complex issues that can impact the safe delivery of nursing care. Nurses are expected to adhere to their professional standards, standards of practice, and code of ethics, as applicable to the nursing designation, and must address circumstances that potentially impede professional, ethical, or legal nursing practice as well as take action to avoid or minimize harm to client or others. The following resource has been designed to help nurses identify, communicate, and attempt to resolve complex professional practice issues (PPIs) that may be encountered in the clinical area/practice environment.

Definition

A professional practice issue is any issue or situation that either:

• compromises client care/service by placing a client at risk; and/or
• affects a nurse’s ability to provide care/service consistent with their professional standards, standards of practice, code of ethics, legislation, other standards and guidelines, or employer policies or procedures

Toolkit Purpose

This toolkit consists of a six-step framework to assist nurses when working to resolve a PPI in any context of practice. Tools to help nurses communicate their concerns related to the professional practice issue with all members of the team including the manager are also part of this toolkit.

In addition to utilizing this toolkit to assist in resolving a PPI, nurses should also refer to any agency/employer guidelines, policies, and/or practices specifically related to resolving PPI in that employment setting.

Please note: if there is an imminent or immediate risk to client safety as a result of any PPI, steps to ensure client safety need to be taken immediately and the manager must be notified.

If assistance is required when working to resolve a professional practice issue, nurses can contact a Practice Consultant at the College.

If the professional practice issue involves conduct deserving of sanction by a nurse, the mandatory duty to report provision of the Nurses Act applies.

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