Continuing Competency Framework
Introduction
The Newfoundland and Labrador College of Nurses is the regulatory body for all nurses. The College’s mandate is to protect the public through self-regulation of the nursing profession in accordance with the Nurses Act (2024) and Nurses Regulations (2026). The College strives to set the standard for nursing excellence in the province of NL. This CCP Framework is appliable to Registered Nurses (RNs), Nurse Practitioners (NPs), and Registered Psychiatric Nurses (RPNs) only.
In accordance with the Nurses Act and Regulations, RNs/NPs/RPNs are expected to meet the College’s continuing professional development requirements. These requirements are outlined in this Framework. This expectation is further identified in the Code of Professional Conduct or the Standards of Psychiatric Nursing Practice and College Bylaws.
Foundational Principles
The foundation for the Continuing Competency Program (CCP) is based upon the two principles of individual competence and self-reflection.
Competence
Competence is a multi-dimensional concept that includes acquiring knowledge, skills, and abilities and applying and maintaining the competencies acquired. Competence is an evolving process that moves across a spectrum of one’s professional life. Competence has also been described as a dynamic concept, changing as the RN/NP/RPN achieves a higher stage of development, responsibility, and accountability within their current practice setting/role. Furthermore, continuing competence is the ongoing ability of RNs/NPs/RPNs to integrate and apply the knowledge, skills, judgment, and personal attributes (e.g., attitudes, abilities, behaviors, beliefs, and values) required to practice safely, competently, and ethically in a practice setting. Maintaining continuing competence involves a continuous process of linking the standards of practice, code of ethics, and lifelong learning with reflective practice activities to one’s context of practice.
Self-Reflection
Nursing is a reflective practice whereby RNs/NPs/RPNs engage in a process of learning from one’s experiences, reconsidering and rethinking their previous knowledge, and adding new knowledge to inform one’s practice. The RN/NP/RPN reflects on their practice, on an ongoing basis, and takes action to continually improve that practice. Reflective practice also helps the RN/NP/RPN identify learning needs and progress from novice to expert practice.
Reflective practice is a hallmark of continuing competence; whereby registrants take time to thoroughly reflect on their knowledge, skills, actions, attitudes, behaviors, beliefs, and abilities, and continually identify learning needs. The College’s CCP is just one part of this reflective process providing an opportunity for each RN/NP/RPN to formalize their reflective practice at a particular point in time during licensure renewal.
Page 1 of 14