Continuing Competence Program
Definition of Continuing Competence
The definition has been adopted from the National Task Group on Continuing Competence.
Continuing competence is the ongoing ability of a registered nurse to integrate and apply the knowledge, skills, judgement and personal attributes required to practice safely and ethically in a designated role and setting. Personal attributes include but are not limited to attitudes, values and beliefs.
The SRNA initiated planning for a competence program in 1997, with the formation of a Quality Assurance Committee. The committee was renamed in 1999 to Continuing Competence Committee to be consistent with the rest of Canadian nursing jurisdictions. SRNA has a mission that states "competent, caring nursing for the people of Saskatchewan". Participation by all members in the program assists us to reach that mission.
A National Working Group was assembled early in 2000 to develop a framework and set down beliefs and principals for a continuing competence program. The SRNA has modeled their program after this document.
In 2002 the Bylaws were approved to establish the legal framework for a continuing competence program for RN(NP)s. In 2006 the Bylaws were approved to include a Continuing Competence Program for RNs. The bylaws also document the protection and privacy of the personal information that is part of the nurses' continuing competence program records.
To assist the SRNA in meeting the needs of their members, focus groups were established to explore various options to help nurses in their professional development. The groups were held in 1997-1998, and information was validated again in 2002. Nurses across the province wanted a program that would be simple, based on SRNA Standards and Competencies, with privacy legislation in place, and they wanted some tools they could use to follow the program.
The Continuing Competence Committee took into consideration the members' requests.
The SRNA program is composed of four components.
- Personal Assessment
- Feedback
- Learning Plan
- Evaluation of the impact that the learning has had on practice
| RN(NP) | RN | |
| 2007 | Audits by random sampling. | Full implementation. Mandatory requirement for licensure. |
| 2008 | Audits by random sampling. | Audits by random sampling. |
Education for all members started at the 2003 Annual Meeting. There are Continuing Competence trainers located throughout the province. The SRNA will coordinate educational sessions with a trainer in your area upon request.
Education sessions are outlined as follows:
- Overview
- Practice requirements
- Continuing Competence requirements: personal assessment, feedback, learning plan, evaluation
- Definition of Continuing Competence
- Standards & Competencies
- Professional Profile
- Personal Assessment
- Feedback
- Learning Plan and Implementation
- Learning Plan Resources
- Evaluation
- Membership distribution
- Audits
For more information about the education sessions, please email info@srna.org
Last Updated: May 4, 2008