November, 2017

Update for NPs

Dear NP colleague,

We often hear praise about how RNAO offers more for less.Indeed, by joining RNAO,an NP can save between $ 522.21 to $678.26 per year. Here are the details:

RNAO membership fee inclusive of PLP for RNs and NPs / NPAO fee + (PLP fee) for NPs / SAVINGS from joining RNAO
Regular: $256.36 (includes HST) / $425.10 + $55.26 HST + ($330.00 + $42.90 HST) = $853.26 / $596.90
Or, if an ONA members: $175.00(includes HST) / $425.10 +$ 55.26 HST + ($330.00 + $42.90 HST) = $853.26 / $678.26
Or, if retired or if work less than 15 hrs/week: $87.83(includes HST) / Retired, underemployed or unemployed:
$209.86 + $27.28 HST + ($330.00 + $42.90 HST) = $610.04 / $522.21
RNAO membership fee inclusive of PLP for NP Students / NPAO fee + (PLP fee) for NP Students / RNAO saves you
NP Students working less than 15 hrs/week: $87.83(includes HST) / Retired, underemployed or unemployed:
$20.00 + $2.60 HST + ($115.00 + $14.95 HST) = $152.55 / $64.72

When it comes to professional liability protection (PLP), RNAO members are covered, regardless of when the claim is made. It is very important not to be confused by insurance jargon like “occurrence” or “claims made”and pay more for a program that does not have a duty to defend you when you need it.We have laid out the key aspects of RNAO’s PLP and other legal protection programs in a way that is easy to understand(.

NPs belong to RNAO because RNAO speaks out for you, protects you and saves you money. The evidence is clear.

RNAO is well connected:

  • RNAO speaks with a strong voice of 41,000 RNs, NPs and nursing students.
  • RNAO is well connected and is a top influencer with all political parties, government and other major stakeholders. RNAO gives you the representation vis-a-vis the premier, the health minister, finance minister, PC and NDP leaders and their staff.
  • RNAO has proven itself as stable, reliable and credible.
  • RNAO has expertise and resources in policy and communications to deliver outcomes for NPs.
  • RNAO is well connected with the media everyday on nursing and health issues(

RNAO has forcefully advocated for NPs for many decades. Recent achievements include:

  • Working with NPs to establish the first nurse practitioner-led clinic (NPLC) in Sudbury, and ensuring the creation of 25 more NPLCs across the province.[i]
  • NPs in Ontario were the first in Canada to be granted the authority to admit, treat, transfer and discharge hospital in-patients.[ii][iii]
  • Envisioning and working with the provincial government to fund 75 new attending NP positions in long-term care homes,[iv][v] of which 49are already in place.[vi]
  • Eliminating some of the outstanding NP scope of practice gaps, including authority to prescribe controlled substances.[vii][viii]
  • The provincial announcement of $22.2 million in funding for 2017, and $31.7 million in 2018 and 2019 to attract and retain non-physician health care professionalsin primary care, including NPs.[ix]
  • Robust dialogue and feedback on RNAO's (2015) Nurse Practitioner Utilization Toolkit.[x]
  • RNAO spoke loudly and clearly before the Standing Committee on General Government on behalf of Ontario's nurse practitioners. Bill 122 –The Mental Health Statute Law Amendment Act, 2015– stating that it needs to be amended to enable NPs to complete an Application for Psychiatric Assessment (Form 1). RNAO also expressed full support for provisions of the bill that enable NPs to serve as clinical panel members of the Consent and Capacity Board.[xi]
  • Queen’s Park on The Road and Queen’s Park Day Annual events and policy backgrounders.

This adds to the already numerous accomplishments we have achieved for NPs, including:

  • Consistently delivering health and nursing policy positions that are adopted by governments and advance the profession and health for all.
  • Ensuring the provincial government enabled NPs to refer clients to specialists by amending the Health Insurance Act.[xii]
  • Calling for major scope of practice enhancements for NPs, including the passing of Bill 179 that delivered significant improvements in scope.[xiii]
  • Advocating that the federal government remove prohibitions that prevent NPs from prescribing controlled substances, including opioid agonist therapy such as methadone.[xiv]
  • Driving regulatory changes that removed the requirement for NPs to have a supervising physician.[xv]
  • Continuing to be your voice at the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) when new practice standards and bylaws are being reviewed.[xvi]
  • Negotiating with the government, the Ontario Medical Association and the Ontario Hospital Association on the NP anaesthesia role.[xvii]
  • Working with Ontario's premier, minister of health and minister of finance to persuade the government to improve compensation – salaries and benefits – for NPs.[xviii][xix][xx]
  • Delivering the annualNext Frontier for Nurse Practitionersknowledge exchange consultation to check the pulse, facilitate progress, and envision the future (launched inOctober2014and hosted again inOctober 2015, November 2016).The next knowledge exchange consultation is scheduled on November 29, 2017.

And, RNAO is advocating for:

  • Addressing gaps in NP scope of practice, such as: ensuring NPs are able to prescribe all controlled substances[xxi] and those under the exceptional access program and the palliative care facilitated access program.[xxii]
  • Having the NP anaesthesia role actively utilized, supported and expanded.[xxiii][xxiv]
  • Granting NPs the ability to perform point-of-care testing.[xxv]
  • Authorizing NPs to order all diagnostic imaging such as all X rays, CT Scans, MRIs, and bone mineral density (BMD) testing.[xxvi][xxvii]
  • Granting NPs the ability to order electrocardiograms (ECG) in all situations.[xxviii]
  • Authorizing NPs to complete legal forms for mental health services (Forms 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 14 and 28).[xxix]
  • Authorizing NPs to order physical restraints in hospital settings.[xxx]
  • Expanding NPs authority to certify a death.[xxxi]

And, RNAO protects you:

  • RNAO’s membership includes reliable Professional Liability Protection (PLP) at no extra charge. RNAO’s PLP is an insurance policy that has a duty to defend and satisfies the CNO’s mandatory PLP requirement. (See enclosed PLP brochure.)
  • RNAO members also get Cyber Liability Protection (CLP) as an automatic benefit.(
  • RNAO also has a legal assistance program (LAP), well established, well staffed and well funded -- serving thousands of RNs and NPs.(See enclosed LAP brochure.)

Join NOW to optimize your benefits

Sign up now for the 2017-2018 membership year and enjoy a whole year of benefits and protection. Your PLP will take effect as soon as your application is accepted.

Join online at MyRNAO.ca/join or call 1-800-268-7199.

Already a member of RNAO?

If you are already a member of RNAO, please accept our thanks for your support of the important work of RNAO. Together we are stronger.

Looking forward to serving you, advocating for you and protecting you.

Warm regards,

Doris Grinspun, RN, MSN, PhD, LLD(hon), O.ONT.
Chief Executive Officer
Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO)
158 Pearl Street, Toronto, Ontario M5H 1L3

[i]Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario. (2011). Increasing access to primary care through nurse practitioner-led clinics. Retrieved from

[ii]Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario. (2016). Press release: Mind the safety gap in health system transformation: RNAO issues recommendations to ensure patients come first. Retrieved from

[iii]Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario. (2015). Nurse Practitioner Utilization Toolkit. why-nps/practice-elements.

[iv]Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario. (2015). Media Release: Attending nurse practitioners will improve care for seniors in long-term care.

[v]Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (2015). News Release: 75 new nurse practitioners to be hired in long-term care homes.

[vi]Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario. (2015). Press release: Attending nurse practitioners will improve care for seniors in long-term care. Retrieved from

[vii]College of Nurses of Ontario. (2017) NPs can now prescribe controlled substances. april-2017/nps-can-now-prescribe-controlled-substances/.

[viii]Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario. (2017). Nurse practitioners’authority to prescribe controlled substances.

[ix] Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. (2017).Province Increasing Access to Primary Care for Ontario Families.

[x]Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario. (2015). Nurse Practitioner Utilization Toolkit. Retrieved from

[xi]Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario. (2015). Bill 122, An Act to amend the Mental Health Act and the Health Care Consent Act, 1996.

[xii]Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario. (2009). Nurse Practitioner Scope of Practice (Response to HPRAC).

[xiii]Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario. (2009). Bill 179: Regulated Health Professions Statute Law Amendment Act.

[xiv]Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario. (2009). New Classes of Practitioners Regulations (Health Canada).

[xv]Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario. (2009). Nurse Practitioner Scope of Practice (Response to HPRAC).

[xvi]Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario. (2016). Draft Revised NP Practice Standard (College of Nurses of Ontario).

[xvii]Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario. (2009). Nurse Practitioner Scope of Practice (Response to HPRAC).

[xviii]Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario. (2015). Nurse Practitioner Compensation.

[xix]Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario. (2016). Media Release: RNAO praises new funding to recruit and retain primary care NPs and RNs.

[xx]Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario. (2015). Queen's Park on the Road: Nurse Practitioner Compensation.

[xxi]Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario. (2017). Queen's Park Day: Fully Utilizing Nurse Practitioners.

[xxii]Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario. (2017). Events: Consultation and information session for NPs on Exceptional Access Program and updates on OHIP Plus.

[xxiii]Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario. (2016). Draft Revised NP Practice Standard (College of Nurses of Ontario).

[xxiv]Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario. (2009). Nurse Practitioner Scope of Practice (Response to HPRAC).

[xxv]Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario. (2017). Queen's Park Day: Fully Utilizing Nurse Practitioners.

[xxvi]Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario. (2017). Queen's Park Day: Fully Utilizing Nurse Practitioners.

[xxvii]Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario. (2017). Queen's Park Day: Fully Utilizing Nurse Practitioners.

[xxviii]Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario. (2017). Queen's Park Day: Fully Utilizing Nurse Practitioners.

[xxix]Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (2017). Queen’s Park on the Road: Increase Access by fully utilizing nurse practitioners.

[xxx]Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario. (2017). Queen's Park Day: Fully Utilizing Nurse Practitioners.

[xxxi]Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (2017). Queen’s Park on the Road: Increase Access by fully utilizing nurse practitioners.