Certified practices are restricted activities that can only be performed by nurses or nurse practitioners who have successfully completed the
BCCNM-approved certified practice courses. Registered Nurses (Certified) (RN(C)s) are solely accountable for the diagnosis and treatment of their clients.
Successfully completing certified practice education requirements allows nurses to:
- Remote nursing
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Remote Certified Practice frequently (but not necessarily) occurs in communities but where there is no physician or nurse practitioner in the community, but where physicians or nurses visit the community periodically and are available to provide consultation to the registered nurse.
Remote practice includes Sexually Transmitted Infections and Contraceptive Management
(Note: Effective Jan 5, 2023, BCCNM will no longer require RNs who wish to attain certification in Remote Practice to complete the Reproductive Health — Contraceptive Management and Reproductive Health — Sexually Transmitted Infections certified practices).
- Reproductive Health: Sexually Transmitted Infections
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Registered Nurses who complete BCCNM certification in
Reproductive Health: Sexually Transmitted Infections may diagnose and treat some sexually transmitted syndromes and infections in clients as set out within the STI decision support tools. Consultation or referral to a physician or nurse practitioner is required for all pregnant or breastfeeding clients.
- Reproductive Health: Contraceptive Management
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Registered nurses who complete BCCNM certification in
Contraceptive Management (CM) are permitted within their autonomous scope of practice to dispense and/or administer hormonal contraception to eligible clients as set out in CM decision support tools.
- RN First Call
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RN First Call frequently (but not necessarily) occurs in small acute care hospitals, diagnostic and treatment centres, and other settings where there is limited physician or nurse practitioner service available in the community.
Registered nurses who complete BCCNM certification in RN First Call may diagnose and treat minor acute illnesses as set out in the RN First Call DSTs.
Education Courses
Nurses who wish to obtain certified practice must successfully complete the relevant certified practice education program approved by BCCNM: Nurse with certified practice (RN-C)
For more information about BCCNM's Certified Practices
Course Review process, please contact Education Program Review at educationprogramreview@bccnm.ca .
Scope of Practice
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Learn more about the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, disorders, conditions by certified practice RNs.
Certified Practice Prescribing
not yet available*
CP nurses are required to complete education specific to prescribing before they can apply to BCCNM for prescribing authority.
RN(C)s who prescribe medications associated with their certified practice area (to be dispensed by a pharmacist) must also:
*At this time BCCNM approved prescribing education is not yet available. Once prescribing education is in place and CP nurses can meet all the conditions related to prescribing, they will be able to apply to BCCNM for prescribing authority. Check here
for more information on prescribing.
In the meantime, CP nurses are still authorized to administer and dispense medications using current processes set by the DSTs and organizational/employer policy.
Medical Services Plan (MSP)
Nurses with certified practice can refer eligible clients for select laboratory tests in accordance with the RN(C)'s scope of practice.
More information:
Registration and fees
To be eligible for BCCNM-certified practice designation, either coursework or practice experience will be considered. Your options will depend on your current registration status. Please visit the Fees page for more information.
FAQs
- I have a specialty certification through the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) certification in gerontology. Does this mean I also have BCCNM Certified practice qualifications?
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No. BCCNM
certified practice and CNA certification are different. A BCCNM certified practice designation allows you to autonomously diagnose and treat some diseases and disorders, following the certified practice DSTs. This includes activities that otherwise require an order, such as administering, compounding, or dispensing Schedule I (prescription level) medications.
Your CNA certification indicates you've met specific nursing practice, continuous learning, and exam requirements. You can find more information about CNA certification on the CNA website.
- I am certified in remote practice. Do I still need to complete the Reproductive Health Certified Practice requirements?
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If you are
continuing to provide contraceptive management and/or are continuing to diagnose and treat sexually transmitted infections, then you will need to maintain your certified practice and competence in
Reproductive Health - Contraceptive Management and/or
Reproductive Health – Sexually Transmitted infections.
If you
elect to no longer be certified in Reproductive Health and your certification lapses, you will not be allowed to perform those activities unless you apply to be reinstated in Reproductive Health certified practice.
CP Nurses must follow the
Quality Assurance and
Registration requirements for certified practice.
- I am interested in becoming a remote certified practice nurse. Do I need to also be certified in reproductive health?
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No. RNs who are interested in becoming certified in Remote Practice are required to successfully complete the recognized certified practice education course and are not required to complete the Reproductive Health certified practice education programs.
It is recommended that you discuss with your employer the certified practices you may require to best meet the needs of the client population you care for. If you and your employer decide that you will also provide contraceptive management and/or diagnose and treat sexually transmitted infections, then in addition to Remote Certified Practice education, you will need to successfully complete the Reproductive Health education in contraceptive management and/or diagnosing and treating sexually transmitted infections. You will need to apply to BCCNM for certified practice in those areas and maintain your competence in both areas.
- Can BCCNM-certified practice nurses prescribe?
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No not currently. Education specific to prescribing is required prior to existing RN(C)s acting as an RN(C) prescriber.
At this time, BCCNM-approved education related to prescribing is not yet available. In the meantime, RN(C)s are still authorized to administer and dispense medications using current processes established by their employer(s).