Principles

1.

Registrants¹ use their title(s) in ways that comply with:

a.

the Health Professions Act;

b.

the applicable nursing regulation²;

c.

BCCNM Bylaws;

d.

BCCNM Standards of Practice.

2.

When registrants document care or services provided to a client, they identify their:

a.

name;

b.

title that most specifically reflects their nursing designation;

c.

certification if they are on BCCNM’s certified practice register [e.g., Registered Nurse (Certified), RN(C)].

3.

Nurses identify themselves by title to clients and to members of the health care team and others.

4.

Nurses use only the reserved title(s) that they are registered for, regardless of their role or job description in the work setting.

5.

Nurses who hold multiple designations with BCCNM use the title associated with their job description and the role in which they are practising.

6.

Licensed practical nurses who hold practising registration with BCCNM use the titles licensed practical nurse, practical nurse, LPN, or nurse.

7.

Nurse practitioners who hold practising registration with BCCNM use the titles nurse practitioner, registered nurse practitioner, NP, or nurse. Nurse practitioners may also use RN or RN-NP as appropriate.

8.

Nurse practitioners indicate their stream of practice by using “NP (F)” or “NP (Family)”; “NP (A)” or “NP (Adult)”; or “NP (Ped)”³; or “NP (Pediatric)”, as appropriate, when documenting care or services to clients, including prescriptions, tests, and referrals.

9.

Registered nurses who hold practising registration with BCCNM use the titles registered nurse, RN, or nurse.

10

Registered nurses or nurse practitioners with BCCNM-certified practice designations and working in a certified practice role may use the titles Registered Nurse (Certified), and RN(C). If a certified practice registrant wishes to note their specific certification, they may append the following terms:

a.

First Call Certified

b.

Remote Practice Certified

c.

Reproductive Health (STI and/or CM) Certified. These RNs may have Sexually Transmitted Infection and/or Contraceptive Management sub-certification.

Opioid Use Disorder Certified

Registered psychiatric nurses with a BCCNM-certified practice designation and working in a certified practice role may use the titles Registered Psychiatric Nurse (Certified), and RPN(C). If a certified practice registrant wishes to note their specific certification, they may append the following terms:

Opioid Use Disorder Certified

12.

Licensed graduate nurses⁴ nurses who hold practising registration with BCCNM use the titles licensed graduate nurse, LGN, or nurse.

13.

Registered psychiatric nurses who hold practising registration with BCCNM use the titles registered psychiatric nurse, psychiatric nurse, RPN, or nurse.

14.

Nurses who hold provisional registration with BCCNM use (P) or (Provisional) after their designation.

15.

Nurses who hold temporary registration with BCCNM use (T) or (Temporary) after their designation.

16.

Nurses who hold non-practising registration with BCCNM use “non-practising” before their title.

17.

Nurses who hold non-practising registration cannot convey or imply they are authorized to practice practical nursing, nursing, or psychiatric nursing.

18.

When providing regulatory supervision to students, nurses ensure that:

a.

students who are enrolled in an entry-level practical nursing education program identify themselves as a “student practical nurse” or “SPN” when documenting or providing care or services to a client.

b.

students who are enrolled in a nurse practitioner education program identify themselves as a “student nurse practitioner” or “SNP” when documenting or providing care or services to a client as a student. Student nurse practitioners identify themselves as a registered nurse when they are working in a registered nurse role and are registered with BCCNM.

c.

students who are enrolled in an entry-level nursing education program⁵ identify themselves as a “student nurse” or “SN” when documenting or providing care or services to a client.

d.

students who are enrolled in an entry-level psychiatric nursing education program identify themselves as a “student psychiatric nurse” or “SPsycN” when documenting or providing care or services to a client.

19.

Students who are registered as an employed student nurse⁶ identify themselves as an “employed student nurse” or “ESN” when documenting or providing care or services to a client.

20.

Students who are registered as an employed student psychiatric nurse⁷ identify themselves as an “employed student psychiatric nurse” or “ESPN” when documenting or providing care or services to a client.

21.

Employed student registrants⁸ identify themselves as an “ESN” or “ESPN” when they are working in the employed student role, and use “student nurse” or “student psychiatric nurse” when providing care and documenting in the context of the education program.

22.

Nurses who use their title to advertise or market services or products comply with the BCCNM Bylaws.