NANB New Nursing Act 

In order to create a single mandate nursing regulator for New Brunswick (NB) and better serve the public of NB, NANB has been in the process of revising the existing Nurses Act (1984).

• Distinct scopes of practice and entry to practice requirements for each designation.

o Nurses Act becomes the Nursing Act.

o Nurses Association of New Brunswick (NANB) becomes College of Nursing of New Brunswick (CNNB).

1) “Members” of NANB will be referred to as “registrants” of the new CNNB.

2) Bylaws will be passed by the Board and not by “members”. New Bylaws and Bylaw changes will include public and registrant consultation. This will allow for timely responses to regulatory matters.

3) There will be no “Annual General Meeting” of members, but there will be an Annual Meeting allowing for sharing of progress and business of CNNB. As always, registrants and members of the public will be able to submit concerns, participate in committees and consultation activities, and the same information given at AGMs will continue to be published.

4) Reference in Nurses Act to “providing for the welfare of members” will not be incorporated in the new Act to align with the mandate of public protection.

o Greater number of public representatives on the Board.

o Movement toward an appointment process for Board Directors.

o Scope of RNs and NPs updated to reflect current practice and roles.

o Scope can be modified through Bylaws passed by the Minister, without needing to change the Act.

o Concept of “expanded scope of practice” introduced which will allow for activities such as RN prescribing.

o Separate processes for registration (one time process) and licensing (annual basis).

o Reduction in categories of registration.

o Ability to add categories, for example allowing for Registered Psychiatric Nurses to become licensed in NB.

o Currency of practice requirements simplified and harmonized across registration categories.

o Ability to waive registration and licensing criteria where consistent with public interest.

o Introduces more options for resolution of complaints.

o Better distinguishes the Fitness to Practice process from discipline process to address issues of “incapacity” (addiction, physical, and mental health issues).