Proposed changes for graduate nurses will not improve patient safety

Proposed changes to how graduate nurses become Registered Nurses will create needless and expensive roadblocks while doing nothing to enhance patient safety, says Heather Smith, President of United Nurses of Alberta.

In a letter responding to the changes proposed by the College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CARNA), Smith outlined UNA’s opposition to the changes which, if passed, would not be in any way beneficial to the public or to the nursing profession.

"Nothing in the proposed change assists graduate nurses to make a transition to practice," wrote Smith. "In fact, the proposal does the opposite and places needless expensive roadblocks."

“The proposal merely punishes graduate nurses if they are not supervised - something over which they would have no control,” wrote Smith.

Here is the text of CARNA’s Proposal:

The Registered Nurses Profession Regulation be amended to require all new graduates and IENs applying to CARNA for licensure as a registered nurse be required, at minimum, to be on the temporary register under supervision for the equivalent of 4 months of full time employment and provide a satisfactory reference before being able to apply for full registration and licensure as a registered nurse.