The Government of Saskatchewan is removing more than 240 clinical policy barriers in an effort to maximize the scope of practice for thousands of nurses across the province.
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The immediate policy rollbacks, which took effect on May 15, specifically target restrictions on Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), Registered Psychiatric Nurses (RPNs) and Nurse Practitioners (NPs).
The province and the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) say the changes are designed to allow qualified nurses to work to the full extent of their education and legislated training.
Health minister Jeremy Cockrill said the move is part of the province’s Patients First Health Care Plan and aims to improve how care is delivered.
“By removing more than 240 policy barriers, we are maximizing the contribution of LPNs, RPNs and NPs, and strengthening how care is delivered across our health system,” Cockrill said in a statement.
The SHA has launched a phased approach to standardize remaining clinical standards and nursing policies by Sept. 30. This standardization will focus on day-to-day medical duties, including intravenous care, pain management support and the deployment of medication delivery devices.
Derek Miller, the SHA’s chief operating officer, said updating these standards is a critical step in building stronger team-based care environments.
“These are important steps in strengthening team-based care and will enable health care teams to base practice decisions on modern standards,” Miller said.
The regulatory bodies representing Saskatchewan’s nursing sectors voiced strong support for the policy updates, noting that allowing nurses to practice at the top of their expertise will help alleviate growing system-wide workforce pressures and reduce patient wait times.
More than 15,240 nurses currently work within SHA hospitals, long-term care facilities and community health settings. Government officials noted that all standard updates will be paired with additional clinical education and competency validation where required.
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