Consultation Overview
The Help Shape NSCN’s Future Regulatory Work Consultation invited stakeholders to participate in a survey on draft Right Touch regulation guiding principles from April 11 – May 23, 2024.
NSCN is committed to principles-based innovation to promote regulatory excellence and efficiency. We are guided by the Right Touch approach to regulation that uses the minimum regulatory force needed to achieve the desired results. We developed a series of guiding principles that more fully define what Right Touch regulation means to NSCN, on behalf of the public.
The guiding principles are rooted in Right Touch regulation and enable NSCN to:
- make decisions regarding the efficient use of resources that focus on advancing public safety;
- articulate a consistent rationale for new policies and processes that are in line with organizational direction; and
- foster innovation in the interests of the public.
Stakeholders had the opportunity to help us shape these foundational guiding principles in the consultation survey.
Consultation Participation and Response
The consultation was shared via direct email, the NSCN website, social media and newsletter in early April with reminders in May. We invited the public, registrants and other stakeholders including nursing regulatory bodies, other regulated health professions, etc. to participate in our right touch regulation guiding principles survey over a month and a half.
There were 264 completed survey responses, and 566 total responses (including partially complete). The information below is based on completed survey responses.
Impact on the Project
The overall response to the draft guiding principles was very positive:
- Nearly 84% of respondents agree or strongly agree that the principles promote the publics’ interests. Only 5% disagree or strongly disagree, with the remainder being neutral.
- For each individual principle, we asked participants whether they agreed that it was appropriate to guide NSCN’s regulatory work. The responses ranged from 78% to 87% agree or strongly agree.
Given the support for the guiding principles, NSCN does not intend to make significant changes. However, there will be some revisions to better communicate the purpose and meaning of the principles.
Additionally, there were other themes that emerged from respondent feedback which provide insightful information for future work with the guiding principles. The themes included:
- Interest in how NSCN will implement the guiding principles
- The delicate balance of risk tolerance and proportionality
- The importance of consistency in NSCN’s regulatory response
- The role of evidence-based decision-making and connection between NSCN and the clinical practice environment
- NSCN’s leadership role
- Collaboration with employers to meet the shared responsibility of safe nursing practice
Next Steps/Conclusion
The NSCN Executive Leadership team approved the final guiding principles in July 2024.
NSCN will be incorporating the guiding principles into our future work, and initiatives to support this implementation will continue to be an ongoing priority.
Stay tuned for more information on this work on our website, social media and in our upcoming newsletters.
