On January 2, 2025, the new ‘Entry-Level Competencies for Nurse Practitioners’ take effect in Nova Scotia. The new Entry-Level Competencies will replace the existing 2016 version. The NSCN Board approved the adoption of the Canadian Council of Registered Nurse Regulators’ (CCRNR) Entry-Level Competencies (ELCs) and related by-law amendment in April 2023.
The ELCs are used for a number of regulatory processes, such as curriculum development and for public and employer awareness of the practice expectations and five role-based competencies required for entry-level NPs in Nova Scotia. The competencies describe the knowledge, skill, and judgement required of beginning practitioners to provide safe, competent, compassionate, and ethical nursing care. There are a total of 29 competencies grouped thematically under five roles:
- Clinician
- Leader
- Advocate
- Educator
- Scholar
In 2020, CCRNR initiated a process to update the ELCs, which are revised periodically to reflect the evolving needs of our health system and population, and to ensure the competencies are current, appropriate and relevant. The revisions to the new ELCs were informed by an environmental scan, literature reviews, and stakeholder consultation.
NSCN would like to thank the many NPs in Nova Scotia who provided feedback during the consultation phase in 2022 for helping to shape the new ‘Entry-Level Competencies for Nurse Practitioners’.
Learn more and download a copy of your ‘Entry-Level Competencies for Nurse Practitioners’ here.
