It is our role to regulate nursing and midwifery practice with the interests of Nova Scotians as our top priority. One way we do this is to review, and if required, take action to address complaints we receive about the conduct, competence, health or behaviour of nurses and midwives licenced to practice in our province.
Upholding Practice Standards
We require that all licenced nurses and midwives in Nova Scotia adhere to standards of practice and a code of ethics. Each nurse and midwife licenced to practice in our province is required by NSNMR to renew their licence every year demonstrating that they are qualified to practice safely, competently, ethically and compassionately.
We have the responsibility and authority to investigate if an allegation is made that a nurse or midwife does not meet our standards for conduct, competence, health or behaviour. If necessary, we can place limitations on a registrant’s licence or, in serious situations, remove them from practice.
Complaints Against a Nurse
It is our role as a regulator, to make sure that nurses and midwives are meeting their standards and Codes of Ethics. While patients and members of the public are not responsible to determine if a nurse or midwife is safe and competent to practice, they can file a complaint with NSNMR if they feel public and/or patient safety are at risk.
If we receive a complaint about the conduct, competence, health or behaviour of a nurse or midwife, we will review the allegations to determine if we need to investigate whether the registrant has met the standards expected of them. In serious situations, we can take immediate action to remove the nurse or midwife from practice to protect the public.
Our Role
Our role is to regulate the practice of LPNs, RNs, RPNs, NPs, and midwives in the best interests of the public, which gives us the responsibility and authority to protect the public if standards are not upheld.
We strive to identify the root causes of poor practice and implement supports that improve practice with public protection as our top priority.
We believe that ensuring the public receives safe and quality care from nurses and midwives is a shared responsibility amongst individual registrants, employers, and NSNMR. We all share the goal of ensuring that nurses and midwives are competent to practice in Nova Scotia and that they remain competent to do so.
Our Customer Service Commitment
You can expect that we will treat you and your concerns with respect and courtesy while maintaining a confidential professional conduct process where all parties are treated fairly. We pride ourselves on finding new ways to improve our processes and are always open to receiving feedback and recommendations that allow us to do so. Learn more about our customer service commitment.