Realities of Canadian Nursing (McDonald, 5th Ed.) - Study Guide:
2025/2026 Syllabus
Part 1: The Profession of Nursing in Canada
1. What is the primary goal of professional nursing regulation in Canada?
ANSWER: ✓ The primary goal is to protect the public. This is achieved by ensuring that
nurses are competent, ethical, and safe to practice, as mandated by provincial and
territorial regulatory bodies.
2. How does a "professional" identity differ from a "occupational" identity for
nurses?
ANSWER: ✓ A professional identity is characterized by self-regulation, a unique body of
knowledge, a code of ethics, and a commitment to public service. An occupational
identity is more task-oriented and lacks these autonomous, self-governing
characteristics.
3. What is the significance of the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) at the
national level?
ANSWER: ✓ The CNA advocates for the profession nationally, develops the Code of
Ethics for Registered Nurses, accredits nursing education programs, and administers the
Canadian Nurse Practitioner exam, influencing policy and standards across the country.
4. Describe the role of a provincial/territorial regulatory body (e.g., CRNBC, CRNS,
CNO).
ANSWER: ✓ These bodies are responsible for setting and enforcing standards of
practice, registering (licensing) qualified nurses, managing complaints and discipline,
and promoting continuing competence, all under specific legislation like a Nursing Act.
5. What are the three main categories of nurses in Canada?
ANSWER: ✓ Registered Nurses (RNs), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) / Registered
Practical Nurses (RPNs) in Ontario, and Registered Psychiatric Nurses (RPNs) in the four
western provinces.
6. How does the concept of "fitness to practice" extend beyond clinical
competence?
ANSWER: ✓ It includes a nurse's physical and mental health, conduct in their personal
life that could impact public trust, and adherence to ethical and legal standards,
ensuring they are safe to hold a license.
, 7. What is the purpose of the Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses in Canada?
ANSWER: ✓ It provides a moral framework and ethical guidance for nursing practice,
outlining values (such as health promotion, justice, and dignity) and responsibilities to
clients, the profession, and society.
8. Differentiate between a regulatory body and a union.
ANSWER: ✓ A regulatory body (e.g., CRNM) protects the public by setting standards
and disciplining members. A union (e.g., provincial nurses' union) protects the nurse by
negotiating wages, benefits, and working conditions.
9. What is the trend in Canadian nursing education, and why is it significant?
ANSWER: ✓ The move towards the Baccalaureate degree as the entry-to-practice
requirement for RNs. This is significant because it prepares nurses with a broader
knowledge base in critical thinking, research, leadership, and community health,
essential for modern healthcare complexities.
10. What is Continuing Competence and how is it typically demonstrated?
ANSWER: ✓ It is the ongoing ability to integrate knowledge, skill, and judgment into
practice. It is demonstrated through continuous learning, reflective practice, and
meeting requirements set by the regulatory body, such as submitting a annual learning
plan.
Part 2: Nursing Practice and Knowledge
11. Define evidence-informed practice (EIP) in nursing.
ANSWER: ✓ EIP is the process of integrating the best available research evidence with
clinical expertise, patient preferences and values, and available resources to make
decisions about patient care.
12. How does nursing theory contribute to professional practice?
ANSWER: ✓ It provides a systematic framework for defining, understanding, and
guiding nursing practice, education, and research, moving beyond task-based care to a
holistic, knowledge-driven profession.
13. What is the primary difference between a medical model and a nursing
model of care?
ANSWER: ✓ The medical model is primarily disease-oriented and curative, focusing on
diagnosis and treatment. The nursing model is health-oriented and holistic, focusing on
the person's response to illness and promoting overall well-being.
14. Describe the concept of cultural safety and its importance in Canadian nursing.
ANSWER: ✓ Cultural safety is an outcome based on respectful engagement where the
2025/2026 Syllabus
Part 1: The Profession of Nursing in Canada
1. What is the primary goal of professional nursing regulation in Canada?
ANSWER: ✓ The primary goal is to protect the public. This is achieved by ensuring that
nurses are competent, ethical, and safe to practice, as mandated by provincial and
territorial regulatory bodies.
2. How does a "professional" identity differ from a "occupational" identity for
nurses?
ANSWER: ✓ A professional identity is characterized by self-regulation, a unique body of
knowledge, a code of ethics, and a commitment to public service. An occupational
identity is more task-oriented and lacks these autonomous, self-governing
characteristics.
3. What is the significance of the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) at the
national level?
ANSWER: ✓ The CNA advocates for the profession nationally, develops the Code of
Ethics for Registered Nurses, accredits nursing education programs, and administers the
Canadian Nurse Practitioner exam, influencing policy and standards across the country.
4. Describe the role of a provincial/territorial regulatory body (e.g., CRNBC, CRNS,
CNO).
ANSWER: ✓ These bodies are responsible for setting and enforcing standards of
practice, registering (licensing) qualified nurses, managing complaints and discipline,
and promoting continuing competence, all under specific legislation like a Nursing Act.
5. What are the three main categories of nurses in Canada?
ANSWER: ✓ Registered Nurses (RNs), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) / Registered
Practical Nurses (RPNs) in Ontario, and Registered Psychiatric Nurses (RPNs) in the four
western provinces.
6. How does the concept of "fitness to practice" extend beyond clinical
competence?
ANSWER: ✓ It includes a nurse's physical and mental health, conduct in their personal
life that could impact public trust, and adherence to ethical and legal standards,
ensuring they are safe to hold a license.
, 7. What is the purpose of the Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses in Canada?
ANSWER: ✓ It provides a moral framework and ethical guidance for nursing practice,
outlining values (such as health promotion, justice, and dignity) and responsibilities to
clients, the profession, and society.
8. Differentiate between a regulatory body and a union.
ANSWER: ✓ A regulatory body (e.g., CRNM) protects the public by setting standards
and disciplining members. A union (e.g., provincial nurses' union) protects the nurse by
negotiating wages, benefits, and working conditions.
9. What is the trend in Canadian nursing education, and why is it significant?
ANSWER: ✓ The move towards the Baccalaureate degree as the entry-to-practice
requirement for RNs. This is significant because it prepares nurses with a broader
knowledge base in critical thinking, research, leadership, and community health,
essential for modern healthcare complexities.
10. What is Continuing Competence and how is it typically demonstrated?
ANSWER: ✓ It is the ongoing ability to integrate knowledge, skill, and judgment into
practice. It is demonstrated through continuous learning, reflective practice, and
meeting requirements set by the regulatory body, such as submitting a annual learning
plan.
Part 2: Nursing Practice and Knowledge
11. Define evidence-informed practice (EIP) in nursing.
ANSWER: ✓ EIP is the process of integrating the best available research evidence with
clinical expertise, patient preferences and values, and available resources to make
decisions about patient care.
12. How does nursing theory contribute to professional practice?
ANSWER: ✓ It provides a systematic framework for defining, understanding, and
guiding nursing practice, education, and research, moving beyond task-based care to a
holistic, knowledge-driven profession.
13. What is the primary difference between a medical model and a nursing
model of care?
ANSWER: ✓ The medical model is primarily disease-oriented and curative, focusing on
diagnosis and treatment. The nursing model is health-oriented and holistic, focusing on
the person's response to illness and promoting overall well-being.
14. Describe the concept of cultural safety and its importance in Canadian nursing.
ANSWER: ✓ Cultural safety is an outcome based on respectful engagement where the
