Bill No. 33, which amends the Registered Nurses Profession Act, received assent today in the Yukon Legislative Assembly. The amendment paves the way for flexible enrolment for registered nurses and nurse practitioners applying to work in the Yukon.
The Yukon Registered Nurses Association regulates these professions in the Yukon. The Yukon government worked closely with the Yukon Registered Nurses Association to make these changes, which enable new membership classes, ways to register qualifications for professions and support a full scope of practice for nurse practitioners in the regulation.
The Yukon’s regulatory framework will better reflect current practices in professional regulation and national trends for licensing and labour mobility. It also permits the Yukon Registered Nurses Association to enter into multi-jurisdictional agreements that will allow nurses and nurse practitioners to work in the territory sooner.
Regulations are being developed that will facilitate registration and licensing processes for registered nurses, nurse practitioners from other places, recent graduates and internationally educated nurses to apply directly to work in the Yukon. They will also permit student nurses to practice in the Yukon. Bill No. 33 will be proclaimed when the regulations are passed.
Nurses and nurse practitioners play an important role in serving the health care needs of all Yukoners. Removing barriers that make the Yukon a more attractive place to come practice is an advantage in this highly competitive market. It is also important that we retain the outstanding team that is already here, as we move forward in our commitment to improving Yukoners’ access to health care services.
Minister of Community Services Richard Mostyn
By passing Bill No. 33 and working with the Yukon Registered Nurses Association, we will streamline regulations and have increased our ability to welcome nurses and nurse practitioners to the territory. By making these changes, our government continues to take action in creating an inclusive and responsive Yukon health care system.
Minister of Health and Social Services Tracy-Anne McPhee
The term annual will be removed from the description of licences to add greater flexibility.
Renée Francoeur
Cabinet Communications
867-334-9194
renee.francoeur@yukon.ca
Bonnie Venton Ross
Communications, Community Services
867-332-5513
bonnie.ventonross@yukon.ca