College of Nurses of Ontario

College of Nurses of Ontario As the governing body for Ontario's 180,000+ nurses, we register nurses, help them maintain competence, and set and enforce practice standards.

We partner with employers, educators and government so that all Ontarians benefit from safe nursing care. The College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) is the governing body for Registered Nurses (RNs), Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) and Nurse Practitioners (NPs) in Ontario, Canada. Our purpose is to protect the public by promoting safe nursing practice. CNO fulfils its role by:
*establishing requirements for entry to practice
*articulating and promoting practice standards
*administering its Quality Assurance Program
*enforcing standards of practice and conduct

CNO also supports the regulation of nursing in the public interest by:
*participating in the legislative process
*sharing statistical information about Ontario’s nurses

CNO works in partnership with employers, educators and government so that everyone in Ontario benefits from quality nursing services. CNO aims to prevent harm by identifying potential sources and addressing them before they can negatively impact the public. We are committed to a whole-system approach to nursing regulation and working with you to make a greater collective impact on the patient care system. Community Guidelines

CNO welcomes respectful engagement. Comments containing hate, spam, or personal matters will be removed. Read our full guidelines here: https://collegeofnurses.org/m/guidelines

Understanding your scope of practice and professional accountabilities is an essential part of safe nursing care. This i...
01/20/2026

Understanding your scope of practice and professional accountabilities is an essential part of safe nursing care. This is especially important when it comes to controlled acts, which are governed by legislation and vary by role.

In Ontario, RNs and RPNs are not authorized to perform the controlled act of communicating a diagnosis. There are some exceptions, like if the controlled act is delegated to them by a physician or NP, or if an RN with prescribing authority communicates a diagnosis in order to prescribe a medication.

Learn more: https://collegeofnurses.org/3Zi1QQS

Maintain Your Membership and Find a Nurse will be down for scheduled maintenance on Tuesday, Jan. 20 from 7 p.m. until W...
01/20/2026

Maintain Your Membership and Find a Nurse will be down for scheduled maintenance on Tuesday, Jan. 20 from 7 p.m. until Wednesday, Jan. 21 at 5 a.m.

You will not be able to search for a nurse on Find a Nurse, log into your account or create or view an application during these hours.

Thank you for your patience.

Can nurses work in different roles without dual registration? Yes, this is a common practice!Dual registration is not re...
01/19/2026

Can nurses work in different roles without dual registration? Yes, this is a common practice!

Dual registration is not required for a nurse to work in a different role. However, it does permit nurses to use both titles. For example, an RN can work in an RPN role, but they cannot call themselves an RPN. An NP could also work as an RN. As the nursing regulator, CNO does not restrict this.

If you're interested in working in a different role, clarify scope and responsibilities with your employer, as there may be workplace policies in place. Learn more: https://collegeofnurses.org/45glO1V

This International Mentoring Day, join us in celebrating the nurses who share their knowledge, experience and profession...
01/17/2026

This International Mentoring Day, join us in celebrating the nurses who share their knowledge, experience and professional judgement to mentor and support their peers!

Mentorship is one of the many ways nurses support each other. By helping learners in developing and refining competencies needed for safe and ethical care, nurses across Ontario help their colleagues grow and thrive in practice.

Are you supporting a learner in your practice setting? These resources can help: https://collegeofnurses.org/3Np1nda

Is implementing a directive the same as prescribing? No, they're different.Prescribing is the act of writing an order fo...
01/16/2026

Is implementing a directive the same as prescribing? No, they're different.

Prescribing is the act of writing an order for a procedure, treatment, drug or intervention, and only applies to an individual patient. A directive is a written order given to a nurse, allowing them to perform an activity or procedure for multiple patients under certain conditions.

Learn more: https://collegeofnurses.org/3Hgwm8x

The Nurses’ Health Program offers a proven approach for helping nurses experiencing substance use or mental health disor...
01/15/2026

The Nurses’ Health Program offers a proven approach for helping nurses experiencing substance use or mental health disorders. The program offers a supportive approach that reduces stigma and focuses on recovery, while safeguarding the public. Read more at nurseshealth.ca

The Nurses’ Health Program is supported by the College of Nurses of Ontario, the Ontario Nurses' Association, the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario, and the Registered Practical Nurses Association of Ontario.

Nursing is all about collaboration! Building and maintaining respectful relationships within the health care team is ess...
01/09/2026

Nursing is all about collaboration! Building and maintaining respectful relationships within the health care team is essential to safe nursing practice.

This includes providing and accepting feedback from the health care team to support positive client outcomes and effective team performance. This principle is outlined in the Code of Conduct that all nurses in Ontario are expected to follow, supporting professional, respectful and safe care.

Learn more:https://cno.org/Assets/CNO/Documents/Standard-and-Learning/Practice-Standards/49040_code-of-conduct.pdf =11

01/08/2026

We’re pleased to invite nurses to our upcoming interactive webinar, Nurses Leading in Long-Term Care: Embracing Regulatory Changes and Quality Assurance, hosted with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO).

This session will provide practical insights to support nursing practice, including:
• A clear overview of revisions to the documentation practice standard
• What’s new, what’s coming, and what remains unchanged in nursing practice
• An opportunity to ask questions and engage directly with CNO experts

Designed for nurses working in long-term care, this webinar will help you stay informed and confident in navigating regulatory change.

⏳ Spots are limited! Register today: https://ow.ly/w89050XNqGA

Stay safe this flu season! From practicing proper hand hygiene to administering vaccinations, nurses play an important r...
01/07/2026

Stay safe this flu season! From practicing proper hand hygiene to administering vaccinations, nurses play an important role in preventing the spread of infection.

Ensuring the use of safe, effective and ethical infection prevention and control measures is an important part of nursing care. This means staying informed about CNO standards, legislation, best practices and employer policies.

Looking for resources? Visit our website: https://collegeofnurses.org/499QzrQ

💻 You might be using AI in your practice without even realizing it. From scheduling tools and meeting summaries to diagn...
01/06/2026

💻 You might be using AI in your practice without even realizing it. From scheduling tools and meeting summaries to diagnostic support, AI is becoming a significant part of health care delivery.

While AI can enhance nursing practice, it doesn’t replace a nurse’s knowledge, skill or judgment. Before using AI in your practice, make sure you understand what it is and how to use it responsibly.

Visit: https://collegeofnurses.org/4q6N6zX

🔔 As of Jan. 1, 2026, CNO's new automatic recognition initiative is in effect, which allows nurses already registered in...
01/05/2026

🔔 As of Jan. 1, 2026, CNO's new automatic recognition initiative is in effect, which allows nurses already registered in another Canadian jurisdiction to become registered with CNO in just two business days.

This new process enables nurses to quickly and safely begin their practice in Ontario, strengthening the province's health care workforce. Visit our website to learn more: https://www.cno.org/news/streamlining-how-canadas-nurses-register-with-cno

Address

101 Davenport Road
Toronto, ON
M5R3P1

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+18003875526

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Our Story

Recognized internationally as a leader in professional regulation, the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) protects the public interest by: • setting standards for nursing practice • establishing the requirements for becoming a Registered Nurse, Registered Practical Nurse, Nurse Practitioner • administering a program that helps nurses maintain competence • enforcing the standards of practice and conduct. Our Vision Leading in regulatory excellence Our Mission Regulating nursing in the public interest

Founded: in 1963