Don't go to work October 1 without renewing your AARN registration

Your 2004 Registration Renewal form will be mailed to you the last week of July.

Renew by September 1st

AARN has set an administrative deadline of Sept. 1, 2003 to allow sufficient time to process and approve registration renewal forms from our more than 25,000 members. Completing your registration form and submitting it with the appropriate fee by Sept. 1, 2003 allows the AARN to process your renewal and issue your licence by Oct. 1, 2003.

Online Renewal

Your password to access online renewal services will once again be preprinted on your registration renewal form in the top right corner by your registration number. You will be prompted to change this password if you did not do so last year. You may also change your password again, if you wish, by selecting the menu item provided when you enter the site. Please keep a record of your chosen password, as you will need it to access registration, the library (CINAHL), and other online services that the AARN may develop in the future.

Reinstatement Fee

As in previous years, all forms received by the AARN after midnight on September 30 will be charged a reinstatement fee of $50 for processing in the new membership year. If you are not renewing your registration this year, you can avoid the reinstatement fee by indicating your intention and the reason why either on your form or online.

Disclaimer Statement

The AARN registration renewal form includes a disclaimer statement advising you that the AARN is not responsible for any disruption in the delivery system (mail, courier or electronic).

Certificate Courses

Completion of a certification course of more than 300 hours in the 2003 membership year is reported by simply ticking the box provided on the form. Names of certification courses will not be recorded or printed on the renewal form.

What's New for 2004

Education hours

For "Registered Nurses" and "Certified Graduate Nurses"

Education in nursing consists of "planned learning experiences undertaken following a basic nursing education program." These planned learning experiences may include:

* a college or university course completed toward a degree in nursing

* a college or university course completed toward a post-registration clinical diploma or certificate

* a post-registration clinical course provided by a health care agency

* a short certification course, workshop, or in-service will continue to be recognized as the actual number of hours per workshop and/or in-service.

You may only report classroom and clinical hours, but not hours spent in preparation (studying, homework, assignments).

PLEASE NOTE: Education activities undertaken on employer-paid time can be counted as either education OR worked hours, but not both.

Formal education

RNs pursuing formal course work are now eligible to report an increased number of hours for each credit from the previous 13 hours per credit to 60 hours per credit for courses completed after Oct. 1, 2002. Nursing education hours that have been submitted and recorded by the AARN for previous years will remain unchanged.

Part-time students must have a minimum of 600 hours of employed nursing practice and may claim maximum of 525 continuing nursing education hours towards the 1,125 hours required in a five-year membership period.

Full-time students must have a minimum of 600 hours of employed nursing practice and may claim a maximum of 1,625 nursing practice hours per academic year in continuing nursing education hours in a five-year membership period.

PLEASE NOTE: The Registration Committee may ask for transcripts showing credit rating of courses to support hours claimed by both full-time and part-time students.

Volunteer hours

Volunteer time within the scope of nursing practice, for which some type of remuneration was received, and for which the member is accountable to a supervisory person, may be reported as hours of satisfactory nursing practice for the purpose of registration renewal. Members should maintain specific documentation on these volunteer hours.

PLEASE NOTE: Members may claim a maximum of 112 volunteer hours in a five-year membership period.

Associate and RN (Retired) Members

Associate and Registered Nurse (Retired) members are ineligible to claim continuing education hours.

Nurse Practitioners on the AARN Extended Practice Roster

In June 2003, the AARN sent a self-assessment questionnaire to all Nurse Practitioner members. You must complete and submit this questionnaire along with your registration renewal form in order to renew your membership on the AARN Extended Practice Roster.

Only registered nurses who have received notification from the AARN of acceptance onto the Extended Practice Roster may separate out and report their nurse practitioner practicing hours in the space provided on the registration renewal form.

Online Renewal

Online renewal services have been expanded. They will not be disconnected after midnight on September 30 as in previous years, and will be accessible throughout the year. For example, if you are returning from maternity leave and need to change your status from non-practicing to practicing, or if you are late in renewing and need to reinstate your licence, you will now be able to renew online at your convenience. Applicable fees will apply.