Notice of Proposed Bylaw Revisions for the College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CARNA)

In September 2003, Provincial Council approved the College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CARNA) bylaws, which will come into effect once the Health Professions Act (HPA) is proclaimed for registered nurses. At the November 2003 meeting, Provincial Council considered additional revisions to increase the clarity and consistency of the CARNA bylaws in the following subject areas:

1. transition of members from Nursing Profession Act (NPA) to Health Professions Act

2. confidentiality of information

3. role of the Registration Review Committee

4. duties and powers of the Registrar, Registration Committee and Competence Committee

5. process for reinstatement

6. duties and powers of the Complaints Director and Hearings Director

7. publication of conduct information

8. delegation of the Appeals Committee

9. appeals Committee as a Panel of Provincial Council

10. adopting and amending the AARN Code of Ethics and Nursing Practice Standards

Members are invited to review the proposed revisions to the CARNA bylaws and provide feedback to your region's AARN Provincial Council member by March 11, 2004. If you have questions or concerns regarding any of the changes, you may contact AARN at 780.451.0043 or toll-free 1.800.252.9392.

Provincial Council will vote on the following revisions at its March 2004 meeting.

1. Transition of members from Nursing Profession Act (NPA) to Health Professions Act (HPA)

Regulated members under NPA are deemed to be regulated members under HPA. This includes RNs, CGNs, temporary and courtesy members. However, the transition of non-regulated members (Associate, Student, RN Retired, Initial non-practicing and Honourary) is not provided for in the regulations, and must be addressed in the bylaws.

APPROVED CARNA BYLAW

12.1 ADDITIONAL CATEGORIES ESTABLISHED

The following categories of non-regulated membership in the College are established:

(a) an associate member;

(b) a nursing student member;

(c) a registered nurse (retired) member;

(d) an initial non-practicing member;

(e) an honourary member.

PROPOSED CARNA BYLAW

Add the following as subsection (2):

(2) On the coming into force of the Act, an individual registered on the register or roster for any of the above categories under the Nursing Profession Act is deemed to be a non-regulated member of the category under the Health Professions Act.

2. Confidentiality of Information

The changes highlighted below will ensure consistency in the bylaws regarding confidentiality requirements for all regulatory committees.

APPROVED CARNA BYLAW

17.8 CONFIDENTIALITY

(1) Information respecting applications under the Act, the regulations or these bylaws that is received by a member of the Registration Committee shall be kept confidential by that member.

18.7 CONFIDENTIALITY

(3) The Registrar shall not disclose any information respecting a matter before the Registration Review Committee unless the information is required to be disclosed for the purpose of the Act, the regulations or the bylaws, or as otherwise required by law.

(4) The Registration Review Committee may authorize the disclosure of information for statistical use when the information cannot be attributed to a particular individual.

19.8 CONFIDENTIALITY

(3) The Competence Committee may authorize the disclosure of information for statistical use when the information cannot be attributed to a particular individual or facility.

PROPOSED BYLAW

Insert new section (2):

(2) Information given to the Registration Committee shall be disclosed only in accordance with the Act, the regulations, the bylaws or as otherwise required by law.

Re-number subsequent sections accordingly

Insert new section (3):

(3) Information given to the Registration Review Committee shall be disclosed only in accordance with the Act, the regulations, the bylaws or as otherwise required by law.

(4) The Registration Review Committee may authorize the disclosure of information for statistical use when the information cannot be attributed to a particular individual or facility.

Re-number current section (3) as new section (5)

Insert new section (3):

(3) Information given to the Competence Committee shall be disclosed only in accordance with the Act, the regulations, the bylaws or as otherwise required by law.

Re-number current section (3) as new section (4)

22.6 CONFIDENTIALITY

Each member of the Appeals Committee shall keep information received as a member of the Committee confidential. Information regarding a matter before the Appeals Committee shall be published or otherwise released only in accordance with the Act, regulations and these bylaws.

23.8 CONFIDENTIALITY

(3) The Hearing Tribunal may authorize the disclosure of information for statistical use when the information cannot be attributed to a particular individual.

24.7 CONFIDENTIALITY

(3) The Complaint Review Committee may authorize the disclosure of information for statistical use when the information cannot be attributed to a particular individual.

CONFIDENTIALITY

(1) Each member of the Appeals Committee shall keep information received as a member of the Committee confidential.