Scope of Practice
College of Nurses Of The Northwest and Nunavut - Select your designation below
The Scope of Practice for Registered Nurses defines the knowledge, skills, and judgment RNs apply across four domains of practice: clinical practice, education, administration, and research. It includes a decision-making framework to guide individual scope determinations and case studies that illustrate how the framework applies in northern practice settings.
Scope of Practice Document
Scope of Practice — Registered Nurses and Nurse Practitioners
Covers domains of practice, key components, framework for decision making, assignment and delegation, public protection, and case studies for RN and NP practice.
Published January 2019 · RNANT/NU (now CNNN)
What this means for your practice
- Your scope is shaped by legislation, your employer's policies, and your individual competence — all three must align before performing an activity.
- You are accountable for knowing and working within your scope. When in doubt, refer to the decision-making framework in the document.
- Community Health Nurses in the NWT and NU work in a primary health care role and may practise with greater autonomy — employer guidelines govern expanded functions.
- You cannot delegate nursing judgment or activities that require RN-level critical decision making.
- Seeking clarification about your scope is not misconduct. Contact CNNN if you have questions.
The Scope of Practice for Licensed Practical Nurses defines the breadth of knowledge, skills, and professional judgment that LPNs apply in their roles. It is both a foundational framework for safe, competent, and ethical care and a flexible tool that empowers LPNs to adapt their practice to meet client needs in collaboration with their healthcare team.
Scope of Practice Document
Scope of Practice — Licensed Practical Nurses
Covers legislation and regulation, the three-factor framework (nurse, client, environment), regulatory, employer, and individual scope, and a critical thinking guide for scope of practice decisions.
Last updated April 2026 · CNNN
Understanding LPN Scope
An LPN’s scope of practice is determined by three layers working together:
- Regulatory Scope - Set by the Nursing Profession Act (NWT, 2023) and Nursing Professions Act (Nunavut, 2023). LPNs focus on clients with stable or predictable states of health, with the ability to care for unstable clients under the supervision of an RN, NP, or medical practitioner.
- Employer Scope - Defined through employer policies, job descriptions, and guidelines. Activities authorized at one setting may not be authorized at another. LPNs must know and understand their current employer's requirements.
- Individual Scope - Defined by each LPN's personal knowledge, skills, and experience. LPNs are accountable for building competence through education and practice.
What this means for your practice
- All three scopes — regulatory, employer, and individual — must align before performing an activity.
- Use the Three-Factor Framework in the document to guide individual scope decisions.
- Advanced tasks or competencies must be supported by employer training and education.
- You are responsible for knowing your employer's policies and seeking guidance when uncertain.
- Seeking clarification about your scope is not misconduct. Contact CNNN if you have questions.
The Scope of Practice for Nurse Practitioners defines the advanced nursing knowledge, skills, and judgment NPs apply in their roles. NPs have an expanded scope that includes diagnosing, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests, prescribing, and performing procedures authorized under Minister-approved guidelines. This tab includes both the Scope of Practice document and the NP Practice and Prescriptive Guidelines.
Scope of Practice Document
Scope of Practice — Registered Nurses and Nurse Practitioners
Covers domains of practice, key components, framework for decision making, assignment and delegation, public protection, and case studies for NP and RN practice. NP-specific sections address advanced scope, prescriptive authority, and extended clinical functions.
Published January 2019 · RNANT/NU (now CNNN)
NP Practice and Prescriptive Guidelines
Practice and Prescriptive Guidelines for Nurse Practitioners — Northwest Territories
This Minister-approved document outlines the diagnostic, procedural, and prescriptive authority of Nurse Practitioners in the Northwest Territories. Covers authorized diagnostic and imaging tests, laboratory tests, procedures, and prescriptive authority including controlled substances.
Approved by the Minister of Health and Social Services, GNWT · March 2017 · Originally issued under RNANT/NU, remains in effect under CNNN
What this means for your practice
- NPs have an advanced scope that extends beyond the RN scope — including diagnosing, ordering and interpreting tests, and prescribing drugs authorized under Minister-approved guidelines.
- Prescriptive authority covers drugs on the Prescription Drug List, NAPRA Schedule I controlled substances, and vaccines as outlined in the Canadian Immunization Guide.
- Use the decision-making framework in the Scope of Practice document to determine whether a specific activity falls within your individual scope.
- The Prescriptive Guidelines apply to the NWT only — contact CNNN for guidance on Nunavut-specific prescriptive authority questions.
- Seeking clarification about your scope is not misconduct. Contact CNNN if you have questions.
- Document Under Review
The RPN Scope of Practice document is currently under review. An updated version will be published on this page once the review is complete. For questions about RPN scope of practice in the Northwest Territories or Nunavut, contact CNNN at info@cannn.ca or 867-688-8255.
What We Can Tell You Now
While the updated document is being finalized, the following principles apply to RPN scope of practice under CNNN’s regulatory framework:
- RPNs practise under the Nursing Profession Act (NWT, 2023) and Nursing Professions Act (Nunavut, 2023).
- RPN scope is shaped by regulatory requirements, employer policies, and individual competence — all three must align before performing an activity.
- RPNs are accountable for practising within their individual competence and seeking guidance when uncertain.
- CNNN's Code of Conduct and Standards of Practice apply to all RPNs regardless of practice setting.
What this means for your practice
- Check back on this page for the updated Scope of Practice document when it is published.
- In the meantime, contact CNNN directly with specific scope of practice questions.
- Seeking clarification about your scope is not misconduct. CNNN is here to support you.
Questions about scope of practice? Contact CNNN at info@cannn.ca or 867-688-8255.
