The College of Nurses of New Brunswick (CNNB) is pleased to recognize an important milestone in the evolution of nursing in New Brunswick: the establishment of the Nurses and Nurse Practitioners Association of New Brunswick (NNPANB) as an independent professional association for registered nurses and nurse practitioners.
This milestone reflects the importance of both strong public-interest regulation and a strong professional voice for registered nurses (RNs) and nurse practitioners (NPs). These roles are complementary, but distinct.
One regulatory mandate: public protection
Consistent with the principle of best practice in regulation and trends across the country, CNNB's role is to regulate the nursing profession in the public interest. The regulator is not a professional advocacy or membership organization but exists to protect the public through regulating RNs and NPs.
At the same time, CNNB recognizes the important contribution that professional nursing organizations make to the profession. RNs and NPs benefit from having an independent organization that can bring their collective professional voice forward, advance the profession, and represent the interests of its members.
It is in recognition of these distinct and important roles that CNNB has supported the establishment of an independent professional association.
A considered approach to establishing an association
In considering how best to support the transition to an independent association, the CNNB Board carefully considered a number of factors, including:
- CNNB's fiduciary duty to the organization and its public-protection mandate, as well as it’s fiduciary responsibilities associated with any transfer of funds;
- the previous good-faith allocation of $250,000 toward start-up funding for an association, as well as invoices previously paid in kind to support the development of the association;
- collaboration, meetings and presentations made to the Board by association representatives which included the proposed three-year business plan;
- the long-term sustainability of the association;
- the importance of financial support for nursing students being educated in New Brunswick;
- the existence of a successful voluntary membership nursing association in New Brunswick, the Nurse Practitioner Association of New Brunswick (NPNB) and potential for the partnership and merger with NPNB; and
- a review of approaches taken in other Canadian nursing jurisdictions regarding financial support provided to associations following the dissolution of a dual mandate.
Following extensive consideration and discussions with association representatives, the CNNB Board approved a proposed offer. After further negotiations, the terms were mutually agreed upon and finalized by both parties.
A three-year commitment to the new association
Under the finalized agreement, CNNB will provide $900,000 in start-up funding to the NNPANB over three years to support the establishment and development of the independent professional association.
The agreement also provides for the transition of existing bursary obligations to the association, with the NNPANB having full discretion regarding how those obligations are administered going forward.
To promote transparency and accountability, the agreement includes reporting requirements, including the provision of an annual report and audited financial statements.
This agreement represents a significant milestone. It establishes a clear separation between the regulatory role of CNNB and the professional association role of the NNPANB, while recognizing that both organizations have an important place within the nursing profession.
CNNB respects and values the contributions of all nursing organizations in New Brunswick and the unique role each plays in supporting nurses, nurse practitioners, nursing students, and the broader profession. The establishment of the NNPANB provides an opportunity for RNs and NPs to have a strong, independent professional association while allowing CNNB to remain focused on its fundamental responsibility: protecting the public through effective nursing regulation.
CNNB looks forward to this next chapter and to continuing to work collaboratively alongside nursing organizations across New Brunswick in support of a strong, accountable, and sustainable nursing profession.
