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​​​​​An important part of being a health professional is self-assessment. Nurses regularly reflect on their practice and ask themselves what  they're doing well and w​hat they'd like to improve.

This reflection can be as simple as analyzing a situation with a challenging client earlier in the day or thinking about how to apply a new communication strategy they learned at a lunch-and-learn session.

A formal approach

There is also value in approaching self-assessment in a structured way. To support this strategy, nurses registered with BCCNM complete an annual self-assessment questionnaire as part of registration renewal.

The questionnaire is based on the professional standards relevant to their designation and is an opportunity to complete a thorough assessment of their practice.

Why a questionnaire? 

The self-assessment questionnaire encourages nurses to think about how effectively they are meeting their professional standards. This questionnaire also forms the basis of the colleague questionnaire, which is completed by nurses' colleagues when they participate in multisou​rce feedback. Nurses who work more than 50% of their time in clinical areas should select the clinical​ questionnair​e; those who don't should choose the non-clinical.

​Continuous professional development 

Nurses continue this reflection throughout the year by focusing on the standards that have specific relevance to their practice. For instance, a nurse working on a new unit with an unfamiliar charting system may review the Documentation practice standard to ensure they are familiar with the principles. Another might refer to the professional standards relevant to their designation to confirm the standards of ethical behaviour expected of nurses.​​

The questionnaires

It's a good idea to review the self-assessment questionnaires before registration renewal. NPs should reflect on what areas of their practice they would like to focus on when setting their professional development goals for the year. 

NPs who work more than 50% of their time in clinical areas should select the clinical questionnaire; those who don't should choose the non-clinical. A reminder that these questionnaires are completed during the registration renewal process. The questionnaires provided here are for reference only.

​A​​dditional requirement for NPs

Critical review of client docum​entation

NP self-assessment can include a review of client documentation with a focus on evaluating client health-care management and outcomes against appropriate evidence. NPs should target practice areas related to diagnosing and treating, including prescribing, such as:

  • A common and predictable diagnostic category in practice (different each year)
  • A less common diagnostic category (different each year)
  • Critical incidents in practice for the year​

​Have a question?​​​

​​​All practising registrants interested in QA support are encouraged to contact us:

900 – 200 Granville St
Vancouver, BC  V6C 1S4
Canada

info@bccnm​.ca
604.742.6200​
​Toll-free 1.866.880.7101 (within Canada only) ​


We acknowledge the rights and title of the First Nations on whose collective unceded territories encompass the land base colonially known as British Columbia. We give specific thanks to the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ speaking peoples the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations and the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh-ulh Sníchim speaking Peoples the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), on whose unceded territories BCCNM’s office is located. We also give thanks for the medicines of these territories and recognize that laws, governance, and health systems tied to these lands and waters have existed here for over 9000 years.

We also acknowledge the unique and distinct rights, including rights to health and wellness, of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples from elsewhere in Canada who now live in British Columbia. As leaders in the settler health system, we acknowledge our responsibilities to these rights under international, national, and provincial law.​