Managing Risk and Ensuring Quality: Nova Scotia's Framework for Regulatory Excellence

The College of Registered Nurses of Nova Scotia, the regulatory body for registered nurses and nurse practitioners in Nova Scotia, developed an integrated regulatory excellence framework that addresses risk management, quality assurance, and quality improvement. Quality and risk management are the currency of effective regulation, especially given the increasing scrutiny by the government, the public, and the media. The public and other stakeholders do not always perceive regulatory decisions as being in the public interest, but rather see them as self-serving.