Ontario to Expand Nurse Practitioners' and Registered Nurses' Roles by 2025

The Ontario government has announced plans to expand the scope of practice for nurse practitioners and registered nurses. This initiative is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and aims to enhance healthcare delivery across the province.

The changes will allow nurse practitioners to perform additional medical procedures, including ordering and applying defibrillators and cardiac pacemakers, performing electrocoagulation for skin conditions, and certifying deaths in more circumstances. Registered nurses will also gain the ability to certify expected deaths, which is intended to streamline the process of death registration.

These adjustments are part of a broader strategy to improve healthcare access, particularly in Indigenous, rural, northern, and remote communities. The government has consulted with the College of Nurses of Ontario and other healthcare partners to facilitate these changes.

This expansion builds on previous investments, including a $500 million initiative to increase the nursing workforce and reduce barriers for internationally educated nurses. The government claims these efforts will provide more timely and convenient care for Ontarians.