FAQ
What is CACCN?
The Canadian Association of Critical Care Nurses (CACCN) is a volunteer organization founded to promote the education and interests of critical care nurses, their patients and families. CACCN has 11 Chapters across Canada and is governed by a board of directors made up of 2 representatives each from Western, Central and Eastern Canada and 1 representative from any of the three regions. The National Office is located in London Ontario. CACCN has one full time staff member, our Chief Operating Officer. Additional information can be found at CACCN.
What are the benefits of joining CACCN?
Membership in CACCN offers:
- A strong, unified voice for critical care nursing in Canada.
- Educational opportunities, with CEUs, provided at the local and national level.
- Opportunities to publish in "Dynamics: the Journal of the Canadian Association of Critical Care Nurses", with excellent coaching through our Clinical Editor, Paula Price and the Editorial Review Board. This journal remains the only peer reviewed critical care nursing journal in Canada.
- Opportunities for nurses to "tell their stories" and to present at a local or national level at Chapter education days or at our annual conference, "Dynamics of Critical Care".
- Opportunities for research funding.
- Opportunities for awards and scholarships such as the Educational Awards, the Chapter of the Year awards, the Innovative Project Awards, The Editorial awards, and the Certification Awards.
- Opportunities to network with peers.
- CACCN membership is tax deductible, as is the tuition portion of the Dynamics Conference fees.
- Opportunity to network with nurses from across the country on our Members Only Forum. How to access the Members Only Forum: click here
What is CNCC(C) and CNCCP(C)?
Certified Nurse in Critical Care (Canada), (CNCC(C)) and Certified Nurse in Critical Care Pediatrics (Canada), (CNCCP(C)) is the designation for critical care nurses who write the certification examination for critical care. This examination is developed and administered by the Canadian Nurses Association as one of the many specialty designations available to nurses in Canada.
CACCN has worked closely with CNA to develop the initial examinations for adult and paediatric critical care and continues to collaborate with CNA to revise and promote the examinations.
Applications to write the examination or renew your credentials must be submitted to CNA in the fall of each year and the exam is written in April.
For information on writing the examination please visit our CNCC(C) and CNCCP(C) webpage.
Do I have to write the critical care certification exam to be a member of CACCN?
While CACCN does encourage nurses to write the examination as a means of promoting professional development, this is not a requirement of CACCN Membership. National certification also serves as public recognition of a standard for the knowledge required for nurses working in critical care.
What is CNA?
The Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) is the national association for all nurses in Canada. Membership in CNA is included in your provincial registration that you renew each year for all provinces except Ontario and Quebec. CACCN is an affiliate group of CNA as are many other nursing associations across Canada. This allows us to network with other nursing groups and to be aware of the activities and challenges of nurses in all scopes of practice across Canada.
Do I have to be a member of CNA to be a member of CACCN?
No, you can join CACCN even if you are not a member of CNA. For membership classifications/definitions and chapter boundary information, please visit CACCN.
I am interested in working in Canada as a critical care nurse. What am I required to do?
For information on working in Canada, please contact the Canadian Nurses Association directly. CNA will provide information specific to the province you wish to practice in and for the requirements to practice in Canada.
Does CACCN set standards for the nurse to patient ratio for practice?
CACCN does not set a specific standard for nurse to patient ratio as there are numerous factors that must be taken into account when considering safe patient care. The physical design of the unit, the patient population, the experience of the nursing staff, the availability and type of support from allied health, and the acuity of the patient all need to be considered in determining the appropriate staffing ratio. CACCN does recognize the growing body of literature supporting better patient outcomes are achieved with lower nurse to patient ratios.