Update on use of RN title in retirement

A resolution was passed at RNAO's 100th anniversary Annual General Meeting this past May calling for an “expansion of title protection to retired RNs.” RNAO - including members of the Retired Nurses Interest Group - met with the CEO of the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO), Sylvie Crawford, to discuss the resolution that RNs, in good standing, that are retired be able to call themselves RN (retired). We are pleased to inform you that in a recent letter from the college, the CNO clarified that, “When registered in the Non-Practicing Class, nurses may use the title ‘retired’ in conjunction with RPN, RN or NP (for example, Jane Doe, RN, retired)  - as long as they do not present themself as entitled to practice. The CNO further explains that: “Those [nurses] who have not maintained registration with CNO in their retirement do not have access to the protected titles. From a public safety standpoint, it is essential that all using the protected titles have oversight by CNO.”