Education blog

The Pressure Every Registered Nurse in Regina Faces

If you’re a registered nurse in Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan Registered Nurses’ Association (SRNA) requires you to demonstrate ongoing competence as part of your annual licence renewal. That means continuing education isn’t optional — it’s part of staying licensed to practise. But the landscape of available courses, accepted formats, and how to efficiently meet requirements without burning out is something a lot of nurses in Regina find genuinely confusing, particularly those early in their careers or returning after a leave.

The good news is that Regina’s options have expanded significantly in recent years, with the University of Regina, the Saskatchewan Polytechnic campus, and a growing catalogue of online providers giving nurses more flexibility than the old classroom-only model allowed.

What Actually Counts as Continuing Education in Saskatchewan

The SRNA uses a competency-based continuing competency program rather than a pure credit-hour system. Nurses self-assess against competency indicators, identify learning needs, and document activities that address those needs. Accepted activities are broad: formal courses, workshops, conferences, webinars, simulation labs, mentorship, self-directed learning, and research participation all qualify — provided they’re connected to your practice area and documented properly.

This is important because it means a nurse working in Regina’s Pasqua or General hospital can tailor their CE to what’s actually relevant to their unit, rather than completing generic modules that don’t reflect their day-to-day scope.

Local and Regional Options Worth Knowing

Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Regina campus runs several nursing-focused continuing education short courses — wound care, medication administration updates, and simulation-based clinical refreshers are among the recurring offerings. Seats fill up; registration opens well in advance and waitlists are common for popular practical courses.

The University of Regina’s Faculty of Nursing periodically offers professional development modules aimed at practising nurses rather than students. These lean more toward leadership, research literacy, and specialty knowledge than clinical skills updates — useful for nurses targeting management or advanced practice roles.

The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipal Administrators connection is less obvious, but nurses working in rural health authorities around Regina sometimes access continuing education through shared arrangements with the Rural Health Professional Action Plan. Worth asking your employer if you’re in that category.

Online Continuing Education That Nurses in Regina Are Using

Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO) online modules are widely accepted across Canada and are frequently used by Saskatchewan nurses despite the different provincial association. The Canadian Nurses Association also offers certified continuing education that carries strong recognition. Both organisations offer topics spanning palliative care, mental health, gerontology, and patient safety — areas that align with Regina’s healthcare demographics and population needs.

Q&A

How many CE hours do I need per year? The SRNA’s model doesn’t mandate a specific annual hour count — it requires demonstrated ongoing competency and documented learning activities, reviewed as part of the annual renewal process.

Can I use employer-provided training? Yes. In-service education, mandatory hospital training, and employer-sponsored workshops all qualify as CE activities when properly documented.

Is there funding available? Check with your employer first — Saskatchewan Health Authority nurses often have professional development funds available. SRNA also maintains a resource list for grant and bursary opportunities.