British Columbia's One Nursing Regulator: A Critical Commentary on the Amalgamation Process

Nursing organizations including regulatory colleges are undergoing transitions that fundamentally alter the face of Canadian nursing. As British Columbia regulatory and professional organizational transitions are held up as a potential model for the rest of Canada, we offer a critical commentary on a most recent transition to the One Nursing Regulator of all nursing role designations in the formation of the British Columbia College of Nursing Professionals in 2018. We draw attention to amalgamation processes - professional regulation and governance, the preservation of nursing history, allocation of nurses' fees and resources and the role distinctions and identities of registrant groups - Registered Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Licensed Practical Nurses and Registered Psychiatric Nurses. We argue that nursing's collective engagement and nursing leadership in self-regulation and decision making related to professional practice is key to public safety and integral to the identity of Canadian nursing. In our critique we identify issues and raise questions for consideration in the coming years.