Commentary: Regulation and the Nursing Profession: A Personal Reflection

Against the backdrop of Ontario's "Inquiry into the Safety and Security of Residents in the Long-Term Care Homes System," this commentary offers personal reflections about nursing regulation and the profession. The evolution of the three pillars of nursing is briefly described, and emerging changes in regulatory structures and professional associations are identified. The nature of the relationship between the regulator and the registrant is commented on, and the lived experiences of regulation from the perspective of an employer and a chief nursing executive are discussed. In the context of the examples shared in the commentary and the proceedings of the Inquiry, the author calls upon each pillar of the profession to work together more effectively to protect the public and optimize the contributions of our profession as a whole.