National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2016 Version 1.1

A

Statistics Canada's Trust Centre: Learn how Statistics Canada keeps your data safe and protects your privacy.

3 - Health occupations

Occupations in this category are concerned with providing health care services directly to patients and occupations that provide technical support to medical staff. To progress from medical and dental technical occupations to professional occupations, completion of additional formal education is required. Progression to supervisory positions requires experience in the occupations supervised. Support occupations in health are usually supplied from short training programs specific to the support area.

30 - Professional occupations in nursing

This major group comprises professional occupations in health involved in nursing. It includes nursing co-ordinators and supervisors, registered nurses, registered psychiatric nurses and graduate nurses.

301 - Professional occupations in nursing

This minor group includes nursing co-ordinators and supervisors, registered nurses, registered psychiatric nurses, and graduate nurses. They are employed by hospitals, clinics, extended care facilities, rehabilitation centres, nursing homes, nursing and community agencies, doctors' offices, companies, and private homes; or they may be self-employed.

3011 - Nursing co-ordinators and supervisors

Nursing co-ordinators and supervisors co-ordinate and supervise the activities of registered nurses, registered psychiatric nurses, licensed practical nurses and other nursing personnel in the provision of patient care. They are employed in health care institutions such as hospitals, clinics and nursing homes, and in nursing agencies.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • nursing care co-ordinator
    • nursing services co-ordinator
    • nursing supervisor
    • patient care co-ordinator - nursing
    • psychiatric nursing supervisor
    • public health nursing supervisor

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • Directors of nursing and nursing unit administrators (See 0311 Managers in health care)
  • Main duties

    Nursing co-ordinators and supervisors perform some or all of the following duties:

    • Supervise registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and other nursing personnel
    • Evaluate patients' needs and ensure that required nursing care is delivered
    • Set up and co-ordinate nursing services in conjunction with other health services
    • Ensure quality nursing care is provided and appropriate administrative procedures are followed
    • Assist in the establishment of unit policies and procedures
    • Administer nursing unit budget and ensure that supplies and equipment are available
    • Assist in the selection, evaluation and professional development of nursing personnel
    • Collaborate on research projects related to nursing and medical care and multidisciplinary services
    • May provide direct patient care.
  • Employment requirements

    • Completion of a university, college or other approved registered nursing, or registered psychiatric nursing, program is required.
    • Courses in management studies or a degree, diploma or certificate in management or administration may be required.
    • Registration with a regulatory body is required for registered nurses in all provinces and territories and for registered psychiatric nurses in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and the Yukon.
    • Clinical experience as a registered nurse, or as a registered psychiatric nurse, is required.
  • Additional information

    • Progression to management positions, such as director of nursing, is possible with experience.
3012 - Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses

This unit group includes registered nurses, registered psychiatric nurses and graduates of a nursing program who are awaiting registration (graduate nurses). They provide direct nursing care to patients, deliver health education programs and provide consultative services regarding issues relevant to the practice of nursing. They are employed in a variety of settings including hospitals, nursing homes, extended care facilities, rehabilitation centres, doctors' offices, clinics, community agencies, companies, private homes and public and private organizations or they may be self-employed.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • clinical nurse
    • community health nurse
    • critical care nurse
    • emergency care nurse
    • intensive care nurse
    • nurse researcher
    • nursing consultant
    • occupational health nurse
    • private duty nurse
    • public health nurse
    • registered nurse (R.N.)
    • registered psychiatric nurse (R.P.N.)

    All examples

  • Inclusion(s)

    • infection control officer - medical
  • Exclusion(s)

    • Nurse practitioners (See 3124 Allied primary health practitioners)
    • Nursing co-ordinators and supervisors (See 3011 Nursing co-ordinators and supervisors)
    • Nursing service managers (See 0311 Managers in health care)
    • Registered practical nurses (See 3233 Licensed practical nurses)
  • Main duties

    General duty registered nurses perform some or all of the following duties:

    • Assess patients to identify appropriate nursing interventions
    • Collaborate with members of an interdisciplinary health team to plan, implement, co-ordinate and evaluate patient care in consultation with patients and their families
    • Administer medications and treatments as prescribed by a physician or according to established policies and protocols
    • Monitor, assess, address, document and report symptoms and changes in patients' conditions
    • Operate or monitor medical apparatus or equipment
    • Assist in surgery and other medical procedures
    • May supervise licensed practical nurses and other nursing staff
    • May develop and implement discharge planning process on admission of patients
    • May teach and counsel patients and their families on health-related issues in collaboration with other health care providers.

    Registered nurses may specialize in areas such as surgery, obstetrics care, psychiatric care, critical care, pediatrics, geriatrics, community health, occupational health, emergency care, rehabilitation or oncology.

    • Occupational health nurses develop and implement employee health education programs and provide registered nursing care in private businesses and industry.
    • Community health nurses provide health education and registered nursing care in public health units and through home visits, manage complex home care cases, participate in community needs assessment and program development, conduct disease screening and deliver immunization programs.
    • Psychiatric nurses provide nursing care, supportive counselling and life skills programming to patients in psychiatric hospitals, mental health clinics, long-term care facilities and community-based settings.
    • Nursing consultants provide consultative services to institutes, associations and health care organizations regarding issues and concerns relevant to the nursing profession and nursing practice.
    • Nursing researchers engaged in research activities related to nursing are self-employed or are employed by hospitals, public and private organizations and governments.
    • Clinical nurses provide leadership, advice and counsel on the provision of research-based care for specific patient groups within the care of particular health care organizations.
  • Employment requirements

    Registered nurses

    • Completion of a university, college or other approved registered nursing program is required.
    • Additional academic training or experience is required to specialize in a specific area of nursing.
    • A master's or doctoral degree in nursing is usually required for clinical nurse specialists, clinical nurses, nursing consultants and nursing researchers.
    • Registration with a regulatory body is required in all provinces and territories.

    Registered psychiatric nurses

    • Completion of a university or college registered psychiatric nursing program is required.
    • Registration with a regulatory body is required in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and the Yukon.
  • Additional information

    • Nurses trained exclusively as registered psychiatric nurses (RPN) are regulated in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. In all other provinces and territories, registered nurses (RN) may work as psychiatric nurses without separate registration.
    • Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses may progress to supervisory and managerial positions with experience.
Report a problem on this page

Is something not working? Is there information outdated? Can't find what you're looking for?

Please contact us and let us know how we can help you.

Privacy notice

Date modified: