The Nurse Practice Act (NPA) is provincial/territorial legislation that defines the legal scope of nursing practice, establishes standards of care, and grants regulatory authority to nursing colleges (e.g., CNO in Ontario, CRNBC in British Columbia, CARNA in Alberta). Each province has its own NPA; federally, nurses are regulated through individual provincial bodies — there is no single national nursing licence. The NPA defines who can call themselves a Registered Nurse, what acts nurses may perform, and under what conditions delegation to unregulated care providers (UCPs) is permissible. Consequence if missed: Practicing outside scope — administering a controlled substance without a valid order, performing a controlled act without authorization, or delegating inappropriately — exposes the nurse to professional discipline (suspension, revocation), civil liability, and criminal prosecution. Top 3 nursing priorities: 1. Know your provincial NPA and college standards before accepting any assignment 2. Refuse assignments that exceed your competence or legal scope — document refusal in writing 3. Apply the Five Rights of Delegation (right task, right circumstance, right person, right direction/communication, right supervision/evaluation) before delegating any task to a UCP...