Which statement best describes the regulatory role of the CNO?

The statement that best describes the regulatory role of the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) is that it oversees the registration and practice of nurses to ensure public safety. This is fundamentally important because the primary mandate of the CNO is to protect the public by regulating nursing practice and ensuring that nurses are qualified, competent, and adhere to established professional standards.

The CNO achieves this by ensuring that only those who meet specific educational and practice qualifications are registered as nurses. It also has the responsibility to set and enforce standards of practice and conduct, which directly relates to the safety and well-being of patients in their care. Continuous regulation of nursing practices helps to maintain trust in the healthcare system and reassures the public that they are receiving quality care from qualified professionals.

Understanding the CNO's focus on public safety clarifies why the other options do not accurately represent its role. While the CNO may influence educational standards through ongoing requirements for nurses, it does not govern educational institutions directly. The CNO does not operate as a profit-driven entity for nurses or set salary standards, as these tasks fall outside its regulatory mandate and instead are addressed through collective bargaining agreements and employer-employee relations in the healthcare system.