STANDARD 4.

Competence / Ongoing Competence

Respiratory Therapists (RTs) must provide competent patient/client care and ensure their knowledge, skills, and judgment/abilities remain current on an ongoing basis.

Performance Requirements

RTs:

9

Possess the competence pertinent to the role and responsibilities of their areas of practice.

9

Must refrain from performing activities/procedures for which they are not competent and that are beyond their knowledge, skill, and judgment/abilities.

9

Keep their knowledge and skills current and upgrade competence in response to the development of new technologies and methods of delivering care.

9

Practice within the professional scope of practice and their personal scope of practice and scope of employment.

9

Recognize and acknowledge limitations in their competence and seek additional knowledge, guidance, or assistance from others as appropriate.

9

Assume responsibility for their personal and professional development.

9

Assess their level of competence based on evidence-informed practices, identifying learning needs, and developing a strategy to address the learning requirements.

9

Comply with applicable regulatory requirements for professional development/continuing education (e.g., CRTO Professional Development Program Policy).

9

Recognize when professional or personal difficulties are affecting their ability to provide safe and competent care and seek appropriate assistance.

9

Must refrain from practising the profession while the member’s ability to do so is impaired by any substance, illness or other condition which the member knew or ought to have known would impair the member’s ability to practise.

9

Must refrain from practising the profession while the member’s ability to do so is impaired by any substance, illness or other condition which the member knew or ought to have known would impair the member’s ability to practise.

Patient / Client Expected Outcome

Patients/clients can expect that RTs provide competent care at all times.

RELATED RESOURCES

College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. (2021). A Commitment to Ethical Practice. Available at: https://ethics.crto.on.ca.
College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. (2023). Interpretation of Authorized Acts Professional Practice Guideline. Available at: https://interpretation.crto.on.ca.
College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. (2019). Professional Development Program (PDP) Member’s Guide. Available at https://www.crto.on.ca/pdf/QA/PDP_Members_Guide.pdf.
College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario (2023). Professional Development Program Policy. Available at https://www.crto.on.ca/pdf/Policies/Policy.QA-101.pdf.
Ontario Government. (1991). Regulated Health Professions Act. Available at https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/91r18.
Ontario Government. (1991). Respiratory Therapy Act. Available at https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/91r39.
National Alliance of Respiratory Therapy Regulatory Bodies. (2016). National Competency Framework for the Profession of Respiratory Therapy. Part 1. National Standards for Entry-to-Practice. Available at: https://nartrb.ca/download/ncf-part-i-entry-to-practice-2016.

GLOSSARY

Appropriate refers to in accordance with ethical, legal, technical and/or clinical requirements of professional practice.

Competent refers to “the ability to consistently and effectively apply the requisite knowledge, skills, clinical judgment, and professional behaviour to provide safe, ethical, and effective patient care.”[1]

Evidence-informed refers to “practice that is based on successful strategies that improve client outcomes and are derived from a combination of various sources of evidence, including client perspective, research, national guidelines, policies, consensus statements, expert opinion, and quality improvement data.”[2]

Patient/client refers to individuals and their families requiring care or services. This may also include their substitute decision-maker or guardian.[3]

Personal scope of practice refers to what is often “a subset of the overall scope of practice of a profession (professional scope) .and is influenced by factors such as their role within their specific practice setting.”[4]

Professional scope of practice is outlined in the Respiratory Therapy Act (RTA) and states: The practice of respiratory therapy is the providing of oxygen therapy, cardio-respiratory equipment monitoring and the assessment and treatment of cardio-respiratory and associated disorders to maintain or restore ventilation.[5]

Related Standards

$

S8. Evidence-Informed Practice

$

S10. Patient/Client Assessment & Therapeutic Procedures

$

S13. Professional Responsibilities

$

S14. Safety and Risk Management

FOOTNOTES

College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. (2010). A Commitment to Ethical Practice. Available at: http://www.crto.on.ca/pdf/Ethics.pdf
College of Nurses of Ontario. (2014). Entry to Practice Competencies. Available at: http://www.cno.org/globalassets/docs/reg/41042_entrypracrpn.pdf
Adapted from College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. (2010). A Commitment to Ethical Practice. Available at: http://www.crto.on.ca/pdf/Ethics.pdf
College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. (2016). Scope of Practice and Maintenance of Competency Communique. Available at: http://www.crto.on.ca/pdf/Communiques/Scope_of_Practice.pdf
Adapted from College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. (2016). Scope of Practice and Maintenance of Competency Communique. Available at: http://www.crto.on.ca/pdf/Communiques/Scope_of_Practice.pdf