{"id":31444,"date":"2026-07-24T22:45:53","date_gmt":"2026-07-24T22:45:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/?page_id=31444"},"modified":"2026-07-25T00:41:17","modified_gmt":"2026-07-25T00:41:17","slug":"how-to-respond-to-a-crns-complaint","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/how-to-respond-to-a-crns-complaint\/","title":{"rendered":"How to respond to a CRNS complaint"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"31444\" class=\"elementor elementor-31444\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dd38ec5 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"dd38ec5\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5cc692e elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"5cc692e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" 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0;font-weight:700;color:var(--navy);position:relative;font-size:1rem;}\r\n.hec-canart .faq summary::-webkit-details-marker{display:none;}\r\n.hec-canart .faq summary:after{content:\"+\";position:absolute;right:4px;top:13px;color:var(--red);font-weight:700;font-size:1.2rem;}\r\n.hec-canart .faq details[open] summary:after{content:\"\\2013\";}\r\n.hec-canart .faq details p{margin:0 0 15px;color:#3a4855;font-size:.97rem;}\r\n\r\n.hec-canart .disc{font-size:.79rem;line-height:1.6;color:var(--muted);border-top:1px solid var(--line);padding-top:18px;margin-top:30px;}\r\n<\/style>\r\n<article class=\"hec-canart\">\r\n  <nav class=\"crumb\">\r\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/knowledge-support\/\">Knowledge &amp; Support<\/a><span>\/<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/knowledge-support\/nurses-midwives\/saskatchewan\/\">Nurses &amp; Midwives &mdash; Saskatchewan<\/a><span>\/<\/span>How to respond to a CRNS complaint\r\n  <\/nav>\r\n\r\n  <p class=\"eyebrow\">Saskatchewan &middot; College of Registered Nurses of Saskatchewan<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <h1>How to respond to a CRNS complaint<\/h1>\r\n\r\n  <div class=\"meta\"><b>5 min read<\/b><span>Last updated 14 July 2026<\/span><\/div>\r\n\r\n  <p class=\"lede\">The thing that should change how you act: in Saskatchewan the <strong>Investigation Committee<\/strong> can resolve your complaint outright &mdash; with no further action, a caution, or an education programme &mdash; without it ever reaching a public hearing. Almost everything that determines which of those you get is decided on the material you put in front of it.<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <div class=\"callout\">\r\n    <p><b>Before you write your response: <\/b>contact the <strong>Canadian Nurses Protective Society (CNPS)<\/strong> and your union. Do not respond, apologise, or explain to the College until you have taken advice. Do not contact the complainant, and never add to or amend the chart after the fact &mdash; a late entry does more damage than the gap it was meant to fill.<\/p>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <h2>A note for midwives<\/h2>\r\n  <p>One point before anything else, because it decides which process applies to you. The CRNS regulates <strong>Registered Nurses (RN), Nurse Practitioners (NP), Registered Nurses (Additional Authorized Practice) (RN(AAP)), Graduate Nurse Practitioners (GNP) and Graduate Nurses (GN)<\/strong>. It does <strong>not<\/strong> regulate midwives. Registered midwives in Saskatchewan are regulated by the <strong>Saskatchewan College of Midwives (SCM)<\/strong> under <strong>The Midwifery Act<\/strong>, which has its own Registrar, its own complaints route and its own bylaws. If you are a registered midwife, the guidance below describes the CRNS process and does not apply to you &mdash; contact the SCM Registrar. The principles of responding well, however, travel across both.<\/p>\r\n  <h2>Who regulates you, and on what grounds<\/h2>\r\n  <p>Nursing in Saskatchewan is regulated by the <strong>College of Registered Nurses of Saskatchewan (CRNS)<\/strong> under <strong>The Registered Nurses Act, 1988<\/strong> (c. R-12.2) and the CRNS bylaws. The Act requires the College to have an independent, fair and unbiased investigation and discipline process, and gives it jurisdiction over registrants licensed to practise as RNs, NPs, RN(AAP)s, GNPs and GNs.<\/p>\r\n  <p>There are <strong>two distinct grounds<\/strong>, and the difference matters more than most nurses realise:<\/p>\r\n  <ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Professional misconduct<\/strong> &mdash; conduct falling below the profession&rsquo;s standards: dishonesty, boundary breaches, medication diversion, falsified records, abusive behaviour.<\/li>\r\n    <li><strong>Professional incompetence<\/strong> &mdash; a lack of knowledge, skill or judgement in your practice. No dishonesty is alleged; the concern is capability.<\/li>\r\n  <\/ul>\r\n  <p>A complaint can allege one, the other, or both. They are answered differently: a misconduct allegation is met with an account and, where warranted, candour and insight; an incompetence allegation is met with evidence of learning, supervision and demonstrated competence.<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <h2>How a complaint reaches you<\/h2>\r\n  <p>Complaints to the CRNS must be <strong>in writing<\/strong>, and the Professional Conduct team handles them. The College will <strong>notify you and send you a copy of the complaint<\/strong>, and ask you to respond. That is the moment the clock starts.<\/p>\r\n  <p>Complaints do not only come from patients and families. Two routes catch nurses out:<\/p>\r\n  <ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Employers must report a &ldquo;termination with cause&rdquo;.<\/strong> If you are dismissed for cause, the CRNS will hear about it &mdash; whether or not a patient ever complained.<\/li>\r\n    <li><strong>Nurses have a duty to report other nurses.<\/strong> Sections 25 and 26 of the Act require RNs to report concerns about the professional incompetence or misconduct of colleagues. Your co-workers are obliged to raise concerns, and failing to do so is itself a problem for them.<\/li>\r\n  <\/ul>\r\n\r\n  <h2>Your written response is evidence<\/h2>\r\n  <p>Your response goes into the file the <strong>Investigation Committee<\/strong> &mdash; an independent panel of Registered Nurses and public representatives &mdash; will read when it decides the outcome. It is not a letter to be got out of the way. Some principles:<\/p>\r\n  <ul>\r\n    <li><strong>Answer each allegation, in order, plainly.<\/strong> Say what you did and why, at the time, on the information you had.<\/li>\r\n    <li><strong>Anchor it to the record.<\/strong> The chart is the spine of your answer. Where documentation is thin, say so honestly &mdash; do not reconstruct from memory as though it had been written down.<\/li>\r\n    <li><strong>Separate the two grounds.<\/strong> If the allegation is really about capability, do not answer it as though your integrity were being attacked, and vice versa.<\/li>\r\n    <li><strong>Never mislead the College.<\/strong> Honesty problems are treated far more severely than the clinical failing that prompted the complaint, and they are much harder to remediate.<\/li>\r\n    <li><strong>Show what you have already changed.<\/strong> This is the single most underused move &mdash; and, as our remediation guide explains, the Investigation Committee has outcomes available precisely for nurses who have engaged.<\/li>\r\n  <\/ul>\r\n\r\n  <h2>How complaints are prioritised<\/h2>\r\n  <p>An Investigator reviews the complaint, may contact the complainant for more detail, and <strong>prioritises it by the risk to the public<\/strong> and the date it was received. This is worth knowing: the pace at which your matter moves is not a signal about its merits. A long silence is not good news, and a fast one is not bad news.<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <h2>Where a complaint can end<\/h2>\r\n  <p>The Investigation Committee has a wide menu of outcomes &mdash; from no further action, through mediation, a caution, a required education programme, an agreement, or conditions on your licence &mdash; up to a referral to the Discipline Committee for a public hearing. Our investigation guide sets out each of them, and what makes the difference between them.<\/p>\r\n\r\n  <section class=\"kt\">\r\n    <h2>Key takeaways<\/h2>\r\n    <ul>\r\n        <li>The CRNS regulates RNs, NPs, RN(AAP)s, GNPs and GNs under <strong>The Registered Nurses Act, 1988<\/strong>. <strong>Midwives are regulated separately by the Saskatchewan College of Midwives.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n        <li>There are two grounds &mdash; <strong>professional misconduct<\/strong> and <strong>professional incompetence<\/strong> &mdash; and they must be answered differently.<\/li>\r\n        <li>Complaints must be in writing; the CRNS <strong>sends you a copy<\/strong> and asks you to respond. Your response is evidence read by the Investigation Committee.<\/li>\r\n        <li>Employers must report a <strong>termination with cause<\/strong>, and nurses have a <strong>statutory duty to report<\/strong> other nurses (ss.25&ndash;26).<\/li>\r\n        <li>The <strong>Investigation Committee<\/strong> can close, caution, require education, impose conditions, or refer to a public hearing &mdash; it decides on the material before it.<\/li>\r\n        <li>Contact <strong>CNPS<\/strong> and your union before responding. Complaints are prioritised by risk to the public, so timing tells you nothing about merit.<\/li>\r\n    <\/ul>\r\n  <\/section>\r\n\r\n  <section class=\"courses\">\r\n    <h2>Related CPD courses<\/h2>\r\n    <p class=\"sub\">Structured CPD you can complete and evidence while your matter is live.<\/p>\r\n      <a class=\"card\" href=\"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/courses\/dealing-with-a-complaint-or-investigation-professionally\/\">\r\n        <span class=\"nm\">Dealing with a Complaint or Investigation Professionally<\/span>\r\n        <span class=\"ds\">How to engage with a regulator without making the position worse &mdash; structure, tone and what not to say.<\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n      <a class=\"card\" href=\"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/courses\/documentation-for-healthcare-professionals\/\">\r\n        <span class=\"nm\">Documentation for Healthcare Professionals<\/span>\r\n        <span class=\"ds\">The chart is the spine of your defence. How to record care that withstands later scrutiny.<\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n      <a class=\"card\" href=\"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/courses\/ethics-and-ethical-standards-for-nurses-and-midwives\/\">\r\n        <span class=\"nm\">Ethics and Ethical Standards for Nurses and Midwives<\/span>\r\n        <span class=\"ds\">The ethical standards a nursing regulator measures conduct against, and how they are applied in practice.<\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n      <a class=\"card\" href=\"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/courses\/effective-communication-for-healthcare-professionals\/\">\r\n        <span class=\"nm\">Effective Communication for Healthcare Professionals<\/span>\r\n        <span class=\"ds\">Communication breakdowns underlie a large share of complaints; this addresses the habits that prevent them.<\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <p class=\"cav\">These are independent CPD courses. They are not approved or accredited by the CRNS, they do not satisfy any specific education or remediation programme the Investigation Committee may require (the CRNS specifies those), and no course can guarantee an outcome.<\/p>\r\n  <\/section>\r\n\r\n  <section class=\"nextset\">\r\n    <h2>Continue reading<\/h2>\r\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/what-happens-during-a-crns-investigation\"><span>What happens during a CRNS investigation?<\/span><em>&rarr;<\/em><\/a>\r\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/remediation-and-reflection-for-saskatchewan-nurses-and-midwives\"><span>Remediation and reflection for Saskatchewan nurses and midwives<\/span><em>&rarr;<\/em><\/a>\r\n  <\/section>\r\n\r\n  <section class=\"faq\">\r\n    <h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\r\n      <details>\r\n        <summary>Does the CRNS regulate midwives?<\/summary>\r\n        <p>No. The CRNS regulates RNs, NPs, RN(AAP)s, GNPs and GNs. Registered midwives in Saskatchewan are regulated by the Saskatchewan College of Midwives under The Midwifery Act, which has its own Registrar and complaints process.<\/p>\r\n      <\/details>\r\n      <details>\r\n        <summary>Will I be told what the complaint says?<\/summary>\r\n        <p>Yes. The CRNS notifies the nurse of the complaint and provides a copy of it, and asks the nurse to respond. That written response goes to the Investigation Committee.<\/p>\r\n      <\/details>\r\n      <details>\r\n        <summary>What is the difference between misconduct and incompetence?<\/summary>\r\n        <p>Professional misconduct is conduct falling below the profession&rsquo;s standards, such as dishonesty or boundary breaches. Professional incompetence concerns a lack of knowledge, skill or judgement. A complaint may allege either or both, and each calls for a different response.<\/p>\r\n      <\/details>\r\n      <details>\r\n        <summary>Can my employer report me even if no patient complains?<\/summary>\r\n        <p>Yes. Employers are required to report a termination with cause of an RN, and nurses themselves have a duty under sections 25 and 26 of the Act to report concerns about a colleague&rsquo;s competence or conduct.<\/p>\r\n      <\/details>\r\n      <details>\r\n        <summary>Who should I call first?<\/summary>\r\n        <p>The Canadian Nurses Protective Society (CNPS) and your union, before you respond to the College. Take legal advice before sending any written account.<\/p>\r\n      <\/details>\r\n      <details>\r\n        <summary>Does a slow process mean my case is serious?<\/summary>\r\n        <p>No. Complaints are prioritised by the risk to the public and the date received, so pace is not a signal about the merits of your case either way.<\/p>\r\n      <\/details>\r\n  <\/section>\r\n\r\n  <p class=\"disc\">This guide concerns the College of Registered Nurses of Saskatchewan (CRNS) and is general information only &mdash; it is not legal advice and does not create any relationship of advice or representation. If you have received a complaint, a request from an investigator, or a notice of hearing, contact the <strong>Canadian Nurses Protective Society (CNPS)<\/strong> and your union without delay, and take advice from a lawyer experienced in Saskatchewan nursing regulatory matters before you respond. The CRNS regulates RNs, NPs, RN(AAP)s, GNPs and GNs; <strong>registered midwives in Saskatchewan are regulated separately by the Saskatchewan College of Midwives under The Midwifery Act<\/strong>. Healthcare Ethics Courses is an independent CPD provider and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the CRNS or the SCM. Last updated 14 July 2026.<\/p>\r\n<\/article>\r\n\r\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\r\n{\r\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\r\n  \"@graph\": [\r\n    {\r\n      \"@type\": \"Article\",\r\n      \"headline\": \"How to respond to a CRNS complaint\",\r\n      \"description\": \"How to respond to a complaint to the College of Registered Nurses of Saskatchewan: what the Investigation Committee can do, and why your written response matters.\",\r\n      \"inLanguage\": \"en-CA\",\r\n      \"datePublished\": \"2026-07-14\",\r\n      \"dateModified\": \"2026-07-14\",\r\n      \"author\": {\r\n        \"@type\": \"Person\",\r\n        \"name\": \"Dr Shehzad Iqbal\"\r\n      },\r\n      \"publisher\": {\r\n        \"@type\": \"Organization\",\r\n        \"name\": \"Healthcare Ethics Courses\",\r\n        \"url\": \"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/\"\r\n      },\r\n      \"mainEntityOfPage\": {\r\n        \"@type\": \"WebPage\",\r\n        \"@id\": \"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/knowledge-support\/nurses-midwives\/saskatchewan\/complaints\/\"\r\n      },\r\n      \"url\": \"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/knowledge-support\/nurses-midwives\/saskatchewan\/complaints\/\",\r\n      \"about\": [\r\n        \"College of Registered Nurses of Saskatchewan\",\r\n        \"The Registered Nurses Act, 1988\",\r\n        \"Nursing regulation in Saskatchewan\",\r\n        \"Nurse complaints and discipline\"\r\n      ]\r\n    },\r\n    {\r\n      \"@type\": \"BreadcrumbList\",\r\n      \"itemListElement\": [\r\n        {\r\n          \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\r\n          \"position\": 1,\r\n          \"name\": \"Knowledge & Support\",\r\n          \"item\": \"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/knowledge-support\/\"\r\n        },\r\n        {\r\n          \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\r\n          \"position\": 2,\r\n          \"name\": \"Nurses & Midwives \u2014 Saskatchewan\",\r\n          \"item\": \"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/knowledge-support\/nurses-midwives\/saskatchewan\/\"\r\n        },\r\n        {\r\n          \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\r\n          \"position\": 3,\r\n          \"name\": \"How to respond to a CRNS complaint\",\r\n          \"item\": \"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/can\/knowledge-support\/nurses-midwives\/saskatchewan\/complaints\/\"\r\n        }\r\n      ]\r\n    },\r\n    {\r\n      \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\r\n      \"mainEntity\": [\r\n        {\r\n          \"@type\": \"Question\",\r\n          \"name\": \"Does the CRNS regulate midwives?\",\r\n          \"acceptedAnswer\": {\r\n            \"@type\": \"Answer\",\r\n            \"text\": \"No. The CRNS regulates RNs, NPs, RN(AAP)s, GNPs and GNs. Registered midwives in Saskatchewan are regulated by the Saskatchewan College of Midwives under The Midwifery Act, which has its own Registrar and complaints process.\"\r\n          }\r\n        },\r\n        {\r\n          \"@type\": \"Question\",\r\n          \"name\": \"Will I be told what the complaint says?\",\r\n          \"acceptedAnswer\": {\r\n            \"@type\": \"Answer\",\r\n            \"text\": \"Yes. The CRNS notifies the nurse of the complaint and provides a copy of it, and asks the nurse to respond. That written response goes to the Investigation Committee.\"\r\n          }\r\n        },\r\n        {\r\n          \"@type\": \"Question\",\r\n          \"name\": \"What is the difference between misconduct and incompetence?\",\r\n          \"acceptedAnswer\": {\r\n            \"@type\": \"Answer\",\r\n            \"text\": \"Professional misconduct is conduct falling below the profession\u2019s standards, such as dishonesty or boundary breaches. Professional incompetence concerns a lack of knowledge, skill or judgement. A complaint may allege either or both, and each calls for a different response.\"\r\n          }\r\n        },\r\n        {\r\n          \"@type\": \"Question\",\r\n          \"name\": \"Can my employer report me even if no patient complains?\",\r\n          \"acceptedAnswer\": {\r\n            \"@type\": \"Answer\",\r\n            \"text\": \"Yes. Employers are required to report a termination with cause of an RN, and nurses themselves have a duty under sections 25 and 26 of the Act to report concerns about a colleague\u2019s competence or conduct.\"\r\n          }\r\n        },\r\n        {\r\n          \"@type\": \"Question\",\r\n          \"name\": \"Who should I call first?\",\r\n          \"acceptedAnswer\": {\r\n            \"@type\": \"Answer\",\r\n            \"text\": \"The Canadian Nurses Protective Society (CNPS) and your union, before you respond to the College. 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