Standard 13 - Professional Responsibilities

Standard 13 - Professional Responsibilities

Respiratory Therapists (RTs) must ensure their professional practice complies with all applicable regulatory requirements.

 Performance Requirements

Responsibilities to the NSRRT

 RTs:

1. Maintain current registration status with the NSRRT.
2. Assume responsibility and accountability for their own actions and decisions.
3. Self-report to the NSRRT any necessary information within 30 days of the effective date of the change. This includes notifying the NSRRT any updates to the information provided on their previous registration renewal form or application for registration, including changes to personal contact information, employment, and/or professional registration and conduct information.
4. Self-report to the NSRRT, in accordance with regulatory requirements, the following:
   1. If charged with or found guilty of an offence.
   2. Findings/proceedings of professional negligence or malpractice and information regarding professional registration and conduct.
   3. Any event, circumstance, condition or matter not disclosed by the above criteria that is relevant to the Member’s competence, conduct or physical or mental capacity that may affect the Member's ability or suitability to practice as a Respiratory Therapist.
5. Those who function as an employer must report to the NSRRT, in accordance with regulatory requirements, the following:
   1. Whenever they terminate, suspend or impose restrictions on the employment of a Member for reasons of professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity; and
   2. where they have reason to suspect a Member is incompetent, incapacitated, has sexually abused a patient/client or committed an act of professional misconduct.
6. Ensure that they have adequate personal and professional liability insurance coverage in accordance with NSRRT by-laws.
7. Must not contravene, or fail to maintain, a standard of practice of the profession or a published standard of the NSRRT.
8. Must not contravene, by act or omission, a term, condition or limitation imposed on the Member/Registrant’s certificate of registration.
9. Assume responsibility for their own individual ongoing competence and participate in the NSRRT’s professional development/continuing education program.
10. Are required to pay all costs as set out by the NSRRT for remediation courses/programs, etc.
11. Ensure that all documents or records used in a professional capacity (e.g., patient/client records, business cards) include, at a minimum, their name and professional designation (e.g. RRT).
12. Cooperate with NSRRT investigations or inquiries into the professional conduct, competence or capacity of any Member of a regulated health profession.
13. Strictly comply with the terms and requirements of any order imposed by the NSRRT or any agreement that they enter into with the NSRRT.
14. Must provide information about, or facilitate access to, the NSRRT when requested.

 Responsibilities to the Profession and the Public

RTs:

1. Comply with all current provincial and federal legislation for the protection of patients/clients, healthcare team members, the general public, and the environment.
2. Report to the appropriate authority the following:
   1. sexual abuse of a patient/client, student, other healthcare team member and/or
   2. verbal, emotional, psychological, or physical abuse of a patient/client, student, other members of the healthcare team, or:
   3. taking advantage of a patient/client or student as a result of the Member’s position in the relationship.
3. Are responsible and accountable for meeting all legal and ethical requirements of the profession (e.g., obtaining valid orders).
4. Demonstrate integrity, objectivity, and compassion in their relationships with patients/clients, healthcare team members, students, and others.
5. Provide care without discrimination on any basis, with respect for the rights and dignity of all individuals.
6. Introduce themselves to patients/clients and other members of the healthcare team using their name and professional title.
7. Must provide their NSRRT License Number, upon request in the course of practising the profession.
8. Are responsible for educating other healthcare team members, including students regarding respiratory health and the role of RTs.
9. Report to relevant authorities any unsafe practice, unprofessional conduct, or unethical conduct, or incapacity by other healthcare team members.
10. Advocate for improvements that will enhance patient/client care, including participating in quality improvement programs.
11. Participate in research activities as appropriate.
12. Behave in a professional manner that presents a positive image of Respiratory Therapy to the community.
13. Render assistance to any person where an urgent need for healthcare exists.
14. Must refrain from discontinuing, without reasonable cause, professional services that are needed unless,
    • the patient/client requests the discontinuation,
    • alternative services are arranged,
    • the patient/client is given a reasonable opportunity to arrange alternative services.
    • there are restrictions in the length of the type of service imposed by an agency,
    • there are discharge criteria imposed by an agency, or the Member reasonably believes that they may be verbally, emotionally, psychologically, electronically, physically, or sexually abused by the patient/client, and reasonable attempts have been made to arrange alternative services.
15. If registered with another regulatory/licensing body, must adhere to the requirements in that jurisdiction (e.g., participation in quality assurance, mandatory reporting, etc.)
16. Must adhere to the requirements of their employer (e.g., employment policies, procedures, code of conduct, etc.).

Patient/Client Expected Outcome

Patients/clients can expect that their care is delivered by registered RTs who are in compliance with all applicable legislative, regulatory, and employer requirements and that RTs engage in activities to improve the quality of care delivered.

Related Standards

• Competence/Ongoing Competence
• Conflict of Interest
• Consent
• Evidence-Informed Practice
• Patient/Client Assessment & Therapeutic Procedures
• Privacy/ Confidentiality
• Professional Boundaries/Therapeutic & Professional Relationships
• Safety & Risk Management

 Related Resources

• College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. (2022). Professional Liability Insurance Fact Sheet. Available at https://www.crto.on.ca/pdf/FactSheets/PLI.FS-340.pdf.
• College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. (2023). Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Fact Sheet. Available at: https://www.crto.on.ca/pdf/FactSheets/TCL.FS-315.pdf.
• College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. (2023). Mandatory Reporting by Employers/Facilities Fact Sheet. Available at: https://www.crto.on.ca/pdf/FactSheets/Mandatory_Employer_Reports_fs.pdf
• College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. (2024). Mandatory Reporting Obligations by Member Fact Sheets. Available at: https://www.crto.on.ca/pdf/FactSheets/MemberReports.FS-215.pdf.
• 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.
• National Alliance of Respiratory Therapy Regulatory Bodies. (2024). National Competency Framework. Available at: https://nartrb.ca/national-competency-profileframework.
• Nova Scotia Regulator of Respiratory Therapy. (2008) NSRRT Code of Ethical Conduct. Available at: https://nsrrt.ca/professional-practice/code-of-ethics

 Glossary

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

Healthcare team refers to “peers, colleagues, and other healthcare professionals (regulated and non-regulated).”^[1]

Offence(s) refers to a violation of statute or law (e.g., Criminal Code of Canada) as determined by a court. Members are required to report any charges or findings of guilt for offences that are relevant to their suitability to practice.^[2]

Patient/client refers to “individual, group, community or population who is the recipient of respiratory therapy services and, where the context requires, includes a substitute decision-maker for the recipient of respiratory therapy services”.^[3]

Professional/Professionalism to refers to the conduct, behaviours, and attitudes expected of individuals in the healthcare field. It is essential for maintaining trust between healthcare providers and patients, ensuring high-quality care, and upholding the integrity of the profession.^[4]

Quality improvement refers to “a systematic approach to making changes that lead to better patient outcomes (health), stronger system performance (care), and enhanced professional development. It draws on the combined and continuous efforts of all stakeholders — health care professionals, patients and their families, researchers, planners, and educators — to make better and sustained improvements.”^[5]

 ^[1] College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. (2021). A Commitment to Ethical Practice. Available at: https://ethics.crto.on.ca/

^[2]  College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario (2024). Mandatory Reporting by Members Fact Sheet. Available at: https://www.crto.on.ca/pdf/FactSheets/MemberReports.FS-215.pdf

^[3] College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. (2021). A Commitment to Ethical Practice. Available at:  https://ethics.crto.on.ca/

^[4] Open AI. (2025). ChatGPT (May 14 version) [Large language model]. https://chatgpt.com

^[5] Health Quality Ontario. (2012).  Quality Improvement Guide. Available at: https://www.hqontario.ca/portals/0/documents/qi/qi-quality-improve-guide-2012-en.pdf