College of Nurses of Ontario

The College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) is the regulatory body responsible for governing the nursing profession in the province of Ontario, Canada. Its primary function is to protect the public by ensuring that nurses meet established standards of competence and conduct. To achieve this, the CNO sets entry‑to‑practice requirements, administers the registration process, and maintains a publicly accessible register of all nurses who are authorized to practice in the province. The organization also develops and updates practice standards, guidelines, and codes of ethics that guide nursing practice across various health‑care settings. In addition, it receives and investigates complaints about nurses’ conduct or competence and can impose remedial measures or disciplinary actions when necessary.

The CNO’s mandate covers a substantial segment of Ontario’s health‑care workforce. According to information disclosed during a 2020 cybersecurity incident, the organization’s records potentially contain personal information for over 180,000 registered nurses, practical nurses, and nurse practitioners. Its headquarters are located in Canada, specifically in Ontario, where it operates as the sole statutory authority tasked with regulating nursing practice within the province. The organization works closely with provincial ministries, health‑care employers, and professional associations to align regulatory expectations with evolving health‑care delivery models. Through its outreach and education initiatives, the CNO seeks to keep nurses informed about legislative changes, emerging best practices, and professional obligations.

Distinguishing attributes of the CNO include its exclusive legal authority to grant and revoke nursing licences in Ontario, its role in maintaining a transparent public register that allows employers and patients to verify a nurse’s standing, and its commitment to evidence‑based standard setting. The organization’s regulatory approach emphasizes both preventive measures, such as continuing competence programs, and responsive actions, including complaint investigations and discipline hearings. A notable event in the CNO’s recent history was the ransomware attack discovered on September 8 2020, when the Netwalker cybercrime gang claimed to have exfiltrated human‑resources data and listed the college among its victims. The incident prompted immediate containment efforts with the assistance of a cybersecurity firm, temporarily disrupted public registries and membership portals, and raised concerns about the possible exposure of personal details for the large nursing population it serves. The attack was consistent with broader warnings from law‑enforcement agencies about Netwalker targeting health‑care entities.