This practice scenario has been developed to help nurses understand their duty to render assistance if they encounter an accident or emergency when they’re off duty.
Duty to render assistance in an emergency when you are not at work
Q. What is my duty to render assistance in an emergency when I am not working as a nurse for example if I come across an accident?
A. In Nova Scotia there is no legal duty that requires a nurse to aid someone in an emergency.
However, you may feel a personal, moral or ethical duty to assist. If you decide to help, you should activate emergency services (i.e. call 911) and render aid within your individual capacity (i.e. CPR, First Aid) until Emergency Health Services (EHS) arrives. If you decide to assist, you are expected to respond as any other reasonable, prudent nurse would in a similar situation. Generally, your actions are protected under the Volunteer Services Act.
For further information on anything contained within this practice support tool, please contact an NSCN Practice Consultant at practice@nscn.ca
