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Stay informed with the latest announcements, updates, and memos all in one place. Check back to see important notices, and previous memos sent to your Clinics Managers and nominated RN Physician Leads.
PCN RN Notices
BCNU Job Action
As you may be aware, members of the BCNU have initiated legal job action. PCN RNs work for Vancouver Coastal Health Authority and are all members of the BCNU.
As of 12:01pm on July 2nd and until further notice, all BCNU members have been instructed not to perform non-nursing duties that are not related to direct patient care.
PCN Leadership have always encouraged the PCN RNs and our partner clinics to allow the PCN RNs to focus on direct patient care duties rather than administrative tasks, so this should not be very disruptive to your day-to-day workflows, if at all. That being said, if your PCN RN determines that something they've been asked to do is not a nursing duty during job action, please do not approach the RN directly to discuss the matter, and instead reach out to the PCN email (pcn@vancouverdivision.com) or to your Community Network Manager for any questions or concerns.
We recognize that the PCN program is in a very unique position, as the PCN RNs all have contracts to work in non-Health Authority sites, and you are not "the Employer" that this job action is meant to impact.
We hope job action is resolved quickly and with minimal disruption to patient care; and our overarching goal is to ensure that relationships between all partners remain positive and collaborative.
MoCA assessments for PCN RNs
We are pleased to share updates to the MoCA sign-off process to support VCH PCN RNs in completing MoCA assessments within PCN clinics. This further increases their Scope of Practice and will support increased access to Primary Care. As of December 3, 2025, PCN RNs may complete the MoCA Competency Checklist with clinic providers (MDs or NPs) who are MoCA competent and have completed the MoCA Cognition Course (mocacognition.com).
To ensure standardized and accurate MoCA administration, PCN RNs must complete the following before conducting MoCAs independently:
- Complete the MoCA Cognition Course: Complete the 1-hour course and submit a certificate. The course is free for PCN RNs, and renewal is required every two years. They have been provided with a course code.
- Review the VCH MoCA DSTs: They are required to review the applicable VCH MoCA Decision Support Tools.
- Complete the Competency Checklist: They must demonstrate competence with two real-patient assessments, supervised by a clinic provider or VCH PCN Educator, and then submit the completed VCH MoCA Checklist.
Note: PCN RNs may administer and score the MoCA but not interpret results. - Maintain Ongoing Competency: They must continue to administer and score the MoCA according to the MoCA Cognition Course and VCH MoCA DSTs.
If preferred, a VCH Regional Educator can complete the RN’s competency assessment if a MoCA appointment can be pre-scheduled at your clinic.
Please reach out to the Vancouver Primary Care Networks Clinical Operations Supervisor, and/or the VCH Regional Educator if you have any questions.