Licensed Practical Nurse - Nursing Scope of Practice Variations in the Canadian Health Care System

The licensed practical nurse is one of the three legallypractitioner as a licensed practical nurse with 1- 2
defined types of nursing in Canada. The other twoyears of vocational training. Determination of what
types of nursing are the registered nurse and thethe LPN can and cannot do or should and should not
registered psychiatric nurse (recognized in the fourdo in professional nursing practice is still ongoing and
Canadian western provinces only).varies from province to province.
Past trendsWhat is the variation in the nursing scope of practice
There are approximately 75,000 licensed practicalfor LPN's across Canada?
nurses in Canada. When labor trends are examined itBecause health care is a provincial responsibility the
shows that the number of LPN jobs in the Canadianregulation of nursing practice is done through
health care system has waxed and waned over time.provincial legislation. The legislation in each province
This was usually in response to the job market foroutlines what the legal definition of nursing is and
the registered nurse. When registered nurses arewhat the nursing scope of practice is for each type
more plentiful the number of LPN jobs decreases andof nursing. The legislation is not the same in every
when the RN becomes more scarce this usuallyprovince and the education required for LPN jobs
creates a demand for more licensed practical nurses.varies greatly so there is considerable variation across
Contemporary trendsthe country in the nature and scope of LPN jobs.
The nursing shortage in Canada is increasing and- A licensed practical nurse in British Columbia can
expected to get worse over the next ten years.practice nursing only under the direction or
The demand for nursing services will increase as thesupervision of an RN or medical practitioner.
population ages and Canada has never been able to- In Ontario and Alberta the LPN works independently
produce enough nurses to meet the demand. Oncewithin a defined nursing scope of practice and does
again the labor forecasts are that the demand fornot need to be under supervision or direction of a
LPN's will increase.registered nurse.
Future trends- In Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan and New
For the first time in Canadian history the requirementBrunswick the LPN works under direction.
for registered nursing practice in Canada is a 4 yearAdditionally in New Brunswick the complexity of the
degree. This means that it takes longer to produce aclient suitable for assignment to the Registered
registered nurse and that they can demand moreNursing Assistant (this is the same classification as a
money for the work they do. The future trend inLPN) is defined and it is stipulated that the RNA can
viewing the role of the licensed practical nurse will beassist the RN with more acutely ill patients but not
to give more serious consideration to the educationtake care of those patients independently.
and employment of LPN's with a view to creating aDepending on the province and the defined nursing
nursing professional that has a distinct role in thescope of practice, LPN jobs can be in a variety of
Canadian health care system. Governments andsettings including long term care, community agencies,
employers alike are trying to determine the best useacute care hospitals and community health centers. In
of the higher educated registered nurse and moreall settings the LPN works in partnership with other
clearly define the role of the LPN.health care providers including registered nurses and is
At the government level there must be attentionassigned to clients who have a limited number of
paid to making sure that the most cost efficientvariables. In all provinces when the number of
practitioner is being used for the needs of the patientvariables increases and the client situation becomes
while at the same time protecting the interests ofmore complex, that client should be transferred to
the Canadian public.the care of a registered nurse.
At the regulatory level both professions must engageDespite the variations in the defined nursing scope of
in professional collaboration to clearly define their ownpractice for the licensed practical nurse and the
roles and responsibilities as well as those that overlap.differences in the length of education, all LPN's in
It stands to reason that a registered nurse educatedCanada write the same nursing entrance test - the
to a university degree level is not the sameCanadian Practical Nurse Registration Exam.