Month: February 2020

The purpose of regulation is to ensure that regulated health-care providers, such as licensed practical nurses, practice in a safe, competent and ethical manner. The way LPNs connect their regulatory responsibilities to their nursing practice is of utmost importance. Professionalism requires that LPNs demonstrate professional standards when providing nursing care and collaborating with patients, colleagues,…

When a Licensed Practical Nurse in Alberta doesn’t meet the minimum standards of care required under legislation, there are consequences.  A complaint file may be opened and an investigation may begin. RELATED – What is a Complaint? Discover what that investigation process looks like in our latest CARE magazine article, ‘Handling Investigations into Complaints’. Read…

Professional boundaries allow for safe space between a nurse’s position of power and a patient’s vulnerability. Maintaining professional boundaries is a foundational part of nursing practice and a key characteristic of a therapeutic nurse-patient relationship built on trust, respect and compassion. While providing nursing care, Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) hold an inherent position of power…

When a person with a substance use disorder arrives at hospital, it represents a critical opportunity. The symptoms of a substance use disorder do not end upon admission, and substance use will often continue. This can pose challenges for patients, hospital clinical teams and employees. Substance use-related health issues remain a public health and health…

For Alberta’s LPNs, there are scope of practice changes in restricted activities starting in February 2020 due to the amended LPN Profession Regulation. LPNs are responsible for assessing their individual knowledge and competence in these areas before practicing. RELATED – Restricted Activities and Advanced Authorizations To support this transition, the CLPNA has released the final…

The College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta is responsible under the Health Professions Act for protecting the public from unethical, unskilled, and unsafe nursing practice. Under this authority, some complaints of unprofessional conduct result in a formal Hearing before a Hearing Tribunal, consisting of LPNs appointed by Council and public members appointed by government….

 Revisions reflecting the recent regulation update can be found in the newly released 5th Edition of the Competency Profile for Licensed Practical Nurses in Alberta. The Competency Profile contains some changes in language and the relocation of several competency areas to align with the amended LPN Profession Regulation that came into effect on February…

The College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta (CLPNA) is releasing a mandatory education module on restricted activities for Alberta’s Licensed Practical Nurses. The module, ‘Understanding Restricted Activities’, aims to help LPNs fully understand restricted activities generally and the restricted activities that LPNs are authorized to perform. According to Alberta’s Government Organization Act, restricted activities…