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Make a Complaint

The College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta (CLPNA) under the authority of the Alberta Health Professions Act (HPA) is committed to ensuring the public that Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) provide safe, competent and ethical nursing care.

Complaints are handled by the Complaints Department in accordance with HPA guidelines. Before submitting a complaint, please review the Complaints Process.

RELATED – Complaints Process

For employers, facility operators, and regulated health professionals including LPNs, mandatory reporting is required.

Protection for Persons in Care

If your complaint is concerning patient abuse of a vulnerable adult, you should submit a complaint to the CLPNA following the process below, and also submit a report to Protection for Persons in Care (PPC).

WHAT IS A COMPLAINT?

Examples of unprofessional conduct include, but are not limited to:

  • Nursing practice and competency concerns
  • Patient neglect/abuse (verbal, physical, emotional)
  • Sexual abuse/sexual misconduct
  • Abandonment of care
  • Medication administration errors
  • Patient safety concerns
  • Breach of privacy/confidentiality
  • Theft/fraud/deceit
  • Conflict of interest
  • Boundary concerns – inappropriate relationship
  • Co-worker harassment/bullying

If you are concerned with any of the above, make a complaint.

For more information, please contact:

Email the CLPNA’s Complaints Department

Ask CLPNA or call 1-800-661-5877 (toll-free in Alberta), or 780-484-8886.

OTHER TYPES OF COMPLAINTS

The CLPNA is responsible to manage the types of complaints as described in the Health Professions Act.

Examples of complaints that are not within the CLPNA’s jurisdiction include:

  • Employment or labour relations difficulties
  • Organizational or societal issues
  • Complaints about other regulated health care providers. (Please contact that profession’s regulatory college.)
  • Complaints about former members (over two years since registration cancelled).
  • Complaints about a facility’s administrative processes

MANDATORY REPORTING

EMPLOYER’S DUTY TO REPORT UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

DOWNLOAD Interpretive Document: Duty to Report

It is the legal responsibility of employers to report an LPN’s unprofessional conduct pursuant to Section 57(1) of the Alberta Health Professions Act.

“if, because of conduct that in the opinion of the employer is unprofessional conduct, the employment of a regulated member is terminated or suspended or the regulated member resigns, the employer must, as soon as reasonably possible, give notice of that conduct to the complaints director.”

LPN’S DUTY TO REPORT UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

DOWNLOAD Policy: Professional Responsibility and Accountability

DOWNLOAD Interpretive Document: Duty to Report

Licensed Practical Nurses have a professional obligation and duty to report unsafe practice, abusive behaviour, incapacity, or other unprofessional conduct in accordance with the Standards of Practice, Code of Ethics, the HPA and other relevant legislation which extends beyond your own personal practice. This would include reporting to the appropriate authority such as employer, regulatory body, or external authority if unethical or incompetent care by another care provider is suspected in order to ensure client safety and quality of care.

MANDATORY SELF-REPORTING TO CLPNA

DOWNLOAD  Policy: Professional Responsibility and Accountability

DOWNLOAD Interpretive Document: Duty to Report

LPN’s are responsible for reporting the following during the registration process and throughout the year as necessary:

  • Whether they are under investigation, the subject of a proceeding, or have been disciplined by another regulatory body or legislative body (ie. Protection for Persons in Care).
  • Whether they have been charged or have pleaded guilty or found guilty for a criminal offence for which a pardon has not been granted.
  • Whether they have any physical or mental condition or disorder that may impair the ability to provide safe, competent and ethical care, and whether they are under medical care and following medical advice.

How to Make a Complaint

Please select one of the following methods to submit your complaint:

  1. Complete and submit a Complaint Form.

DOWNLOAD Complaint Form for Employers

DOWNLOAD Complaint Form for Non-Employers

OR 

  1. Submit a letter which must:
  • be in writing;
  • indicate the LPN’s name (if known);
  • indicate the issue/reason for the complaint;
    • The details of the event which led to the complaint. In general, your complaint should include the basic information of “who, what, when, where, why and how.”
    • Include date(s) (if known),
    • The names of any persons involved (if known); and
    • Any other relevant information for the complaint.
  • be signed and dated; and
  • include your contact information.

Anonymous complaints will not be accepted.

NOTE: The LPN will receive a copy of your complaint letter.

Please submit the completed form or signed letter to CLPNA via mail, email or fax to:

Director of Professional Conduct/Complaints Director
College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta (CLPNA)
St. Albert Trail Place
13163 146 Street
Edmonton AB T5L 4S8

Email the CLPNA Complaints Department
Fax 780.484.9069

For more on the complaints process and how it applies in individual situations, contact the CLPNA Complaints Department, Ask CLPNA, or call 780-484-8886 or 1-800-661-5877 (toll free in Alberta).

The Role of CLPNA vs Employers or Unions

It is important to understand the CLPNA’s role as the regulator of the LPN profession is separate from any other employment or union processes that might take place. It is the CLPNA’s responsibility to ensure that the public remains protected and that the LPN’s practice and conduct meets the competencies, standards and ethics expected of an LPN practicing in Alberta.

QUESTIONS?

For more information, please contact:

Email the CLPNA’s Complaints Department

Ask CLPNA or call 1-800-661-5877 (toll-free in Alberta), or 780-484-8886.