PRACTICE AND POLICY DOCUMENTS

COMPETENCY PROFILE FOR LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSES

Competency documents outline the knowledge, skills, judgments and attributes required of an LPN at entry into the profession to practice safely, competently and ethically in a designated role or setting.

More at Competency Profile for LPNs

• NEW! Competency Profile for LPNs, 4th Ed. (2019)
• Entry-Level Competencies for Licensed Practical Nurses (2019) (effective August 2019)

Archived Documents

• Entry to Practice Competencies for Licensed Practical Nurses (effective June 3, 2013 – August 2019)
• Competency Profile for Licensed Practical Nurses, 3rd Edition (2015) (PDF, 274 pages, 7MB) (updated January 31, 2017) (effective June 2, 2015)
• Competency Update – Section E: Nursing Practice (January 31, 2017)

CONTINUING COMPETENCE PROGRAM

The Continuing Competence Program (CCP) is a formal system mandated by the Health Professions Act (HPA) of assessing, monitoring, and reporting on the knowledge, skills, attitudes and critical judgments of a professional health care provider.

More at Continuing Competence Program.

LPN PRACTICE DECISION-MAKING TOOL

This tool assists in determining safe and authorized practice for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) in Alberta. The six key considerations provide guidance to determine if an area of practice or specific competency is appropriate for an individual LPN.

More at LPN Practice Decision-Making Tool. 

POLICIES

CLPNA Policies outline requirements and expected behaviours that will be monitored and enforced.

• Policy: Temporary Registration (posted March 2019)
• Policy: Specialized Practice Areas (posted December 2018)
• Policy: Authorized Restricted Activities for Licensed Practical Nurses (posted December 2018)
• Policy: Documentation (updated January 2020)
• Policy: Registration Requirements: Actively Engaged (updated January 2020)
• Policy: Professional Responsibility and Accountability (updated January 2020)
• Policy: Expectations and Obligations During Emergencies (updated January 2020)
• Policy: Personal Declaration for Registration Requirements
• Policy: Practice Hours (updated January 2020)

SUPPORTIVE DOCUMENTS

INTERPRETIVE DOCUMENTS

Interpretive Documents provide an explanation of legislation that affects practical nursing and how to practice in compliance with the law. These explanatory documents are meant to clarify an LPN’s understanding of obligations and issues arising from various pieces of legislation.

• Interpretive Document: Privacy Legislation in Alberta (updated January 2020)
• Interpretive Document: Duty to Report (updated January 2020)
• Interpretive Document: Incapacity Under the HPA (updated January 2020)
• Interpretive Document: LPN Role in Bringing a Personal Directive into Effect (updated January 2020)

PRACTICE GUIDELINE

Practice Guidelines are evidence informed documents designed to assist membership with making decisions about appropriate practices. These documents support professional judgement and permit flexibility in practice.

• NEW! Practice Guideline: Cultural Competence and Inclusive Practice (posted December 2019)
• Practice Guideline: Professional Boundaries (updated December 2019)
• Practice Guideline: Confidentiality (updated January 2020)
• Practice Guideline: Medication Management (posted July 2018)
• Practice Guideline: Mobile Devices (updated January 2020)
• Practice Guideline: Professionalism on Social Media (updated January 2020)
• Practice Guideline: Independent Practice (updated January 2020)
• Practice Guideline: Addressing Co-Worker Abuse in the Workplace (updated January 2020)

COLLABORATIVE DOCUMENTS

• Aesthetic Nursing in Alberta Frequently Asked Questions (posted September 2018)
• Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) Guidelines for Nurses in Alberta (posted March 2017)
• Joint Statement on Family Violence
• Collaborative Practice in Nursing (posted October 2019)

INFO SHEETS

Info Sheets inform membership on relevant nursing topics or the CLPNA’s processes.

• Fact Sheet: Immunization Regulation (posted December 2018)
• Info Sheet: Non-Medical Cannabis (updated January 2020)
• Fact Sheet: Bladder Scanning (posted August 2018)
• Info Sheet: Pandemic Characteristics and Response Measures (January 2020)
• Info Sheet: Naloxone and the Role of the Licensed Practical Nurse in Alberta (updated January 2020)
• Info Sheet: Co-worker Abuse is a Threat to Patient Safety (updated January 2020)
• NEW! Understanding the Difference: Regulator and Union

DISCUSSION PAPER

Discussion Papers analyze an issue in nursing or healthcare with the aim to inform future directions, next steps or political action.

• Primary Health Care – Emerging Roles for LPNs – April 2005
• PHAA Discussion Papers Regarding LPNs

POSITION STATEMENT

Position Statements highlight the regulatory organization’s interpretation, stand or view on a particular nursing or healthcare issue and guides nursing behaviour.

• LPN Role in Triage: Specific Settings (Approved by Council – December 11, 2009. Revised March 4, 2010)

WHITE PAPER

White Papers explain research on a specific issue and proposes, or lays out, a plan of action.

• White Paper: Mental Injury in the Healthcare Workplace (posted November 2013)

RESOURCES

Resources link to relevant websites and best evidence articles that strengthen nursing knowledge and evidence-informed practice.

Research

More at Research

Infection Prevention and Control (IPC)

• Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) (Alberta Health)
• Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Publications (Alberta Health)
• Infection Prevention and Control Best Practice Guideline for Foot Care Devices (Alberta Health Services, 2013)
• Medical Device Reprocessing – A Comprehensive Review (CSA)
• Reprocessing Foot Care Devices (Alberta Health Services, 2012)