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Practice Corner: When and Where Can LPNs Perform Assessments?
Registrants and other interested parties can contact the Professional Practice Team at the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta (CLPNA) to receive clarification on Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) practice.
In Practice Corner, we’ll share some frequently asked questions and our answers.
When and Where Can LPNs Perform Assessments?
A client assessment involves organizing and analyzing information about a client’s condition. Performing assessments is an entry-to-practice skill for LPNs (#36 in the Canadian Council for Practical Nurse Regulators Entry Level Competencies, under Foundations of Practice).
36. Completes comprehensive health assessments of clients across the lifespan.
LPNs can perform assessments at any time in any setting. However, LPNs should be confident in their competence to perform an assessment accurately before doing so. In addition, some assessments are very specific and may require additional education and training. For example, Mini-Mental State Examinations and falls risk assessments require additional training.
Some assessments may require an order from an authorized practitioner, or employer approved medical direction or protocol, while others will not. For example, wound assessment, mental health assessments, and applying non-iodizing radiation in fetal heart rate assessments require orders and/or protocols. It is important that the LPN knows when an order or protocol is needed.
More Information About Assessments
This info sheet clarifies the distinctions between observation, assessment, and diagnosis, including their respective scopes, authorized practitioners, and outcomes.