Professional Responsibility and Accountability Article Series: Introduction
In 2025, the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta (CLPNA) will share information on topics related to professional responsibility and accountability. This article introduces key concepts and documents.
As regulated professionals, Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) are accountable for their practice and behaviour. They are expected to take responsibility for the care that they provide and behave in a manner that is trustworthy, reliable, and professional. They are also expected to follow the legal, professional, and ethical standards of their profession.
These standards are covered in documents that include standards of practice and the Code of Ethics for LPNs. LPNs use these documents together with other regulatory and workplace requirements to guide their practice and behaviour. Applying these standards and requirements will support LPNs in provide safe, competent, and ethical care.
The policy on Professional Responsibility and Accountability was created by the CLPNA to support LPNs in understanding the expectations of their profession. This document covers a range of topics.
This article series will cover the following key expectations related to professional responsibility and accountability.
- Professionalism
- Abandonment of care
- Scope of practice
- Privacy and confidentiality
- Professional boundaries
- Continuing competence
- Duty to report
- Fitness to practice
Unprofessional Conduct
Failing to meet professional responsibilities and accountabilities maybe considered unprofessional conduct.
Unprofessional conduct covers a wide range of behaviours. It includes lacking skill or judgement when providing professional services and failing to follow relevant legislation, regulations, standards, and policies. A full definition of unprofessional conduct is found in the Health Professions Act, section 1(1)(pp).
Unprofessional conduct can occur while an LPN is on duty, and in some cases, when they are off duty.