MyCLPNA
Professional Responsibility and Accountability Series: Working Within Scope
In 2025, the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta (CLPNA) will share information on topics related to professional responsibility and accountability. This month’s topic is working within scope of practice.
LPNs have a responsibility to work within their scope of practice. Scope of practice is defined in the Health Professions Act, the Health Professions Restricted Activity Regulation, the Standards of Practice for LPNs in Canada, and other relevant CLPNA documents.
Employer supports and an LPN’s individual competence also play a role in determining scope of practice.
Working outside of scope involves one or more of the following:
- performing activities that aren’t authorized in regulation;
- performing activities that the employer doesn’t support; or
- performing activities outside the individual LPN’s knowledge, experience, skills, and abilities.
Example: Working Outside of Scope
A new LPN is working at an assisted living facility after graduation while still holding a provisional registration practice permit from the CLPNA.
He accepts an overnight shift where he is the only LPN on duty. He is responsible for supervising a small team of Health Care Aides.
During the night, the LPN notices that a client’s catheter is bypassing. He performs a supra pubic catheter reinsertion per a medically approved protocol. However, the LPN had only ever performed this activity in a classroom setting.
As a provisional permit holder, the LPN in this scenario was not allowed to work unsupervised or supervise others. Therefore, he needed to decline the shift and clearly communicate his limitations with a supervisor.
The LPN also performed a catheter reinsertion despite not having the necessary experience or supports in place. Catheter reinsertion is considered a restricted activity.
Provisional LPNs are not authorized to perform restricted activities without supervision. Therefore, this LPN needed another, more experienced health professional to supervise him in performing catheter reinsertion.
