LPN News

Scope of Practice FAQ Series

The College of LPNs and HCAs of Alberta (CLHA) frequently receives questions about professional scope of practice. Through our monthly series, we will address many of these questions.

How Do I Know if I Should Perform a Specific Activity?

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPNs) are responsible for evaluating their own skills and abilities to decide whether an activity or area of practice falls within their scope. Evaluating scope of practice requires an LPN to consider their regulatory, employer, and individual scope of practice as well as other factors.

As mentioned in a previous article, regulatory scope of practice is established through legislation and regulation with further expectations being set through standards of practice and other CLHA documents. Employer scope of practice defines the LPN role in a specific setting, working within regulatory scope of practice.

To determine your individual scope of practice, you need to consider your own competencies. Important factors in determining individual competence include your education, training, and practice experience.

You also need to consider the specific circumstances under which you are practicing. Considerations related to individual circumstances include three different factors.

Three-Factor Framework

An activity may fall in LPN scope of practice, but it may not be appropriate for the LPN to perform it under specific circumstances. When considering whether it’s appropriate to perform a specific activity, reflect on the following factors.

• Nurse factors, including an LPN’s knowledge, skills, and abilities and their individual competence.
• Client factors, including age, comorbidities, potential complications, and predictability of outcomes.
• Environmental factors, including equipment, training, policies, and the support of the healthcare team.

LPNs should collaborate with the rest of the client’s care team as needed to ensure safe, ethical, and competent care is provided.

LPN Practice Decision Making Tool

To support LPNs and other interested parties in determining whether it’s appropriate to perform a specific activity, the CLHA has developed a decision-making tool.