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LPNs
How Do I Know What My Scope of Practice Is?
The College of LPNs and HCAs of Alberta (CLHA) frequently receives questions about professional scope of practice. Through our regular series, we will address many of these questions.
Your scope of practice as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) is shaped by three factors: regulation, your employer, and your individual competence.
Regulatory Scope of Practice
LPN regulatory scope of practice is set by legislation and regulation, and further regulatory guidance is aligned and enforced through the professions standards of practice, code of ethics, and other resources.
Employer Scope of Practice
Employers work within the regulatory scope of practice to define LPN roles in their specific settings. While the LPN role can vary depending on the practice setting, the employer’s scope of practice cannot go beyond what is established in regulation.
Individual Scope of Practice
An LPN’s individual scope of practice is defined by their knowledge, skills, and abilities. LPNs are responsible for evaluating their own skills and abilities to decide whether an activity or area of practice falls within their scope of practice and whether they have the individual competence to practice safely.
Decision Making: Three-Factor Framework
Evaluating scope of practice requires an LPN to consider not only their regulatory, employer, and individual scope of practice but also the specific circumstances under which they would be practicing.
When considering whether it’s appropriate to perform a specific activity in certain circumstances, 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 available support of the healthcare team.
LPNs should consult with the rest of the client’s care team if further guidance is needed to ensure safe, ethical, and competent care is provided.
Determining LPN Scope of Practice
The Determining LPN Scope of Practice guideline was created to help registrants and employers determine if a specific activity is within the LPN scope of practice. The document assists registrants with making decisions about their individual scope of practice by allowing them to apply their professional judgment to specific situations, permitting flexibility in practice.
Questions About Scope of Practice?
Contact the CLHA’s Professional Practice Team.