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Practice Corner: Does the CLHA Offer Training for Specific Clinical Activities?
Registrants and other interested parties can contact the Professional Practice Team at the College of LPNs and HCAs of Alberta (CLHA) to receive clarification on Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) practice.
In Practice Corner, we’ll share some frequently asked questions and our answers.
Does the CLHA Offer Training for Specific Clinical Activities?
The CLHA offers theoretical learning for certain restricted activities. We also approve formal education programs for areas of Advanced Practice.
However, we do not evaluate, approve, or recommend hands-on or practical training. This includes training in practice areas such as aesthetic nursing, orthopedic nursing, wound care, or IV insertions. LPNs should reach out to their employer for hands-on training.
Restricted Activities
In the Health Professions Act, LPN scope of practice is described as follows:
- applying nursing knowledge, skills and judgment to assess clients’ needs;
- providing nursing care for clients and families;
- teaching, managing, and conducting research in the science, techniques and practice of nursing; and/or
- providing restricted activities authorized by the regulations.
As you can see, restricted activities are considered part of LPN scope of practice. The CLHA supports LPN competence in some of these areas through learning modules. In addition, the CLHA offers learning modules and webinars to support LPN continuing competence in regulatory topics such as privacy legislation, duty to report, and LPN scope of practice.