LPN Practice Decision-Making Tool

This tool assists in determining safe and authorized practice for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) in Alberta. The key considerations provide guidance to determine if an area of practice or specific competency is appropriate for an LPN.

LPNs work in all settings where healthcare is provided. They work in clinical areas by providing direct patient care and they also work in areas such as research, education, and leadership.

An LPN’s entry level education provides them with fundamental nursing competencies, and a baseline for individual scope of practice. With additional education, training, and experience, an LPN’s scope of practice can increase. Therefore, scope of practice is different for every nurse.

The application of this tool is shaped by legislation and regulation, the needs of the client, the practice environment, and individual nurse competence. In all areas of practice, LPNs are accountable to the profession’s standards of practice and Code of Ethics.

This tool is designed to provide guidance related to LPN scope of practice in Alberta. Working step by step through the decision-making tool will help determine if a specific nursing activity is appropriate for an individual LPN to perform. The Determining LPN Scope of Practice Guideline document is complemented by this decision-making tool. This tool is based on legislative requirements, employer requirements, and individual scope of practice. It is also shaped by the tri-factor framework which identifies additional factors that need to be considered such as the nurse, client, and the environment.

An LPN is responsible for determining which federal or provincial legislation is applicable to their area of practice. The Determining LPN Scope of Practice Guideline will also provide additional guidance for determining your individual scope of practice along with the Standards of Practice, Code of Ethics, policies, practice guidelines, and info sheets. All these documents can be found on the CLHA’s LPN Knowledge Hub.