Competency Profile Outline - College of Licensed Practical Nurses ...

Alberta
Licensed
Practical
Nurses

ALBERTA LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSES
Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) have been in practice in the province of Alberta for over
60 years. Education and clinical practice for the LPN profession has evolved, enhancing
the opportunities for LPN practice. These comprehensive changes to basic education, continuing
education, and practice environments have impacted the demand for LPNs and
opened new and unique opportunities throughout the province.
WHO IS AN LPN?
LPNs are professional nurses and work within their own scope of practice, standards of
practice, and code of ethics. LPNs are one of three categories of professional nurses in Alberta
and continue to excel as frontline nurses involved in the assessment, planning, implementation,
and evaluation of nursing care.
LPNs study from the same body of nursing knowledge as registered nurses (RNs) and registered
psychiatric nurses (RPNs) with a more focused approach in
foundational knowledge, critical thinking, and clinical
judgment to suit the LPN role of today. LPNs
have the knowledge, skill, judgment, and abilities
to contribute in all phases of the continuum of care
from prevention to acute treatment and management,
to long term and palliative care. LPNs may
have independent, interdependent, and often overlapping
roles on the health care team.

EDUCATION
LPNs in Alberta graduate from a two year diploma in practical nursing offered at the college
level. The program provides a minimum of 1650 instructional hours including 750
hours of theoretical instruction and 900 hours of clinical / lab experience.
There are numerous post-basic learning opportunities for LPNs. Specialty education is available
in many areas such as: immunization, operating room, advanced orthopedics, and
renal dialysis.There are also additional certificate programs in areas such as: mental health,
chronic disease management, leadership, gerontology, wound care, palliative care, and
foot care.
ROLE & SCOPE OF PRACTICE
LPNs in Alberta practice autonomously and assume full responsibility for their own practice.
As trusted and respected professional nurses, LPNs serve individuals, families, and
groups, assessing their needs and providing care and treatments as appropriate.
LPNs are accountable for their own nursing practice and as any professional, are expected
to seek assistance when the needs within their practice go beyond their competence level.
There are many roles within Alberta for LPNs in areas such as: acute care, long term care,
community, primary care clinics, education, occupational health and safety, public health,
and leadership.
LPNs advocate for clients related to all areas of practice including human, physical, and financial
resources necessary to provide safe, quality nursing care. LPN work collaboratively
with clients, families, and the health care team to ensure continuity of care and quality
health service delivery.

REGULATED PROFESSIONAL NURSES
As a self-regulating profession, LPNs must meet registration requirements set out by the
College of LPNs of Alberta under the Health Professions Act LPN Regulation (2003).This includes
initial registration upon completion of an approved practical nurse program or equivalency.
It also includes annual renewal of registration, participation in continuing
competence activities, and being actively engaged in the practice of the profession.
COMPETENCY PROFILE OUTLINE FOR LPNS
Competency is defined as the knowledge, skills, behaviors, and attitudes of a professional.
The following document outlines the Alberta LPN competencies, which define basic, additional,
and specialized competencies of the LPN profession. No one LPN is required to possess
all competencies of the profession. Each individual will possess a set of competencies
specific to their own expertise, based on their work experience and practice setting. The
Competency Profile is a detailed account of these competencies and it is available directly
from the CLPNA.

Competency Profile Outline
for
Licensed Practical Nurses

A.
Nursing
Knowledge
A-1
Anatomy and
Physiology
A-2
Microbiology
A-3
Pathophysiology
A-4
Medical
Terminology
A-5
Growth and
Development
A-6
Nutrition
A-7
Pharmacology
A-8
Nursing Science
A-9
Communication
B.
Nursing
Process
B-1
Assessment
B-2
Planning
B-3
Implementation
B-4
Evaluation
C.
Safety C-1
Fire emergency
C-2
Disaster
emergency
C-3
Bomb threat
C-4
Missing client
C-5
Personal
protection
devices
C-6
Standard
precautions
C-7
Infection control
C-8
Handling and
disposal of
sharps
C-9
WHMIS and
transportation of
dangerous goods
C-10
Handling of biomedical
waste
C-11
Refusal of
treatment
C-12
Maintain physical
safety of client
C-13
Safe work
practices
C-14
Safety reports
and
documentation
D.
Communication
and
Interpersonal
Skills
D-1
Effective
communication
D-2
Therapeutic
nurse-client
relationship
D-3
Functioning as an
effective team
leader
D-4
Client and family
teaching
D-5
Legal protocols,
documenting and
reporting
D-6
Accept,
transcribe and
initiate orders
D-7
Conflict
management
D-8
Time
management
E. Nursing
Practice
E-1
Critical thinking
E-2
Clinical judgment
and decision
making
E-3
CPR and code
procedure
E-4
Admission
procedures
E-5
Nursing diagnosis
E-6
Client transfer,
discharge and
referral
E-7
Activities of daily
living
E-8
Mobility of clients
E-9
Nutrition/
hydration
E-10
Elimination
E-11
Medical/surgical
asepsis
E-12
Peritoneal
dialysis
E-13
Foot care
E-14
Wound care
E-15
Specimen
collection and
testing
E-16
Resource
utilization
E-17
Post modern care

F.
Respiratory
Care
F-1
Airway
management
F-2
Oxygen therapy
F-3
Suctioning
F-4
Respiratory
treatments
F-5
Tracheostomy
care
F-6
Chest tubes
G.
Surgical
Nursing
G-1
Knowledge of
surgical
procedures
G-2
Perioperative
teaching
G-3
Pre-operative
care
G-4
Post-operative
care
G-5
Wounds, tubing
and drains
G-6
Removal of
staples and
sutures
H.
Orthopedic
Nursing
H-1
Knowledge of
orthopedic
nursing
H-2
Cast care
H-3
Traction and
external fixators
H-4
Splints and
braces
I.
Neurological/
Neurovascular
Nursing
I-1
Neurological/
neurovascular
assessment
I-2
Seizures
I-3
Spinal
precautions
I-4
Support to the
client/family
J.
Cardiovascular
Nursing
J-1 Knowledge of
cardiovascular
disorders and
diseases
K. Maternal/
Newborn
Care
K-1
Prenatal care,
assessment and
teaching
K-2
Knowledge and
assessment of
labour
K-3
Assist with
managing labour
K-4
Assist with
delivery
K-5
Postpartum care
and teaching
K-6
Prenatal/ preoperative
care
and teaching
K-7
Postnatal/ postoperative
care
and teaching
K-8
Knowledge and
teaching of
newborn care
L.
Pediatrics
L-1 Knowledge,
assessment and
care of pediatric
client/family
L-2
Interventions and
safety procedures
L-3
Support and
teaching to
client/family
L-4
Knowledge and
use of pediatric
equipment
M.
Mental Health
Nursing
M-1 Knowledge
and assessment
of mental health
and illness
M-2
Aggressive
behaviour
M-3
Intolerable
behaviour
M-4
Prevention and
intervention in
suicide
M-5
Substance abuse
interventions
M-6
Mental health
treatments and
interventions
M-7 Legal
protocols and
documentation
requirements
N.
Emergency
Nursing
N-1
Multi-systems
assessment
N-2
Identify priority
needs
N-3
Nursing
interventions
N-4
Assist with
emergency
interventions
N-5
Knowledge of
equipment
N-6
Support and
teach client/family

O.
Gerontology
Nursing
0-1
Aging process
and health
problems
O-2
Support and
teaching
O-3
Nursing
interventions
O-4
Assessment for
appropriate
placement
O-5
Safety
procedures
O-6
Communications
and advocacy
P.
Palliative
Care
P-1
Assess
physiological
change
P-2
Pain
management and
symptom control
P-3
Psychological
and emotional
support
P-4
Care and comfort
measures
P-5
Support services
P-6
Respect for the
family’s rights
and wishes
P-7
Post mortem care
and
documentation
Q.
Rehabilitation
Nursing
Q-1
Apply the
rehabilitation
process
Q-2 Assessment
and provision of
rehabilitation
process
Q-3
Support and
teaching
Q-4
Collaboration
Q-5
Discharge
planning
R.
Community
Health
R-1
Knowledge of
community health
R-2
Nursing process
and community
health
R-3
Client services
R-4
Primary health
care
R-5
Community
health
R-6
Preventative
health
R-7
Health teaching
S.
Clinic Based
Nursing
S-1
Knowledge of
clinic based
nursing
S-2
Assessment and
prioritizing of
client needs
S-3
Nursing
interventions
S-4
Coordinate client
referral
S-5
Support and
teaching
S-6 HPA
authorization to
perform ear
syringing
S-7
Ear syringing
T. Occupation
Health and
Safety
T-1 Knowledge of
occupational
health and safety
nursing
T-2
Application of
nursing process
T-3
Health and safety
promotion
T-4
Collaborate with
health
professionals
T-5
Respond to
emergency
situations
T-6
Provision of
support for
program
U.
Medication
Administration
U-1 Pharmacology
and principles of
administration of
medications
U-2
Assess client
need for
medication
U-3
Processing
medication orders
U-4
Access resources
and information
U-5
Calculating
medication
dosages
U-6
Preparation of
medications
U-7
Administration of
medications
U-8
Prepare and
administer
injections
U-9
Nitrous oxide
U-10
Support and
teaching
U-11
Monitoring drug
effectiveness
U-12
Storage and
disposal
procedures
U-13
Drug counts of
controlled
medications
U-14
Diagnostic
imaging contrast
agents
U-15 Professional
accountability in
medication
administration
V.
Infusion
Therapy
V-1
Knowledge of
intravenous
therapy
V-2
Peripheral
intravenous
therapy
V-3 Initiate and
discontinue
peripheral
infusion
V-4
Care of a central
line
V-5
Care of a central
line in specific
settings
V-6
Hypodermoclysis
V-7
Blood transfusion

W.
Professionalism
W-1 Health
professions act
and LPN
regulation
W-2
Licensed
practical nurse
scope of practice
W-3
Professional
standards of
practice
W-4
Professional
ethics
W-5
Professional
accountability
W-6
Confidentiality
W-7
Professional
boundaries
W-8
Fitness to
practice
W-9 Continuing
competence and
professional
development
W-10
Policy and
procedures
W-11
Nursing and
clinical research
X. Licensed
Practical Nurse
Leadership
Role
X-1
Leadership skills
X-2
Team lead role
X-3
Organizational
structure
X-4
Risk
management
X-5
Planning process
X-6
Human resource
management
X-7
Mentoring
X-8
Assignment to
health care aides
X-9
Organize and
facilitate
meetings
Y.
Orthopedic
Specialty
Y-1
HPA
authorization and
standards
Y-2 Knowledge
and application of
orthopedic
specialty
Y-3
Application of
orthopedic
devices
Y-4
Cast and splint
care
Y-5
Application and
monitoring of
traction
Z.
Perioperative
Nursing
Specialty
Z-1
HPA
authorization and
standards
Z-2 Knowledge
and application of
perioperative
nursing
Z-3
Knowledge and
application of
scrub role
Z-4
Knowledge and
application of
circulating role
Z-5
Knowledge and
assistance to the
anaesthetist
Z-6
Knowledge and
application of
prep room role
AA. Dialysis
Nursing
Specialty
AA-1
HPA
authorization and
standards
AA-2
Knowledge of
dialysis nursing
AA-3
Assessment and
nursing care of
dialysis client
AA-4
Initiate, monitor
and discontinue
dialysis treatment
BB.
Additional
Education in
Neonatal
Resuscitation
BB-1
Knowledge of
neonatal
resuscitation
CC.
Additional
Education in
Foot Care
CC-1
HPA
authorization and
standards
CC-2
Additional
education in foot
care

DD.
Additional
Education in
Phlebotomy
DD-1 Knowledge
and ability to
perform phlebotomy
(venipuncture)
EE.
Licensed
Practical Nurse
Educator Role
EE-1
Knowledge of
nursing education
EE-2
Knowledge of
practical nursing
EE-3 Knowledge
of curriculum
development and
revision
EE-4 Knowledge
and application of
various delivery
methods
EE-5
Managing the
learning
environment
EE-6
Facilitation of
learning
EE-7
Utilization of
effective
communication
EE-8
Evaluation of
learning
EE-9
Participation in
professional
development
EE-10
Evaluation of own
performance
FF.
Ophthalmic
Nursing
FF-1 Knowledge
of ophthalmology
and surgical
procedures
FF-2
Assess and care
for ophthalmic
client
FF-3
Knowledge and
application of
surgical asepsis
FF-4
Perform scrub
assistant role
FF-5
Assist with laser
procedures
FF-6 Assist with
circulating in the
ophthalmic
theatre
FF-7 Provide
administrative
support to the
ophthalmic program
GG.
Immunization
Specialty
GG-1 HPA
authorization and
certification in
immunization
GG-2
Immunity and
communicable
disease control
GG-3
Principles of
immunization/
biological agents
GG-4
Assessment of
client prior to
immunization
GG-5
Informed consent
and client
teaching
GG-6
Prepare
immunizing/
biological agents
GG-7
Administer
immunizing/
biological agents
Shading indicates “Advanced” competencies gained through additional training or specialty education
The enclosed outline has been complied in accordance with:
2 nd Edition Competency Profile for Licensed Practical Nurses, September 2005.
Alberta Health and Wellness, College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta.
View the full LPN Competency Profile online at www.clpna.com

OUR MANDATE
The College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta is mandated through the
Health Professions Act, the Licensed Practical Nurses Profession Regulation,
the Bylaws, and the Standards of Practice to regulate the profession of
Practical Nursing in a manner that protects and serves the public.
To fulfill this mandate, the College has identified four primary areas of
responsibility: Regulation, Education, Advocacy and Leadership.
Each area has established priority outcomes which are dynamic
and will likely evolve and change.
OUR MISSION
To lead and regulate the profession in a manner that protects and
serves the public through excellence in Practical Nursing.
OUR VISION
Licensed Practical Nurses are a nurse of choice, trusted partner
and a valued professional in the healthcare system.
The CLPNA embraces change that serves the best interests of the public,
the profession and a quality healthcare system.
By 2012 the CLPNA expects:
To be a full partner in all decisions that affect the profession
LPNs to embrace and fully exploit their professional scope of practice
and positively impact the nursing culture
LPNs actively involved in planning and decision making within the
profession and the healthcare system
LPNs to assume leadership and management roles provincial, nationally
and internationally within the profession and the healthcare system
An increase in LPN registrations to 12,000 by 2012
LPNs to actively promote and support the profession
Employers fully utilizing LPNs in every area of practice
The scope of practice to evolve in response to the unique and changing
demands of the healthcare system

St. Albert Trail Place, 13163 - 146 Street, Edmonton, AB T5L 4S8
780 484-8886 • 780 484-9069 FAX • 1-800-661-5877
Website: www.clpna.com
September 2008