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LPN Groups
There are many ways LPNs can get involved in their profession. The best place to start is to look at all of the groups involved, learn what they are doing now and what they are capable of doing in the future, and then make an educated decision about where you’d like to invest your time and effort.
Here are the groups who have influence in the health of practical nursing:
YOU: You have the power to make positive change in your profession.
YOUR EMPLOYER: They decide what your role is at your workplace and also what skills you can perform. If you want to improve your utilization, approach your employer and request an updated job description or the formation of a Nursing Practice Council. These councils presently exist across the province and are a great platform for communication between nurses and administration.
Licensed Practical Nurses Association of BC (LPNABC): This is a group of LPNs who got together and created a professional association and what they do is advocacy (all volunteers). Basically if you’ve got a problem, the LPNABC will lobby the group involved on your behalf. A good example of what they can do is lobby the government to make legislative changes so that we can practice independently; not under the supervision or direction of a RN as is it now. The great thing about being self regulated is that we have the ability to make changes to our scope of practice as we feel necessary. This group makes those changes happen. To learn more visit www.lpnabc.ca
College of Licensed Practical Nurses of BC (CLPNBC): The main purpose of the College is to protect the public. You’ll find our Standards of Practice with them, they give you your nursing license and there are Nursing Consultants who will tell you if you can legally perform certain skills or make certain decisions. To learn more about them visit www.clpnbc.org
The Canadian Nursing Students Association (CNSA): The Canadian Nursing Students Association is the voice of nursing students in Canada. For over thirty years, CNSA has represented the interests of nursing students to federal, provincial and international governments and other nursing and health care organizations. As a member of CNSA, you have the opportunity to interact with other nursing students on educational, professional and social levels. The CNSA, with over 20,000 members, is an affiliate member of the Canadian Nurses Association and Practical Nurses Canada as well as an associate member of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions. The CNSA has a reciprocal relationship with Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing and is a co-chair of the New Health Professionals Network. Visit the CNSA website for more information. www.cnsa.ca
Government: If we want, the government can make changes for us such as scope of practice. It’s up to us to approach the politicians so that they can make those legislative changes. Check out the Ministry of Health and our Health Minister.
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