canadian lpn not a "nurse"?

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Hello all,

let me begin by saying I am in the lpn program and loving it. The other day, I was told by a presently employed lpn that lpns are just NOT nurses. She firmly told me that the world "nurse" was protected by the resgistered nurse and was NOT to be used to describe an lpn. I was really surprised and hurt by this. All that I am putting into this I won't even be recondnized as a "nurse"? If this isn't correct, does anyone have some kind of legal document that I could read that tells me that I will be able to identify myself as a NURSE and not feel like I'm pretending to be someone I am not?

Oh, and I'm in New-Brunswick.

Thanks so much in advance.

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Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

GEZZZZ, things are sure different here in the states......

Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

There must be some fundamental differences betweenLPN and RPN.RPN now is 2.5 years and when I am an RPN I will have no age restriction on who I can care for.

No, they are the same. RPN is the older terminology. Around the time I started my nursing progam, Ontario changed the term from RPN to LPN. I know because I have a good friend who was an RPN (now retired.) I am not really sure why there are restrictions on the giving of vaccines. It may have to do with them being given I.M., which is an extended-class skill for LPN's requiring special certification.

It could also be that different colleges/different provinces have different regulations.

I have deleted gaijingal's post, as it is rude, and gives incorrect information. Sorry I missed it the first time around!

Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

You could be right.I am not up on all the different programs.In my RPN program IM are part of the program but they used to be special certification.

Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Just curious...how long is the LPN program? RPN in Ontario and it is a lot longer that it used to be.

Found the following re. the LPN's scope of practise:

In the new legislation, which may come into force in the fall of 2002, LPNs with Basic Authorization will be able to continue to perform restricted activities that are within their current scope of practice, including:

• Administering subcutaneous injections

• Removing nasal pharyngeal suction catheters.

• Inserting and removing oral pharyngeal suction catheters.

• Inserting and removing urethral catheters.

• Inserting lady partsl suppositories and ointments.

• Inserting lady partsl catheters.

• Inserting rectal suppositories.

• Inserting devices for the purpose of administering medications or

solutions for the purpose of elimination.

• Removing nasal gastric tubes

• Inserting tubes for feeding.

• Inserting anticoagulant medication into established peripheral ports

or locks.

• Administering diagnostic imaging contrast agents.

• Administering nitrous oxide as ordered, under supervision.

LPNs with Additional Authorization will be able to continue to perform all

activities requiring Basic Authorization plus:

• Starting intravenous lines

• Inserting nasal gastric tubes.

• Inserting or removing instruments, devices, fingers or hands beyond

the cartilaginous portion of the ear canal for the purpose of syringing

ears.

• Inserting or removing instruments, devices, fingers or hands beyond

the point in the nasal passages where they normally narrow.

LPNs with Advanced Authorization will be able to continue to perform all

activities requiring Basic Authorization and Additional Authorization plus:

• Removing a portion of a corn or callus in the performance of foot care

• Inserting sponges, irrigation and suction devices, mechanical

retractors or fingers as retractors into an incision, under supervision.

• Inserting anticoagulant medication into established central ports or

locks.

• Applying casts to set or reset a fracture, under the supervision of a

physician.

• Inserting and removing orthopedic devices, under the supervision of

an authorized practitioner.

The CLPNA has proposed new restricted activities that LPNs may perform:

(i) Intramuscular injections: LPNs who graduated after June 2001 are

proposed to be able to complete this restricted activity in the future with "Basic Authorization." LPNs who graduated prior to June 2001 will

require post-basic education.

(ii) Intradermal injections: a training program will be piloted in June 2002 for LPNs to complete this restricted activity as an "Advanced Authorization."

Reference:http:// http://www.clpna.com/HPA.pdf

Just curious...how long is the LPN program? RPN in Ontario and it is a lot longer that it used to be.

It is 2 years long (4 semesters).

I think it used to be a year and a half.

We don't have LPNs or LVNs in Quebec. We have registered nurses and registered nursing assistants. RNAs can or cannot give medications depending on the institution. In our Palliative care residence, the RNAs give narcotics and can do the narcotic count.

To be an RN here, it is a 3 year college diploma or a university degree. To be an RNA, it is a 2 year program offered at adult education in local high schools. The older RNAs graduated from hospital programs.

When I began working as an RN in the early 80s, their scope was much more limited. They couldn't insert bladder catheters, let alone give meds.

JayJay that's the scope of practice in Alberta. Every province has a different scope. To through more mud into the water, every hospital in Alberta then decides which of the skills within our scope we can utilize.

I have the IV start credits but am not permitted by my employer to start an IV under any conditions as they have restricted it to an RN skill.

Just through it out there LPNs were the first to sign the Health Professions Act that is mentioned in the opening paragraph. Hence the title of our governing body "College of LPNs of Alberta", just as its the "College of Physicians and Surgeons", etc.

There must be some fundamental differences betweenLPN and RPN.RPN now is 2.5 years .

Many courses are being lengthened to include first year arts credits (English, Sociology, Psych). This is believed to help with the "diploma" status granted at the end of the course and to help facilitate entry into bridge programmes if that is the route a PN graduate wishes to pursue.

Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

yeah I guess you are right.My course included those in the five semesters.

We had a representative from the rpn assoc. of Ontario speak to our class and she said that educating employers on the scope of practice for rpns is part of the rpnao duty.She said it takes much persuasion to get them to change policies regarding what they will allow us to do. I am still a student but I can imagine that would be frustrating to not be allowed to do something you were trained to do.

Specializes in Geriatrics, Med-Surg..

In Ontario RPN's are nurses and allowed to use that title. In regards to practicing within the full scope of RPN practice, it depends on where you work. Some hospital and LTC's are quite restrictive and others aren't. This may change with time as the shortage of RN's grows, but who knows. I know that at this point in time, many hospitals in Ontario are hiring mainly RN's but I think that you still get to use lots of skills in LTC's as the patients in them seem to be much older and sicker. JMO.

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