Scope of Practice and undercompensation...

Published Sep 1, 2009

16 Posts

Specializes in Surgical/Medical/Emerg.

I've been reading in alot of topics here about experiences from other LPN's working in hospital settings in different provinces of Canada and the States.. And it seems the majority is pretty crippled in what they are allowed to do for skills and procedures, and the role of the LPN is not fully exploited.

Nevermind that LPN's DO go through a rigorous 2 year training program that is compressed into a 15 months program with NO breaks. Thats how it was for me at Assiniboine Community College, Brandon MB Canada. My instructors kept touting all the way through that we were technically taking the RN diploma program(maybe minus a course or 3..) only not officially, which was a very bad tease.. =/

Anyhow, I reside in Dauphin, MB and work at the hospital here.. And guess what??

All LPN's here are basically on their own on the ward, we don't have a supervising RN(plus the charge nurse isn't always an RN.. LPN's actually take Charge on medical/surgial wards on a regular basis....) We are ultimately responsible for our patients and our license is on the line.

We do all the same tasks as an RN here... We take charge, go on Dr.'s rounds, I can start/hang Blood, I can start TPN and manage it per protocol, I can D/C PICC lines, I can give IV medication push, start IV's and manage central lines....... and the list keeps going..

But what really nerves me here is the low pay... I find I should be doing far less work for my money... tho I am practicing within my scope(full scope actually). Its saddening to see me having to teach and orientate new grad-nurse RN's from different countries that are making like 10$ more an hour...

So in short, I find we are really undercompensated for the amount of responsibility we take on, and for the fact that we are on equel footing with RN's here in Dauphin except for wage. :zzzzz

All LPN's should band together nation-wide and go on strike for low wages, demanding higher wage that is at least within close proximity of an RN.. 7 to 9$ difference is a big gap.. if it were 2-3 dollar differences, then it wouldn't be that bad..

So what is everyone elses' experience here in Canada?