The future of nursing. Everybody is impacted. Big discussion in SK.

[magnoliya]

Dear nurses

I would like to introduce a new and immensely important topic for discussion. There is a big discussion going on in SK, Canada about roles of Registered nurses(RNs) and Licensed Practical Nurses(LPNs). Everything started when LPNs decided to update their bylaws. Should LPNs be given new privileges and roles? Should LPNs go back to school to study more? What will be the role of RNs then? What is the benefit of having two types of nurses? Is it fair to give certain privileges to somebody who studied less than somebody who studied more to acquire those privileges?

Some people call it a turf war and hysteria, others job creep and patients safety issue. Some LPNs want their bylaws updated while others don't as it means more responsibility.

Here is an article that describes the issue.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/registered-nurses-say-proposed-changes-could-hurt-patients-1.2769608

Please share what do you think about all this? Perhaps this should be a global nursing topic but as this discussion is currently going on in SK, Canada, I started it in "Nursing in Canada" category.

you can probably find some more information here.

http://vimeo.com/channels/fromthedeskoftheed

or follow Treacy Zambory SUN ED on twitter who advocates in the favor of RNs

or follow Lynsay Nair executive director of SALPN who advocates in the favor of LPNs

Patients first , safety always!!!!

FYI: LPN in SK is an equivalent of RPN in Ontario.

RPN in SK means Registered Psiciatric Nurse

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

This isn't a new argument. It was going on when I graduated 20 years ago and it will go on forever. It's a terribly divisive and contentious issue that only results in a lot of very heated words being exchanged and in the end the thread gets closed. There are lots of threads already on the go about RN-vs-LPN and I'm not sure another one is necessary. Try a keyword search and you'll see what I mean.

[magnoliya]

Thank you for your comment. you are the first one.

are you RN or lpn?

This is not just a discussion about distant and possible and distant future. It is not just one more discussion about differences between RNs and LPNs. This is something that is happening now. Some people can loose their jobs now! patients safety can be affected now! SK government is about to approve news bylaws. This issue can come to other provinces right away.

"Divisive and contentious issue"? So what? Are we afraid to have a conversation?

P.S. Every topic gets closed eventualy

[Novo]

Looks like this is going to make RNs obsolete in SK. Instead of whining and moaning they should market themselves as irreplaceable and push themselves into a new market, one distinct from the role of the LPN. Two years of the degree program feels like the LPN program the other 2 years are a huge waste, some community, leadership and a few electives. The fact that you can do nursing a nursing "after-degree" program in two years and come out as an RN also speaks to how much unnecessary fluff there is in the degree.

They should change the curriculum for RNs to include things that require true critical thinking like diagnosing and prescribing at an entry level. They could even take an administration path for the RNs. Just anything to make themselves distinct. Sure the physcians won't be happy but everyone wants a piece of the pie and having two levels of nurses who do nearly the exact same thing is redundant and a colossal waste of resources.

[magnoliya]

Not Just in SK. You think other provinces will not follow the same pattern soon?

I bet other professions have a lot of "fluff" in their educational curriculum too. This is how world works.

I agree, too many double standarts and too many overlaps. One type of nurse would be enough. In Israel they actually got rid of LPNs to avoid role confusion. They said anybody who will not complete their education to RN will become SCA(PSW) within number of years.

[Mewsin]

The union(SUN) should have nothing to do with professional association (SALPN). What does the SRNA have to say?

[magnoliya]

I gave a link in my initial post. They are not happy of course.

From the Desk of the ED on Vimeo

[Mewsin]

This is how I feel after our meeting with a past SALPN president.

I do not feel that patient safety is being challenged. RNs need to stay in their own lane and not try and tell LPNs what their scope of practice is. It is not the fault of the LPNs that the RNs in SK have priced themselves out of a job.

[magnoliya]

"priced themselves out of a job"?

beginning lawyer is charging 200$ while paralegal is charging 40$ and layers still did not priced themselves out work.

Today on radio I heard one LPN talking.

Your say on dust-up between nurses' groups - Blue Sky - CBC Player

She said that she does not see any risk to patients safety since if anything goes wrong, she will just report this to RN.

Why should nurses, one of which is independent while another one is super dependent have same privileges?

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

Just as I predicted this thread has already become a bit of a battleground. It doesn't matter whether I'm an RN or an LPN. There are things that RNs do as part of their scope of practice, which are not within the scope of practice of LPNs. The two are not totally interchangeable. This kind of turf war is going on in most provinces at this very moment, although it's been fought before. In the 1990s Manitoba decided to eliminate the class of LPN altogether. Within a couple of years they had to bring them back because long-term care facilities were unable to pay for RN-only care. They also at the same time eliminated their diploma RN program without ensuring the degree programs could produce enough graduates to replace those RNs who were retiring each year. Another decision they had to back-pedal on, at least temporarily. Trust me, everything in nursing is cyclical. In Alberta the current BIG THING is called workforce transformation. LPNs and RNs both are being replaced by health care aides. There is much documentation from the units where this has already been implemented describing the deleterious effects removing BOTH "class" of nurse from the mix is having. It will eventually be recognized as another failed experiment and RNs and LPNs will once again be hired back. Truly nothing new about the issue, despite the OP's rather limited experience in Canadian health care and despite SUN and SRNA making a big deal out of it.

[Mewsin]

Lawyers get paid by individuals, privately. Are they accessible for everyone one? No. Have they priced themselves out of a job by only catering to those who can afford it? Yes. There are many people who can not get legal representation because they do not make enough money but make too much money for legal aide. This is an apples to oranges comparison.

Would you also then say those RNs who took the diploma program are not practicing safe patient care? Diploma RNs were grandfathered in based on their years of practice and hands on knowledge.

As a LPN I will be an autonomous professional. I would rather have a lpn with experience look after me and my care than a brand new rn.

Find me the evidence that verifies what SUN is accusing.

[magnoliya]

Unfortunately we do not always talk about pleasant issues. Sometimes we have to talk about unpleasant ones.

If this issue is going on in so many provinces, this forum should not ignore it then. It is one of the most important topics in nursing.

Do not underestimate the situation. One day it might not be cyclical anymore. Once they find a way to make it cheaper, they will not reverse it anymore. A lot of people are risking to loose their jobs. Nobody wants to speak out because it is inconvenient and impolite to talk about this. Public is being misinformed and nobody wants to question their government decisions. RNs and LPNs are being replaced by SCAs(PSW) but nobody talks.