Managing human resources, especially nurses, in healthcare is a difficult task made more difficult by outdated legislation and the lack of full-utilization of staff.
In January, Alberta Health Services (AHS) announced a new ‘Patient Care Based Funding’ model for long term care centres. Also announced was the loss of 48 Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) positions at CapitalCare, Edmonton with implementation of the new model. On January 24, 2013, the Edmonton Journal[i] reports that Health Care Aides (HCAs) would be hired in place of the 48 LPNs, with existing Registered Nurses (RNs) taking on the medication administration and other specific nursing duties.
After careful consideration, we believe there are core issues that require system follow-up. Read on…
In early November, discussions held by Alberta Health Services (AHS) were reported in the press to reflect increased hiring of registered nurses, with no additional need for licensed practical nurses. Through a letter of clarity directed to CLPNA members, Deb Gordon, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer of AHS, reaffirmed the AHS commitment to hiring and utilizing all nurses including LPNs (see full letter).
This discussion unearths a longstanding issue with the interpretation of Who a nurse is, and Who is being referred to when the term Nurse is used. Read on…
In a letter to the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta (CLPNA), Senior Vice President Deb Gordon clarified today that Alberta Health Services’ (AHS) strategy to increased effort to hire more full-time nurses definitely includes Licensed Practical Nurses:
“We are committed to all types of nursing care providers, including Licensed Practical Nurses, and we want more nurses working full-time and to full scope of practice.”
On May 8, 2012, Global Edmonton Morning News interviewed Linda Stanger, Executive Director of the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta, for National Nursing Week (May 6-12).
Stanger thanked Licensed Practical Nurses and all nurses for their contribution to the health of Albertans and Canadians; described LPNs collaborative relationship with the health care team; and revealed the wide-open possibilities of the LPN profession for those considering the profession and those within considering specialization.
A recent College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta blog post (Let’s Get Some Facts Straight!) generated overwhelming response from our members, and for this we thank you. The passion and commitment within the Licensed Practical Nurse profession is boldly evident, but the ongoing frustration is also evident.
Health care is inherently interprofessional. It takes a team of providers for quality health care delivery. No single profession can or should deliver all the services required by a patient. Therefore, it makes sense to have different levels of education within providers. Think of it this way, it wouldn’t make sense to have a person educated at a PhD level providing basic nursing or starting all the intravenous lines. Different levels of education make sense; it is not a bad thing that we are different! The trouble is our differences are not valued. Read on…
The CLPNA is committed to working within a comprehensive, universal, portable, publicly-administered, and accessible health care system. We are pleased to support the Government of Alberta’s commitment to these guiding principles, which are the core of the Canada Health Act; and its commitment to sustainable public health care.
LPNs & the Alberta Health Act
The stated objective of the Alberta Health Act is to consolidate the 30 pieces of legislation and 100 regulations that currently guide the health system. LPNs are regulated by one of those pieces, the Health Professions Act (HPA), which provides for self-governance for 73% of health professionals in Alberta. Read on…
Managing human resources, especially nurses, in healthcare is a difficult task made more difficult by outdated legislation and the lack of full-utilization of staff.
In early November, discussions held by Alberta Health Services (AHS) were reported in the press to reflect increased hiring of registered nurses, with no additional need for licensed practical nurses. Through a letter of clarity directed to CLPNA members, Deb Gordon, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer of AHS, reaffirmed the AHS commitment to hiring and utilizing all nurses including LPNs (
A recent College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta blog post (
This spring, College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta (CLPNA) welcomed the Government of Alberta’s invitation to participate in the review of the