Licensed Practical Nurses Demand – Job Opportunities in Canada

Licensed Practical Nurses, in Canada, are some of the most important and valuable professionals in healthcare delivery. They provide care to the patients under the leadership of registered nurses (RNs) or physicians. They work in a variety of healthcare settings such as hospitals, long-term care facilities, rehabilitation centres, clinics, and home care.

Requirements

To seek a job as a Licensed Practical Nurse in Canada, the following requirements must be fulfilled:

• Individuals must complete a practical nursing program, offered by accredited colleges across Canada and include both theoretical courses (such as anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, nursing theory, patient care techniques, and ethical/legal issues in nursing) and clinical placements.
• After completing the education program, candidates must pass a registration examination that assesses the candidate’s knowledge and competency in practical nursing.
• LPNs must be registered with the regulatory body in the province or territory where they plan to work. Each province and territory has its own licensing board.
• LPNs are required to engage in ongoing professional development to maintain their licensure. One who wants to work as an Operating Room Technician requires additional academic training in operating room techniques to support doctors during surgeries and provide care to the patients.

Job Titles

• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
• Licensed Nursing Assistant
• Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
• Operating Room Technician
• Registered Nursing Assistant (RNA)
• Registered Practical Nurse (RPN)

Main Duties

Some of the important tasks and duties of Licensed Practical Nurses include:

• Administering medications and treatments including oral medications, injections, and other treatments as prescribed by a physician or registered nurse.
• Providing pre-operative and post-operative personal care like assisting patients with daily tasks such as bathing, dressing, grooming, eating, managing drains, transferring between positions, and identifying potential complications (infections or poor healing), ensuring their comfort and dignity.
• Monitoring wounds to ensure proper healing and prevent them from infections.
• Frequently measure and record vital signs like temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and respiratory rate.
• Collaborate with Registered Nurses, Physicians, and other Healthcare Professionals to discuss patient care plans, goals, and progress.
• Educate patients and their families on managing health conditions, understanding medications, and recovering from surgeries or illnesses.
• Provide thorough, up-to-date patient records including care provided, medications administered, and any change in patient's status.
• Operating room technicians perform certain specific duties such as preparing patients for surgery by sterilizing the operative areas of patients, sterilizing the operating room and instruments, and assisting surgeons in surgery by setting up equipment, passing instruments to surgeons, and assisting doctors' teams with gloves and gowns.