licensed practical nurse (L.P.N.)

Credentials (certificates, licences, memberships, courses, etc.)

• First Aid Certificate
• CPR Certificate
• Completion of the Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Examination
• Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) Certificate
• Intravenous (IV) therapy Certification

Area of Specialization

• Rehabilitation
• Medical unit
• Intensive care
• Intensive care, nursery
• Geriatrics
• Drug addiction

Work Setting

• Public or community health centre
• Chronic or long-term care facilities/centres
• Government department and/or agency
• Hospital/medical facility or clinic
• Home care and visiting care agency
• Rehabilitation centre and special health institution
• Nursing home/home for the aged

Security and Safety

• Bondable
• Child abuse registry check
• Child welfare check
• Driver’s validity licence check
• Driving record check (abstract)
• Immunization records
• Eligible for professional liability insurance
• Criminal record check
• Adult Abuse Registry

Transportation/Travel Information

• Own transportation
• Own vehicle
• Valid driver’s licence

Work Conditions and Physical Capabilities

• Fast-paced environment
• Work under pressure
• Repetitive tasks
• Physically demanding
• Manual dexterity
• Attention to detail
• Ability to distinguish between colours
• Sound discrimination
• Combination of sitting, standing, walking
• Standing for extended periods
• Large caseload
• Overtime required

Personal Suitability

• Initiative
• Effective interpersonal skills
• Flexibility
• Accurate
• Team player
• Excellent oral communication
• Excellent written communication
• Client focus
• Interpersonal awareness
• Dependability
• Judgement
• Values and ethics
• Reliability
• Organized

Licensed Practical Nurse Specific Skills

• Provide pre-operative and post-operative personal and comfort care
• Monitor established respiratory therapy and intravenous therapy
• Provide safety and health education to individuals and their families
• Administer medication and observe and document therapeutic effects
• Take vital signs, apply aseptic techniques including sterile dressing, ensure infection control, monitore nutritional intake and conduct specimen collection
• Provide nursing services, within defined scope of practice, to patients based on patient assessment and care planning procedures
• Monitor patients’ progress, evaluate effectiveness of nursing interventions and consult with appropriate members of healthcare team