Putting the spotlight on Licensed Practical Nurses

VGH Medicine program organized an Education Day for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) last October 6, 2017 at VGH campus. This was the first of its kind in offering customized education for LPNs in acute medical and geriatric nursing care, as led by the Hospitalist Medicine team.

Who are LPNs?

According to College of Licensed Practical Nurses of BC (CLPNBC), LPNs are health care professionals who work collaboratively with health care teams, and most work as point-of-care nurses caring for a wide range of patients, residents and clients, at all stages of life, and in variety of contexts.

Did you know that prior to 1945, LPNs were originally known as “auxiliary workers” in Canada? They were employed and trained on-the-job to meet nursing service needs in hospitals and nursing homes. While grounded in the same body of knowledge as other nurses, LPNs now receive theoretical and clinical education that focuses on foundational competencies within the LPN scope of practice and standards (CLPNBC, 2017).

This year’s Education Day

LPNs were able to voice their input through the learning needs’ assessment conducted by Doris Bohl, a well-experienced Hospitalist Medicine Clinical Nurse Educator. She indicates, “We need to recognize the dynamic and changing scope of practice of LPNs. During our dialogues, it was loud and clear that each health authority, organization, facility, hospital or unit not only have similarities, but notable differences in policies related to scope of practice. It can be confusing.”

Learning Stations were also set-up to provide smaller group, hands-on activities that transformed clinical concepts into action. Concrete and real life patient journeys in the hospital were weaved through the education program to facilitate critical thinking and clinical decision-making. “It is important that we search for novel ways of advancing nursing practice. Integrating case studies reinforces situational awareness and learning,” voices Nureya Khimani, Clinical Nurse Educator for Clinical Staffing program.

After the education day, the collective energy was palpable. “You could feel the excitement and passion for learning in the room! I feel privileged to have been a part of this day,” Silvia Nobrega, Clinical Nurse Educator for Acute Medicine Units conveys. LPNs reaped renewed understanding and appreciation of vulnerable hospitalized patients. With the aging population, patient care needs have become profoundly complex.

This education program aimed at supporting LPNs in providing quality and safe patient-centered care within a collaborative practice, team approach care environment, and rooted in “People First” philosophy. As Joseph LPN says, “Thank you for this learning opportunity… it really highlighted the unique learning needs of our group!”