Explore Careers - Job Market Report

in
Printing Options
Licensed Practical Nurses  (NOC 3233)
Edmonton Region
Description |  Titles |  Duties |   Related Occupations

Licensed practical nurses provide nursing care usually under the direction of medical practitioners, registered nurses or other health team members. They are employed in hospitals, nursing homes, extended care facilities, rehabilitation centres, doctors' offices, clinics, companies, private homes and community health centres. Operating room technicians are included in this unit group.

certified nursing assistant (CNA), licensed nursing assistant, licensed practical nurse (L.P.N.), operating room technician, registered nursing assistant (R.N.A.), registered practical nurse (R.P.N.).

View all

Licensed practical nurses perform some or all of the following duties:
  • Provide nursing services, within defined scope of practice, to patients based on patient assessment and care planning procedures
  • Perform nursing interventions such as taking vital signs, applying aseptic techniques including sterile dressing, ensuring infection control, monitoring nutritional intake and conducting specimen collection
  • Administer medication and observe and document therapeutic effects
  • Provide pre-operative and post-operative personal and comfort care
  • Monitor established respiratory therapy and intravenous therapy
  • Monitor patients' progress, evaluate effectiveness of nursing interventions and consult with appropriate members of healthcare team
  • Provide safety and health education to individuals and their families.
Operating room technicians perform some or all of the following duties:
  • Prepare patients for surgery by washing, shaving and sterilizing the patients' operative areas
  • Assist in surgery by laying out instruments, setting up equipment, assisting surgical teams with gowns and gloves and passing instruments to surgeons
  • Clean and sterilize the operating room and instruments.
Included Cities in Region | Service Canada Offices

Edmonton, Fort Saskatchewan, Leduc, Spruce Grove, St. Albert, Wetaskiwin, Beaumont, Bon Accord, Calmar, Devon, Drayton Valley, Duffield, Gibbons, Millet, Morinville, Redwater, Stony Plain, Cardiff, Rosenthal Estates

View all

View a list of Service Canada offices in this area.

Education & Job Requirements for Licensed Practical Nurses in Edmonton Region

Education and job requirements can vary by region. Workers in regulated occupations require a licence to work legally. Workers in non-regulated occupations do not require a licence, but employers may have other certification requirements.

Local Employment Requirements

- Graduates from a practical nursing program are required to write the Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Examination.
- All licensed practical nurses must be a member of the College of Licensed Practical Nurses, as required by the Health Professions Act and the Licensed Practical Nurses Profession Regulation.


*****
This occupational profile is one of many tools available to Canadians. When making decisions, the use of multiple data sources is always recommended.
*****

[Report Publication Date: 2010-12-17 |  Source: Labour Market Information - HRSDC ]

Local Skills Requirements

- Although experience is an asset, most employers do not require experience for entry level positions.
- Licensed practical nurses are required to work with a medical team to carry out patient care through duties such as taking patients' blood pressure, temperature and pulse, distributing medication or changing patients' dressings. Licensed practical nurses may also assist in surgery by sterilizing and laying out instruments as well as setting up equipment in the operating room.
- Employers look for individuals who can monitor patients' progress and report any changes.
- Strong communication skills are essential for licensed practical nurses including writing, reading and oral communication. Licensed practical nurses must work well with others as they interact with other health professionals as well as patients. In addition, individuals must job task and organize well and have strong critical thinking and decision making skills. Continuous learning is also essential for licensed practical nurses.


*****
This occupational profile is one of many tools available to Canadians. When making decisions, the use of multiple data sources is always recommended.
*****

[Report Publication Date: 2010-12-17 |  Source: Labour Market Information - HRSDC ]

Skills Requirements

There are often specific abilities, aptitudes and knowledge that are prerequisites to obtain employment in an occupation.

Most employers who advertise are looking for workers who have the following experience and skills:

Experience:
0-2 years

Operating Room Technician Specific Skills:
Clean and sterilize the operating room and instruments. Assist in surgery by laying out instruments and setting up equipment.

Registered Nursing Assistant Specific Skills:
Distribute medication to patients. Take patients' blood pressure, temperature and pulse. Change patients' dressings.

Additional Skills:
Monitor patients' progress and report any changes.

Essential Skills:
Oral communication, working with others, problem solving, job task planning and organizing, writing, reading text, document use, finding information, critical thinking, decision making, continuous learning, numeracy and significant use of memory.

[Source: Labour Market Information - HRSDC ]

List of Associations

AssociationsLink opens in a new window are organizations that may provide news to its members about networking events, professional development and other common issues for people working in the same industry.

[ Source: Labour Market Information - HRSDC ]

CanLearn Searches

  • Programs

    Detailed profiles, requirements and application and admissions information.

  • CEGEPs, Colleges and Universities

    Find the school that best suits your needs.

  • Scholarships

    Information on scholarships, bursaries, grants, and other forms of financial assistance.

[ Source: CanLearn - HRSDC ]

Local Training

Training to become a licensed practical nurse in Alberta:

There are numerous colleges in Alberta that offers a practical nursing program. This program is a combination of classroom and laboratory instruction as well as clinical experience. Potential students may apply to the nursing program directly from high school. To apply to the nursing program, students must have an average of at least 60 percent in English 30, pure math 20 or applied math 30 and biology 30, although specific application requirements may vary among schools. Also, some colleges require that students have a current CPR Level C Basic Rescuer certificate as well as up-to-date immunization. Please visit individual university and college websites for precise application requirements at that institution.

Graduates of a nursing program must successfully complete the Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Examination to become a registered practical nurse.

For further information contact:

Bow Valley College
Toll-free: 1-866-428-2669 (In Canada)
Website: www.bowvalleycollege.ca
Email: info@bowvalleycollege.ca

Keyano College
Toll-free: 1-800-251-1408
E-mail: registrar@keyano.ca
Website: www.keyano.ca

Lethbridge Community College
Phone: 403-320-3300
Toll-free: 1-800-572-0103 (In Canada)
E-mail: info@lethbridgecollege.ab.ca
Website: www.lethbridgecollege.ab.ca

Medicine Hat College
Telephone: 403-529-3811
Toll Free: 1-866-282-8394
Email: info@mhc.ab.ca
Website: www.mhc.ab.ca

NorQuest College
Phone: 780-644-6000
Toll-free: 1-866-534-7218
E-mail: info@norquest.ca
Website: www.norquest.ab.ca

Lakeland College
Toll-free: 1-800-661-6490 (In Canada)
E-mail: admissions@lakelandc.ab.ca
Website: www.lakelandc.ab.ca

Northern Lakes College
Phone: 1-866-652-3456
E-mail: info@northernlakescollege.ca
Website: www.northernlakescollege.ca

Portage College
Phone: 780-623-5551
Toll Free: 1-866-623-5551
E-mail: info@portagecollege.com
Website: www.portagec.ab.ca


*****
This occupational profile is one of many tools available to Canadians. When making decisions, the use of multiple data sources is always recommended.
*****

[ Report Publication Date: 2010-12-17 | Source: Labour Market Information - HRSDC ]
Information for Newcomers

Getting your language skills assessed

If you do not know what your English or French language level is, visit one of the Language Assessment Centres across Canada. They will assess your language level and direct you to the appropriate language training program.

[ Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada ]
Please consult the Alberta and Canada tabs for more useful information related to education and job requirements.