By Jill Slater

SK registered nurses review role of licensed practical nurses

Oct 6, 2014 | 7:25 AM

A group regulating some nurses in the province is trying to throw cold water on a hot debate between registered nurses and licensed nurse practitioners.

“Some of the misinformation has caused, I believe, some emotion and we need to step back,” said Karen Eisler, executive director of the Saskatchewan Registered Nurses’ Association (SRNA).

The Saskatchewan Association of Licensed Practical Nurses (SALPN) has been working on rewriting its bylaws during the past year and part of that process is redefining the scope of practice for LPN’s.

Recently, the union representing registered nurses, Saskatchewan Union of Nurses (SUN), publicly aired its concerns with the preliminary drafts of SALPN’s bylaws.

“It is unfortunate that this has become a public debate,” said Eisler.

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She says each of the three regulatory bodies for nurses periodically review their bylaws. According to Eisler, SALPN was in the beginning stages of its review and it’s not uncommon for the other regulatory bodies to give feedback during the process. What is more uncommon, even rare according to Eisler, is that the first draft of bylaws would become public.

Regardless of whether the debate happens in the public sphere or not, Eisler says there is confusion as to what exactly is within an LPN’s scope.

“In Saskatchewan we are a great Rider pride nation and it might be a good example to put forward that everyone on the football team knows their place and knows their role. And they are successful when each of them use and play their role to the best of their ability,” said Eisler. “I believe the healthcare system is no different. Each person in the healthcare system, no matter whether they’re a licensed practical nurse, a physician, a social worker or a registered nurse needs to know their place and their role and do it to the best of their ability. But they also need to know who they’re working with and what their role is.”

Monday the SRNA is gathering more than 700 nurses to go over their concerns regarding the ideas put forward by SALPN.

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