Consultation Overview
NSCN plans to introduce the revised Standards of Practice for Licensed Practical Nurses on January 1, 2022. NSCN Board amended By-Law Part VII, Section 28(8): Code of Ethics, Standards and Competencies to adopt and reflect the new Standards of Practice for Licensed Practical Nurses. The consultation occured between March 1 and March 30, 2021.
Consultation Participation and Response
We requested feedback via email from the public, registrants and others through a public consultation. While we did not receive feedback on the amended by-law, the Standards of Practice for Licensed Practical Nurses revisions received extensive feedback both provincially and nationally.
Next Steps/Conclusion
The amended by-law was approved by the NSCN Board on April 22, 2021 and the 2020 Standards of Practice for Licensed Practical Nurses will come into affect in Nova Scotia on January 1, 2022.
Duration of, and Methods Used During the Initial Consultation
The initial consultation meeting took place in November 2019 (in-person) and concludes with 5 subsequent meetings via technology between January and March 2020.
How the Initial Consultation was Advertised
The Canadian Council for Practice Nurse Regulators (CCPNR) who developed the initial standards in 2013 and, selected the core SME group to draft the 2020 revisions.
Information about Persons Invited and/or Participated in the Initial Consultation
Invitations to participate in the revision consultation were sent by CCPNR to members of the regulatory bodies and educational programs faculty.
How Feedback Informed the Final Product
The following stakeholder feedback from the initial consultation was incorporated into the final Standards:
- Redundant and duplicative standards were deleted or revised into a single standard
- Existing standards were revised to make the LPNs leadership accountability more evident
- Standards regarding Truth and Reconciliation were added
- As majority of the standards were simply revised or refreshed, most were edited for grammar, flow and plain language
The following stakeholder feedback from the initial consultation was not incorporated into the final standards:
- Skill or task specific standards
Validation Consultation
A national validation survey was sent to all LPNs in Canada in November 2020. 911 responses were received, of which, (43.5%) were from Nova Scotia. 911 respondents of which, eighty-nine percent (89%) of participants were LPN registrants. Other participants included representation from the public/educators, RNs, professional regulator, union, educational programs, employers, and subject matter experts. Stakeholders expressed support for the draft standards and by-law.
How the Validation Consultation was Advertised
The Validation survey was advertised on the NSCN website, in NSCN newsletters, NCSN social media platforms and via direct email invitation.
Information about Persons Invited and/or Participated in the Validation Consultation
Invitations to participate in the validation survey were sent to LPNs, LPN educators, LPN supervisors, non-LPN supervisors of LPNs, employers and RNs.
The following stakeholder feedback from the validation consultation was incorporated into the final standards:
- Changes to language to ensure it was clear and concise
- Clarified concepts around leadership
The following stakeholder feedback from the validation consultation was not incorporated into the final standards:
- Skill or task specific standards
- Changes in terms or language already defined in other legislation
Validation Process on the Standards of Practice for LPNs in Canada
Held an open 30-day (March 1-31, 2020) consultation via an online public survey to collect specific feedback on the Standards of Practice for LPNs in Canada and by-law.
911 respondents of which, eighty-nine percent (89%) of participants were LPN registrants. Other participants included representation from the public/educators, RNs, professional regulator, union, educational programs, employers, and subject matter experts. Stakeholders expressed support for the draft standards and by-law.
Specific feedback for the standards included:
- Focus on plain language
- Minimize redundancies and duplicative standards.
- Make sure LPN accountabilities are evident
Validation Process on the RN Prescriber Standards
In -person meetings with Prescribers (NP and MD) and NP Educators and validation survey to RN and NP registrants were completed in October and November 2018 as noted in the December 2018 CRNNS Council meeting minutes.
Specific feedback for the standards included:
- Use clear and international language
- Consider adding a medication list of approved medications
- Differentiate between RN Prescriber and NP practice
