To the Editor:
Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) are caring professionals who take pride in providing quality nursing care to patients.
LPNs are one of three groups of Nurses that include LPNs, Registered Nurses and Registered Psychiatric Nurses. LPNs graduate with a 2-year diploma. They also gain yearly formal and informal education through workshops, inservices, and work experience.
Many also take post-secondary education in orthopedics, advanced orthopedics, renal dialysis, operating room technician, immunization, mental health, wound care, foot care, chronic disease, leadership, etc. LPNs contribute to all phases of care and possess the knowledge, skill, inquiry, critical thinking and clinical judgement for decision making to provide safe care. LPNs assess, plan, implement, provide intervention and evaluate outcomes for patients. LPNs are responsible and accountable for their own practice. They are self-regulated and are required to work within their scope of practice to meet the standards of practice, competencies and code of ethics set out by their regulatory body, Saskatchewan Association of Licensed Practical Nurses (SALPN).
Many LPNs in the Saskatchewan work in acute care as well as obstetrics, pediatrics, surgical units, ambulatory care, minor procedures, operating rooms, palliative care, endoscopy, long term care, homecare, primary health clinics, emergency departments, community and public health and occupational health and safety and more.
LPNs play an important role in health care. We are competent, ethical, and above all provide safe quality care.
We believe that Health Minister, Dustin Duncan and the Provincial Nursing Council support a collaborative work environment that requires professionalism from all three nursing groups.
LPNs are proud members of the nursing team making a difference - working independently and collaboratively with all members of the health care team and will continue to provide the highest quality, safest care possible to achieve improved outcomes in client and family centered care.
Safety is the responsibility of all members of the health care team.
Sandee Michalchuk, LPN and Chair, LPN Committee. CUPE Local 4980, Yorkton, SK.
