Supporting LPNs to
Meet CLPNBC
Standards of Practice
Effective December 2015
Table of Contents
Introduction ............................................................................................... 3
Working w ith Limited Resources ................................................................. 4
1.
Identify the issue ............................................................................ 5
2.
Document ....................................................................................... 5
3.
Communicate .................................................................................. 5
4.
Work together ................................................................................. 5
Recognizing Practice Concerns .................................................................... 5
Practice Consultation ................................................................................ 10
Duty to Report Requirements ................................................................... 11
More Information ............................................................................... 12
Other Resources................................................................................. 12
Effective December 2015/Editorial changes May 2017
© College of Licensed Practical Nurses of British Columbia
Suite 260 – 3480 Gilmore Way Burnaby, BC V5G 4Y1
1.877.373.2201
www.clpnbc.org
Page 2 of 12
Introduction
As self-regulated professionals, licensed practical nurses (LPNs) are
responsible and accountable for their own practice. Employers are
responsible for providing the necessary resources to help LPNs meet the
College of Licensed Practical Nurses of British Columbia (CLPNBC) Standards
of Practice. Resources may include the number and type of staff, the
equipment, educational opportunities, and managerial support.
This document describes how LPNs, managers, and clinical educators can
use CLPNBC Standards of Practice to support LPNs in any role and in any
practice setting.
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Working with Limited Resources
LPNs are responsible for providing safe, competent, and ethical care in all
practice settings.
If you are working without sufficient resources, the following strategies will
help you meet CLPNBC Standards of Practice.
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1. Identify the issue

Determine the facts.

Identify what is interfering with your ability to provide safe,
competent, and ethical care.

Discuss your concerns with colleagues or a CLPNBC Nursing Practice
Advisor.

Review resources such as CLPNBC Professional Standards, Scope of
Practice Standards and Practice Standards, employer policies, BC
legislation, and collective agreements or employment contracts.
2. Document

Describe safety issues, care that you cannot provide, and the
potential impact on clients by using language in the Professional
Standards, Scope of Practice Standards and Practice Standards.

Follow your employer’s policy by completing safety event/incident
reports or professional responsibility forms.
3. Communicate

Report to the appropriate person (supervisor, coordinator,
manager) that a lack of support or resources is interfering with your
ability to provide safe, competent and ethical care.
4. Work together

Work collaboratively within the health care team to identify options
and develop a plan that promotes safe, competent, and ethical
care.

Implement the plan, evaluate and document the outcomes, and
make changes as necessary.
Recognizing Practice Concerns
The following examples of poor nursing practice relate to CLPNBC
Professional Standards.
Table 1
Page 5 of 12
Examples of Poor Practice
Professional Standard

Practises without current registration

Fails to maintain fitness to practise
Professional
Responsibility and
Accountability

Does not practise within employer policies

Does not practise within individual
competence

Does not communicate professionally

Does not use decision support tools

Does not respond and adapt to changes in
the practice environment

Fails to complete assessments or document
appropriately

Fails to make clients the primary focus when
providing care

Fails to recognize and report incompetent or
impaired practice or unethical conduct

Fails to advocate for changes that improve
client care

Fails to respect a client’s right to refuse care

Fails to maintain client privacy and
confidentiality

Fails to identify potential conflicts

Does not represent self clearly with respect
to name and title

Does not treat others with respect
Competency-Based
Practice
Client-Focused Provision
of Service
Ethical Practice
The following examples of poor nursing practice relate to CLPNBC Practice
Standards.
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Table 2
Examples of Poor Practice
Practice Standard

Accepts gifts from clients or client’s family

Socializes with or adds clients to social
media
Boundaries in the NurseClient Relationship

Performs favours for clients on personal time

Promotes home-based business during work
time

Does not follow infection control protocols or
universal precautions

Fails to adhere to sterile technique protocols

Comes to work while sick

Fails to report abuse of a client

Fails to report bullying/harassment

Fails to report a colleague’s incompetent or
impaired practice, or unethical conduct to
the appropriate regulatory body

Posts work-related comments/pictures to
social media

Talks about clients in public places

Accesses client information inappropriately

Uses personal device and fails to respond to
client

Abandons a client without arranging
alternate care

Complies with client wishes that are contrary
to the law, CLPNBC’s Standards of Practice
or employer policy
Communicable Diseases
Duty to Report
Privacy and
Confidentiality
Duty to Provide Care
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Examples of Poor Practice
Practice Standard

Uses the LPN title without CLPNBC practising
registration
Use of LPN Title

Uses LPN title to endorse, advertise and sell
products

Fails to complete assessments

Fails to complete documentation

Fails to document in a timely manner

Documents care for others

Fails to assess client needs before assigning
care

Assigns care that is not within limits set by
the employer

Fails to evaluate client outcomes and care
plans

Fails to disclose relationships that may be
seen as a conflict of interest

Does not follow CLPNBC bylaws about
marketing

Places personal interests ahead of
professional duties

Fails to follow the ‘rights’ of medication
administration

Administers medication prepared by others

Does not use agency-approved
abbreviations

Fails to obtain informed consent

Fails to respect a client’s right to refuse care
Documentation
Working with HCAs
Conflict of Interest
Medication
Administration
Consent
Page 8 of 12
Examples of Poor Practice

Practice Standard
Uses position to influence client decisions
Page 9 of 12
Practice Consultation
CLPNBC offers practice consultation services for LPNs, employers and the
public about LPN practice in BC.
If you are facing an unfamiliar practice situation, it may be helpful to discuss
the matter with a Nursing Practice Advisor (NPA). NPAs can advise you about
topics that relate to CLPNBC’s mandate. Here are some examples.

Legislation, regulations and bylaws related to LPN practice

Practice Standards are a series of documents that set out
requirements for specific aspects of LPN practice.

Professional Standards describe the behaviours LPNs must
demonstrate in any practice setting or nursing domain (clinical
practice, administration, education or research).

Scope of Practice Standards describe the standards, limits, and
conditions related to nursing activities that LPNs are educated and
authorized to perform in BC under the Nurses (Licensed Practical)
Regulation.
You can ask for practice advice by phone or email. Nursing Practice Advisors
are experienced LPNs, dedicated to helping you understand and apply the
Standards of Practice.
CLPNBC does not provide clinical or legal advice.
Early Intervention Program
The Early Intervention Program (EIP) gives LPNs an opportunity to disclose
health related concerns and remove themselves from practice before their
health affects their ability to provide safe care and leads to an investigation
into their practice. EIP monitors the health status of the LPN as the LPN
seeks treatment for the health issue and permits the LPN to return to work
when the LPN is fit to practise nursing. Many fitness to practise issues, such
as a mental ailment, emotional disturbance or an addiction to drugs or
alcohol, can be adequately addressed through EIP.
If you or one of your LPN colleagues has a health condition, find out how the
program can support you or your colleague. Contact CLPNBC’s Fitness to
Practice Advisor for more information.
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Duty to Report Requirements
All health professionals registered with any of the 22 health regulatory
colleges in BC are required to report another health professional’s
incompetent or impaired practice, or unethical conduct.
LPNs report, in writing, to the appropriate regulatory body when they have
good reason to believe that the public might be in danger because a health
professional’s practice is incompetent or impaired1 , or his or her conduct is
unethical.
Employers submit a written report to CLPNBC when:

The employer determines that an LPN’s practice may be a danger to
the public

The employer terminates, revokes, suspends or restricts an LPN’s
employment

An LPN resigns before the employer has taken any action
Physicians submit a written report to CLPNBC when an LPN is:

Admitted to a hospital for psychiatric care or treatment for a mental
ailment or emotional disturbance that impairs his/her ability to
practise nursing

Undergoing treatment for an addiction to alcohol or drugs that
impairs his/her ability to practise nursing
If you have concerns about an LPN’s practice and you are not sure how to
proceed, contact CLPNBC’s Inquiry & Discipline team to discuss your
concerns.
For more information about submitting a complaint, see the Duty to Report
Practice Standard and the Public Safety tab on the CLPNBC website.
Impaired: suffering from a mental or physical problem, an emotional disturbance or an
addiction to drugs or alcohol that impairs the health professional’s ability to practise.
1
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More Information
Email CLPNBC’s Nursing Practice Advisors or call 1 877 373 2201
CLPNBC Bylaws
CLPNBC Practice Standards
CLPNBC Professional Standards
CLPNBC Scope of Practice Standards
Other Resources
British Columbia Health Care (Consent) and Care Facility (Admissions) Act
British Columbia Health Professions Act
British Columbia Privacy Act
College of Registered Nurses of British Columbia Working with Limited
Resources
Entry-to-Practice Competencies for Licensed Practical Nurses
Nurses (Licensed Practical) Regulation
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