Licensed Practical Nurses
(NOC 3233)
in All HealthLicensed practical nurses provide nursing care usually under the direction of medical practitioners, registered nurses, or other health team members. Operating room technicians prepare patients and help medical practitioners prior to and during surgery. They work for hospitals, nursing homes, extended care facilities, rehabilitation centres, doctors' offices, clinics, companies, private homes, and community health centres. Operating room technicians work in hospitals.
Job Outlook
Good
Read more
Compared to: All Health
The demand for licenced practical nurses (LPNs), which was already strong, has increased because of the pandemic. Amid outbreaks in long-term care homes, shortage conditions emerged as some LPNs were compelled to self-isolate. There have been reports of burnout as remaining staff were required to cover absent coworkers’ shifts and manage additional tasks and stress associated with treating COVID-19 patients. Some LPNs are employed at multiple long-term care facilities and hospitals. During outbreaks, the intention is to limit this practice as much as possible to avoid spreading COVID-19 between facilities. Having LPNs employed exclusively at one facility increases the number of workers needed, worsening the existing shortage. In addition to an increased workload and change in tasks, some LPNs experienced impacts on their personal life because of the pandemic. Many chose to isolate from their household to avoid passing the virus from their workplace to family members. Some LPNs contracted COVID-19 because of workplace exposure. Some private online contact centres (unrelated to the provincial public health system) have been hiring LPNs remotely to staff telehealth services.
Prior to the pandemic, demand for LPNs was already strong. Jobseekers in this occupation should have little difficulty finding employment. The range of duties of LPNs has expanded amid constraints on healthcare and long-term care budgets as well as shortages of other types of health practitioners. Many unionized LPNs were awarded a 12% retroactive wage increase because of having performed tasks above their pay grade for several years. While most LPNs are employed in hospitals, collaborative care clinics and long-term care tend to account for a large portion of job opportunities.
The median employment income for the 58% of Licensed Practical Nurses who worked full-time, year-round in 2015 was $52,844. Across all occupations in Nova Scotia, the 59% of those who worked full-time, year-round had a median employment income of $43,600. (Source: 2016 Census)
Hourly Pay
$21.75
Minimum$25.13
Median$26.89
MaximumAnnual Pay
$20,753
Minimum$48,961
Median$59,834
MaximumCompared to: All Health
Hourly Pay
$16.38
Minimum$30.45
Median$41.35
MaximumAnnual Pay
$10,740
Minimum$43,853
Median$88,944
MaximumAbout the job
Nature of work
Licensed practical nurses provide nursing care usually under the direction of medical practitioners, registered nurses, or other health team members. Operating room technicians prepare patients and help medical practitioners prior to and during surgery. They work for hospitals, nursing homes, extended care facilities, rehabilitation centres, doctors' offices, clinics, companies, private homes, and community health centres. Operating room technicians work in hospitals.
Job duties
Licensed practical nurses:
- Provide nursing services to patients based on patient assessment and care planning procedures.
- Complete nursing interventions like 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, 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:
- Prepare patients for surgery by washing, shaving, and sterilizing the patients' operative areas.
- Help in surgery by laying out instruments, setting up equipment, helping surgical teams with gowns and gloves and passing instruments to surgeons.
- Clean and sterilize the operating room and instruments.
Sample job titles
- certified nursing assistant (CNA)
- graduate nursing assistant
- licensed nursing assistant
- licensed practical nurse (L.P.N.)
- operating room technician
- registered nursing assistant (R.N.A.)
- registered practical nurse (R.P.N.)
- surgical assistant, nursing
- surgical technician - nursing
Skills
Individuals entering this profession should enjoy caring for people of all ages. Good communication skills and interpersonal skills are also very important. Physical demands include moving and lifting others, and spending long periods of time on one's feet. LPNs must be able to cope with stress and occasional emergency situations.
Job requirements
- A vocational, college, or other approved program for licensed practical nurses is required.
- Registration with a regulatory body is required in Nova Scotia.
- Completion of the Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Examination is required in Nova Scotia.
- Operating room technicians require either additional academic training in operating room techniques or on-the-job training.
Other considerations
Shift-work is typical in this profession. Changes in the healthcare delivery system in Nova Scotia may affect job opportunities in these jobs as well as the location and type of workplace employing these workers. Growth will occur in other healthcare organizations that provide community-based healthcare and home care.
By the numbers
Quick look
employed in 2016
employed full-time
self employed
median age
Compared to: All Health
employed in 2016
employed full-time
self employed
median age
Where will I likely work?
Halifax
Cape Breton
North Shore
Annapolis Valley
Southern
Compared to: All NS Occupations
Halifax
North Shore
Annapolis Valley
Cape Breton
Southern
Top Industries of Employment
Health care and social assistance
Public administration
Other services (except public administration)
Construction
Retail trade
What is the age of Employment?
35-44
25-34
45-54
55-64
15-24
65+
Compared to: All Health
25-34
45-54
35-44
55-64
15-24
Top levels of education
College Diploma
$49,603 median annual incomeBachelor
$46,156 median annual incomeApprenticeship
$43,674 median annual incomeDiploma Below Bachelor
$48,755 median annual incomeHigh school
$34,713 median annual incomeCompared to: All Health
College Diploma
$40,033 median annual incomeBachelor
$61,668 median annual incomeMedicine, Dentistry, Veterinary, Optometry
$81,191 median annual incomeHigh school
$24,829 median annual incomeMaster
$69,296 median annual incomeEducation & training
Licensed Practical Nurse Training (LPN, LVN, Cert., Dipl., AAS)
College or Trades ProgramThese programs prepare students to help provide general nursing care under the direction of a registered nurse, physician or dentist. They include courses in taking patient vital signs, applying sterile dressings, patient health education and assistance with examinations and treatment.
Institutions providing this program
Stellarton, NS
Port Hawkesbury, NS
Employment requirements & contacts
Regulations
Right to Title and Practice: This job is regulated. The job title is protected, and you may not use it without a professional licence. A licence shows that the holder has met provincial requirements and is required to legally do this work.