Nursing group head hopes new bylaws clarify rules

After a dust-up between nursing groups last fall, the Saskatchewan Association of Licensed Practical Nurses is going ahead with four new bylaws to regulate the profession.

The bylaws will standardize educational requirements for LPNs providing four types of specialized care: advanced foot care, advanced orthopaedics, hemodialysis care, and perioperative care. Delegates will vote on the bylaws at the group’s annual general meeting in Regina Wednesday.

Informally, SALPN has always required LPNs to get additional education to provide those services, executive director Lynsay Nair said.

“Now we’ve just recognized that in the bylaws.”

Work started about a year ago, on the instruction of the Ministry of Health.

However, the draft set of bylaws came under fire from some registered nurses. In its August newsletter, the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses, which is not involved in regulation, said “registered nurse practice and professional standards are being overlooked and undervalued,” and that RN positions were at risk. SALPN, in response, called the union’s concerns “hysteria” and inaccurate.

The ministry then asked SALPN to put the bylaws on hold and consult with other nurse regulatory bodies. They came to a consensus, Nair said.

“So hopefully that will alleviate some of the concern and conflict that arose back in the fall.”

If LPNs approve the bylaws, the ministry will have 90 days to perform further consultations and research before giving final approval.

Tracy Zambory, president of the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses, said the bylaws still need more work, specifically on the supporting documents that determine which care provider sees which patient.

However, Nair said SALPN doesn’t have authority over that issue — it’s the realm of the employer.