National Occupation Code (NOC): 3233

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 provide assistance to medical practitioners prior to and during surgery. Licensed practical nurses are employed in hospitals, nursing homes, extended care facilities, rehabilitation centres, doctors' offices, clinics, companies, private homes and community health centres. Operating room technicians are employed in hospitals.

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Job Duties for Licensed practical nurses

• Provide nursing services, within defined scope of practice, to patients based on patient assessment and care planning procedures
• Perform nursing interventions such as 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' progress, evaluate and document effectiveness of nursing interventions and collaborate with appropriate members of health care 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
• Assist in surgery by laying out instruments, setting up equipment, assisting surgical teams with gowns and gloves and passing instruments to surgeons
• Monitor patients' status during surgery, such as intake, output and loss of blood, and communicate and document any changes
• Clean and sterilize the operating room and instruments.

Working Conditions for Licensed practical nurses

Work is performed in hospitals, long-term care homes, doctors’ offices, clinics, extended care facilities, acute care centres, community hospices or private homes. Exposure to infectious diseases, radiation, and chemicals is common, so they must follow strict rules to prevent infection and injury. They can become fatigued from long shifts and lengthy periods of standing and walking. They may get back injuries from lifting or moving patients, although electric beds and lifts have greatly reduced this risk. They may also have to deal with violent patients.

Alternate Job Titles

• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
• CNA (certified Nursing Assistant)
• Graduate Nursing Assistant
• L.P.N. (licensed Practical Nurse)
• Licensed Nursing Assistant
• Licensed Practical Nurse (L.P.N.)
• Nurse Educator - Cannabis
• Operating Room Technician
• Operating Room Technician - Nursing
• R.N.A. (registered Nursing Assistant)
• R.P.N. (registered Practical Nurse)
• Registered Nursing Assistant (R.N.A.)
• Registered Practical Nurse (R.P.N.)
• Surgical Nursing Assistant
• Surgical Technician - Nursing
• (RPN)
• Rpn
• Registered Practical Nurse
• Rpn - Registered Practical Nurse
• Registered Practical Nurse (rpn)
• Pct – Student Nurse Intern
• Community Nursing