Job Prospects for Licensed Practical Nurses in Quebec Remain Strong

The Licensed Practical Nursing profession has experienced many changes over the last decade including education and the scope of practice.  LPNs are now recognized for their skills and play an even greater role in the health care system and are considered front-line responders in patient care.  Job prospects for new LPN graduates now include roles that were not traditionally available to them.

In 2003, licensed practical nurses were asked to carry out some important tasks previously performed only by registered nurses (blood sample collection, vaccine administration, and other similar tasks). By March 2005, almost 90% of the members of the Ordre des infirmières auxiliaires du Québec had received the training required, allowing them to perform these procedures.  This change in procedures represents a large volume of work and encouraged health care managers to recruit and retain more licensed practical nurses than before. At the same time, this allowed registered nurses and physicians to focus more on specialized medical procedures.

Openings created for LPNs will primarily be positions vacated by retiring licensed practical nurses. It is reported that some 52% of LPNs were over 45 years old in 2006, setting the stage for increased numbers who will be retiring thereby creating new openings for those entering the field.  These opportunities will become available primarily to graduates with a vocational diploma in health, assistance and nursing who meet the requirements of the Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers auxiliaires du Québec, although some will be filled by immigrants who meet the requirements.

Between 1991 and 2006 there was a significant increase in licensed practical nurses working in nursing homes, long-term care facilities and local community health centres, whereas they used to work mainly in hospitals.   Aging seniors’ increasing desire to remain at home and the lower cost for LPNs to care for these seniors as compared to the cost of a registered nurse, will promote home care and will increase the number of licensed practical nurses working in this area.

According to the Quebec Department of Education, Recreation and Sport's Relance survey, the employment rate for graduates of a vocational diploma in health, assistance and nursing is very high and the unemployment rate very low.