Upcoming changes to LPN, RN, and RPN scope of practice documents

​The BCCNM board on Feb. 27, 2025, approved rescinding the LPN Scope of Practice Standards, Limits, and Conditions, the RN Scope of Practice Standards, Limits, and Conditions, and the RPN Scope of Practice Standards, Limits, and Conditions (the scope documents) and shifting the conte​nt into practice standards and learning resources. These changes will take effect June 2, 2025.

What are the scope of practice ​​documents?

The scope documents each comprise several standards, with corresponding limits and conditions, as well as narrative content.

Why the chan​ges?

The Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA) is new legislation approved in 2022, but not yet in force. It will replace the Health Professions Act (HPA). To prepare for this change, BCCNM reviewed and reorganized the scope documents for LPNs, RNs, and RPNs.

We've also heard from nurses and others that it is challenging to find the information they need in the current scope documents because they are lengthy and complex. The intermingling of narrative content with standards, limits, and conditions is also confusing.

IMPORTANT: The standards, limits, and conditions are NOT changing as part of this project, and neither will your day-to-day practice. Only the for​mat of the standards and where you find the information on the BCCNM website will be different. The new scope practice standards will be found here:

• Practice Standards: LPNs
• Practice Standards: RNs (general practice and certified practice)
• Practice Standards: RPN (general practice and certified practice)

What's happening to the rest of the content ​in the scope documents?

Our Standards & Guidance team is creating a series of learning modules to support nurses better understand their scope of practice and related scope concepts. We will be sharing more information on this in the coming weeks so keep an eye on your inbox for updates.

Qu​estions?

Visit the project information page for the latest updates and resources relating to this project.

Rev​​iew the new format for scope standards (not yet in effect)

L​​PNs

• Licensed Practical Nurse: Acting within Autonomous Scope of Practice standards, limits, conditions​
• Licensed Practical Nurse: Acting with Client-specific Orders standards, limits, conditions
• Licensed Practical Nurse: Medical Assistance in Dying standards, limits, conditions
  

R​N

• Registered Nurse: Acting within Au​tonomous Scope of Practice standards, limits, conditions
• Registered Nurse: Acting with Client-specific Orders standards, limits, conditions​
• Registered Nurse: Acting by Giving Client-specific Orders standards​
• Registered Nurse: Medical Assistance in Dying standards, limits, conditions
  

RN​​ Certified

• Registered Nurse (Certified Practice): Acting within Autonomous Scope of Practice standards, limits, conditions
• Registered Nurse (Certified Practice): Prescribing standards

R​PN

• Registered Psychiatric Nurse: Acting within Autonomous Scope of Practice standards, limits, conditions
• Registered Psychiatric Nurse: Acting with Client-specific Orders standards, limits, conditions
• Registered Psychiatric Nurse: Acting by Giving Client-specific Orders standards
• Registered Psychiatric Nurse: Medical Assistance in Dying standards, limits, conditions 

RPN ​​Certified

• Registered Psychiatric Nurse (Certified Practice): Acting within Autonomous Scope of Practice standards, limits, conditions
• Registered Psychiatric Nurse (Certified Practice): Prescribing standards