LPN, RN, RPN Scope of Practice project

​​​On June 1, 2025, the LPN, RN and RPN scope of practice documents will be rescinded, and the content transitioned to practice standards and learning resources.

Review the standards:

• LPN​
• RN
• RPN

Why are we making this change?

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). The HPOA requires all standards to be included in BCCNM bylaws.

IMPORTANT: The standards, limits, and conditions will not change, and neither will your day-to-day practic​​​e. Only the format of the standards and where you find the information on the BCCNM website will be different.

The following video explains why we're maki​ng this change, and includes helpful tips for navigating the website and where to find the standards.​

Click here to prov​ide feedback on the Changes to LPN, RN, and RPN Scope of Practice documents​ video.​​​​​​​​

​​Feedback 

As part of our consultation on this project, we have received a lot of very valuable feedbac​​k from LPNs, RNs, and RPNs across the province who practice in a variety of roles and settings. We appreciate your time and expertise!

We have heard that nurses and others find it 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. These challenges will be addressed as part of this work.

This information page provides latest updates and resources relating to this project.

What are the scope do​cuments?

• Current LPN scope of practice standards (PDF, webpage​)
• Current RN scope of practice standards (PDF, webpage)

• Current RPN scope of practice standards (PDF, webpage)​​
  

Components of the sc​​ope documents

Currently, the scope docume​nts have three main components:

1. Scope of practice standards, such as Acting within Autonomous Scope of Practice. These are standards, like any others that BCCNM sets (i.e., practice standards, professional standards).
2. Limits and conditions. As it relates to scope of practice, limits are what nurses are not permitted to do and conditions are the circumstances under which nurses may carry out an activity.
3. Narrative content explains the nursing regulations, the restricted activities for nurses that are outlined in the nursing regulations, and provides context for the standards, limits, and conditions.

Learn more about scope of​​ practice for:

• LPNs
• RNs
  

• RPNs​
  

What is happening to the scope documents?

Currently LPN, RN, and RP​N scope standards have several standards grouped together in one document (called the Scope of Practice document). We are transitioning these documents into distinct, stand-alone practice standards for LPNs, RNs, and RPNs. The standards, including their limits and conditions, will be available on the website.

The narrative content from the scope documents will be used to create learning resources to assist you in better understanding and applying the scope standards in your practice.

The standards, limits, and conditions are being reformatted, but the expectations in them will not change.​

When will this happen?

These changes take effect June 1, 2025.

What do I need to do when this happens?

We have made the practice standards available for review ahead of their June 1, 2025, in-effect date:

• LPN​
• RN
• RPN

We'll post re-directs where the old documents were located, but you'll need to update your saved bookmarks after June 1, 2025​.

We are also developing learning resources to help you understand and apply the standards in your practice. This is a great opportunity for you to refresh your knowledge and fundamental understanding of scope of practice.

Want to keep up to date?​

This page will be updated with latest information as it becomes available. You can also subscribe to receive updates by emailing communications@bccnm.ca.
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