By 1891, the training program was 160 hours spend over 9 months in a two-year program, following revisions by Mary Agnes Snively, a revolutionary nursing educator. The program was lengthened in 1896 to three years setting the example for most other schools of nursing. John Murray Gurray and Mary S. Mathewson described the program in “Three centuries of Canadian Nursing as in this course. There were 84 hours of Practical Nursing and 119 hours of instruction by the medical staff.” In 1938, Centers in Ontario began offering courses in “practical nursing” the six-month training program. As the profession of nursing advanced various, the education for RPN were developed. Gradually, the idea of formal education for practical nurses caught on throughout Canada. The length of the course for the modern trained practical nurse is approximately one year in most states with some variation in the actual number of weeks.
The focus of formal training of Practical Nursing was on training nurse for home health care of patients with chronic illness the aged and children. By the end of the 19th century there was a renewed interest in charitable work and concern for the sick. Practical Nursing began to extend from home nursing to public health nursing, care of patients in the slums, school nursing, industrial nursing and as well baby care.
Nursing has experienced changes throughout its history and the changes are not yet over. A major change that has occurred in Practical Nursing history is a gradual increase in the required formal knowledge base and requirement for licensing to practice Practical Nursing. Unlike the historically untrained or poorly trained practical nurse, who had unlimited and unsupervised freedom to practice, the present practical nurse is now often a hybrid who is being taught basic skills during the educational program. After graduation, the licensed practical/vocational nurse (LP/VN) is permitted to perform complex nursing skills as delegated by the registered nurse (RN) and allowed by the nurse practice act. The first licensed Practical Nurses Act to provide for the training, examination and licensing of Practical Nurse’s in Canada received royal assent in Manitoba on March 23, 1945. This was the first known legislation to govern PNs in North America.
To learn more information about nurse history, I have to search some nurse organization in North America. All of these organizations are helping to protect the rights and benefits of practical nurses.
The national Association for Practical Nurse Education and Service Inc. was founded in 1941. It was the first organization formed to promote practical nursing schools and continuing education for LP/VNS. As nursing has developed, an increasing number of P.N. organizations have formed. The NLN (National League for Nursing) founded in 1952, is an organization of both individuals and agencies. Its objective is to foster the development and improvement of all nursing services and nursing education.
The NFLPN (National Federation of Licensed Practical Nurses, Inc.), organized in 1949, is the policy-making body for LPNs and LVNs. NFLPN is made up of LP/VNs, student practical/vocational nurses and associate members. It was formed by LP/VNs who wanted an organization to work for and speak on behalf of them.
The ALPNA (American Licensed Practical Nurses Association) was founded in 1984. Its major function is involvement in lobbing and legislative issues that affect the LP/VN. Anyone wanting to promote LP/VN interests is welcome to join.
The Canadian Practical Nurses Association (CPNA), incorporated in 1975, is the national association representing provincial/territorial licensed practical nurse organizations and affiliated individuals from across Canada. CPNA encourages all licensed practical nurses to appreciate the unique opportunity they have in preserving the person-to-person contact in health care delivery
From learning history, we know practical nursing began to develop in ancient times, and is not an appendage of professional nursing. Practical nurses can be right fully proud of their own nursing “roots”. The duties of practical nurses have changed according to the need present at any time in history. Currently, practical nurses are taught basic skills during their educational program. After graduation, a licensed practical nurse is permitted to perform complex nursing skills as delegated by the registered nurse and allowed by the nurse practice act. A nurse’s education does not stop the day of graduation. To maintain competence and ensure public safety, nurses pursue life-long learning. Whether it is reading professional journals attending course and conference or pursuing specialized education, all nurses are expected to have the knowledge, skill and judgment needed to care for their clients.
Countless practical nurses have done a good job before. They are my patterns. I will follow their way to offer my service to society. That is what I am just pleasure to do.
Briefly, the history of Practical Nursing in Canada tells me how the profession and its organization came from and how the education system normalized. From that I know what I should do in this field in the future and makes me clear about my personal goal. I am very glad to learn it.