Licensed practical nurses
July 25, 2024 — Licensed practical nurses (LPNs)Footnote i are health care professionals who work independently or in collaboration with other members of a health care team. LPNs assess clients and work in health promotion and illness prevention. They assess, plan, implement and evaluate care for clients.Reference1
Use the sections below to learn about the supply, education, employment and distribution of nurses across the country.
Key findings
In 2023,
- 118,925 LPNs were employed in direct patient care in Canada.Footnote ii This number increased by 2,161 between 2022 and 2023 (an annual growth rate of 2%).
- In the provinces/territories where place of work data was available,Footnote ii more LPNs were employed in direct care across all sectors of care except long-term care or nursing homes:
- 501 fewer LPNs were employed in direct care in long-term care or nursing homes (1% decline).
- On the other hand, 1,500 more LPNs were employed in direct care in hospitals (3% increase), 555 more LPNs were employed in other sectors, such as private nursing agencies and self-employment (5% increase) and 331 more LPNs were employed in community health agencies (2% increase).
- The majority of LPNs were employed in direct care roles in hospitals (48%) or in long-term care homes (28%).Footnote ii
- The overall supply (140,285) of LPNs licensed to practise in Canada grew at a rate of 3% in 2023.
- LPNs had the highest proportion of part-time or casual workers (40%) compared with other regulated nursing types.Footnote ii
- Internationally educated LPNs made up 25% of the net increase in LPN supply in 2023, compared with 15% in 2022.
Featured material
Quick Stats
This interactive tool is ideal for workforce planners, health service managers and analysts who want to create customized visualizations.
Explore and compare the supply, workforce, inflow/outflow and provincial and territorial trends of Canada’s licensed practical nurses.
Data tables
These tables are meant for analysts, researchers and those who want to explore and analyze the raw data.
Access 10 years of supply, workforce, employment, education and demographic trends for Canada’s licensed practical nurses.
Methodology notes
These notes are meant for all data users.
They summarize the sources, definitions, strengths and limitations of the data available.
Reports
The state of the health workforce in Canada, 2023
ºìÁì½í¹Ï±¨has compiled the most recent data (up to 2023) on selected health professionals to illustrate the current state of the health workforce, with a special focus on primary care.
The state of the health workforce in Canada, 2022
This report provides an overview of 4 key areas: health workforce supply and distribution, internationally educated health professionals, workplace measures and specific population needs.
Hospital staffing and hospital harm trends throughout the pandemic
This report presents a high-level look at available pan-Canadian data on hospital staffing — including sick time, overtime and agency use — and potential impacts on patient harm to explore trends observed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
ºìÁì½í¹Ï±¨ workforce in Canada: In focus
Learn about the impacts of COVID-19 on licensed practical nurses and how these professionals helped shape Canada’s response to the pandemic.
ºìÁì½í¹Ï±¨ workforce scopes of practice
Explore data and information on legislated scopes of practice for licensed practical nurses and other health care professionals in Canada’s provinces and territories.
Other regulated nursing professionals
Databases and data sources
ºìÁì½í¹Ï±¨ Workforce Database
ºìÁì½í¹Ï±¨collects record-level, standardized, comparative data on the supply, demographics, geographic and distribution characteristics, and education and employment details of LPNs in Canada. To find out more about CIHI’s LPN data, visit the ºìÁì½í¹Ï±¨ Workforce Database metadata page.
Reference
1.
Regulatory bodies for LPNs in each province and territory in Canada.
Footnotes
i.
LPNs are referred to as registered practical nurses (RPNs) in Ontario.
ii.
Excludes the Yukon and Nunavut, as workforce data for LPNs was not submitted to CIHI.
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