WORKING AS A NURSE IN ALBERTA

Nursing

Alberta recognizes the integral role that nurses play in contributing to the success of our health care system and in helping make Alberta a leader in health care delivery and innovation.
Alberta’s health care delivery system is one of the best in the world and one of the provincial government’s top priorities is to develop advanced approaches to delivering health care services. As such, Alberta offers nurses a range of opportunities that are both challenging and rewarding, a high standard of living, and a variety of exciting cultural activities to enjoy.

Working as a Nurse in Alberta

Nurses are licensed health care professionals and are educated in the general practice with opportunities to focus their practice in specialized areas. Nurses may work independently or as members of a health care team to provide care for individuals, families and groups in a variety of health care settings, including the client’s home.
There are three different groups of nursing professionals in Alberta:

• Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs)
• Registered Nurses (RNs)
• Registered Psychiatric Nurses (RPNs)

Licensed Practical Nurses

Licensed Practical Nurses are nurses who provide direct care to clients, such as measuring and recording patients’ vital signs, preparing and giving injections, collecting samples, dressing wounds, monitoring patients’ progress, and reporting any adverse reactions.
Depending on the setting, they may have a variety of nursing care responsibilities in collaboration with RNs, RPNs, physicians, physiotherapists, and other health care professionals. LPNs may have additional training in order to work in specialized areas such as haemodialysis and immunization programs.
Find out more about being a Licensed Practical Nurse in Alberta.

Registered Nurses

Registered Nurses provide professional nursing services, deliver health education programs and provide consultative nursing services to promote, maintain and restore patient health. RNs may specialize to practice in specific clinical areas such as intensive care, operating room, labour and delivery, emergency, and long term care.
Nurses with experience, and education, such as graduate masters or doctorate degrees, can become advanced practice nurses, such as nurse practitioners (NPs).
NPs are registered nurses who have enhanced knowledge and skills in health assessment, health promotion, and illness prevention. They diagnose and treat health problems, order and interpret tests, and prescribe drugs. Nurse practitioners are employed in health care facilities such as hospitals and clinics. Many work in small or remote communities that do not have resident physicians.
Find out more about being a Registered Nurse in Alberta.

Registered Psychiatric Nurses

Registered Psychiatric Nurses provide professional mental health nursing services in mental health care facilities and in the community. In developing and implementing therapeutic programs, psychiatric nurses work in cooperation with other health care professionals (for example, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, recreational therapists, and occupational therapists).