Nurse Staffing Literature Review

The RPNAO is interested in learning how a series of publications centred on the differences between Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) and Registered Nurses (RNs) is affecting or could affect the nursing profession as a whole and RPNs in particular. The association leadership also identified a need to investigate and evaluate the roles, functions, and activities of State Enrolled Nurses (SENs) in the United Kingdom (UK). An independent research consultant was engaged to perform a comprehensive literature review to address these concerns. In a two phase study, literature supplied by the RPNAO and material discovered by the consultant from publicly available information sources and databases were searched, compiled, and evaluated. The findings indicated that the information gleaned from the 2012 review largely corroborated that of 2011, although greater attention seemed to be devoted to the working environments and categorization of nurses. In addition, with the rise of the Assistant Practitioner nurse in the UK, it appears that a licensed practical nurse is being reintroduced into Britain’s NHS through an evolving process. Ultimately, with the complementary roles of different levels of nurses becoming the norm in different jurisdictions, licensed nurses in Ontario should develop cooperative relationships amongst themselves to cope better with the continuing change faced by the province’s health care system.

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