Empowering the LPN: the Practical Nurse Practice Council

Empowering the licensed practical nurse in an acute care setting presents a challenging opportunity that is necessary to assure that the practical nurse becomes a fully integrated member of the health care team. The Practical Nurse Practice Council (PNPC) holds the key to empowering the practical nurse, not only in long term care, but also in the acute care setting.

Practice councils are not a new concept in nursing as evidenced by the increased interest in the shared governance concept of nursing management resulting in professional control over practice issues. (Kramer, 2003) However, the literature review reveals that practice councils are developed for the registered nurse, not the practical nurse. There was no referencing for practical nurse practice councils as defined by the mission and goals of the council developed at UPMC St. Margaret.