Nurses’ roles continue to evolve with the changing healthcare, and health system needs to ensure safe, holistic, ethical, and respectful nursing care.
All Ontario Nurses use knowledge, critical thinking, critical inquiry and research to build and maintain an evidence-informed practice (CNO, 2023). WeRPN continues to call attention to the fact that the contemporary Registered Practical Nurses’ (RPN) role has not advanced consistently across the healthcare system. This is in part due to persistent historical perceptions and outdated assumptions that may limit understanding and utilization of the role (WeRPN, 2026. Pp.3). To promote increased representation of RPNs in research and research outputs, WeRPN has invested in funding, sponsoring and partnering to support ethical research that involves and impacts RPNs and their practice.
Nursing Research
Research is embedded into the daily practice and responsibilities of nurses. Nurses are accountable to
- Practice in compliance with the regulations under the Regulated Health Professional Act, 1991 (RHPA)
- Work within their legislative scope of practice as defined under the Nursing Act, 1991
- Work in accordance with employer specific policies and practice settings, and
- Consider their own scope of practice and nursing competencies to determine if the specific activity is appropriate, if they have the ability to safely perform the activity, and if they have the authority to perform the specific activity (CNO, 2025)
The Scope of Practice for all nurses considers the legislative scope of practice, context of the nurses practice environment, and competence to ensure the individual nurse has the knowledge, skills, and judgment to perform the activity safely.
What Does the Current Research Literature Say About RPNs in the Workplace?
Research findings have shown that RPN role utilization is different across healthcare settings, teamwork, and work cultures (Espin et al., 2025). The variation in job roles and responsibilities across different organizations, clinical settings, and staffing levels contribute to a degree of confusion regarding the delineation between RPN and RN responsibilities (Indar et al., 2026). The lack of role clarity affects how care is delivered, heightens stress in the workplace, particularly when faced with the need to make immediate decisions without receiving adequate support (Hay et al., 2026).
One study found that while nurses (RPNs & RNs) believed that provincial nursing regulators could inform role clarity to promote standardization of nursing roles across organizations, although none of the participants were aware of the existing CNO practice standard that outlines the Scope of Practice for RPNs and RNs (Indar et al., 2026). Some nurses described that RPNs roles were cost-effective for the organization as they receive lower compensation in comparison to RNs, and that the RPN role is an easier pathway for entry into the profession (Indar et al., 2026). However, recommendations based on recent research findings highlighted that more RPNs in leadership can help to better inform RPN role utilization (Espin et al., 2025).
When RPNs feel supported by leadership and management, have opportunity to engage in professional development, pursue career advancement in healthy and safe work environments then they are more encouraged to remain in their workplace (Calver et al., 2025; Connelly, Guitar, et al., 2026; Indar et al., 2026).
By staying up-to-date on research and research outputs, RPNs can use reliable information to help guide their professional practice, identify learning and development needs, and advocate on behalf of the profession and the people they care for. Here are some ways RPNs can become more involved in research:
Read Information from Credible Sources
- WeRPN’s research library provides a central repository of literature about RPNs and produced by RPNs and the broader research and education communities.
- The College of Nurses of Ontario maintains a repository of practice standards and guidelines
Critical Reflection
Consider the following:
- Appropriateness of the research methods, the findings and discussions in relation to the RPNs organization or practice environment.
- Who was involved in the conduct and reporting of the research, and
- Does the information translate into the context of the Ontario healthcare system, settings, and/or services?
- How could the research findings help to facilitate conversations and inform decision-making in the workplace?
Exchange Knowledge:
- Draw on research outputs and reliable information sources to share insights and perspectives with supervisors, managers, and team members.
- Shift conversations away from a task-based care approach towards a nursing care approach that is founded in both the art and science of the profession
For years many RPNs have felt invisible as members of the health workforce. Together, nurses are strengthening the profession and healthcare in both direct care and indirect care roles. Building research capacity and knowledge and increasing representation of RPNs in the literature helps to break down barriers and improve awareness and understanding of the nursing profession.
References:
Calver, J., Rahmen, F., Reno, N., & Sun, W. (2025). Enhancing Staffing Stability in Long-Term Care: Insights from Nurses and Personal Support Workers. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 40(3), 279-285. https://doi.org/10.1097/NCQ.0000000000000851
College of Nurses (2023). Entry-to-practice Competencies for Registered Practical Nurses.
College of Nurses (2025). Practice standard. Scope of Practice
Connelly, D., Guitar, N., Prentice, K., & Hay, M. (2026). Drivers to Stay or to Leave: Perceptions of the Nursing Work Environment Across Diverse Healthcare Sectors. Journal of Nursing Management, 2026(1), e5544729. https://doi.org/10.1155/jonm/5544729
Espin, S., Bookey-Bassett, S., Indar, A., Pringle, V., Rose, D., Santa Mina, E., & Teodoro, J. (2025). Optimizing the Role of Registered Practical Nurses in the Operating Room: A Two-Phase Qualitative Descriptive Study. Canadian Journal of Nursing Research, 8445621251345337. https://doi.org/10.1177/08445621251345337
Indar, A., Espin, S., Jones, A., Bookey-Basset, S., Martina, K., Hubley, P., Teodoro, J., Aiello, M., & Browne, C. (2025). Intraprofessional collaboration in acute care: Generating evidence to inform nursing workforce retention strategies. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2026.102832
Hay, M., Connelly, D., Killenne, H., Traiantafillakis, G. (2026). Role transition of recent nurse graduates into practice in long-term care and home and community care sectors: a scoping review. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.70425
Morrissette, S. (2025). Mobilizing research outcomes to strengthen RPN membership engagement. A quality improvement project report.
WeRPN & Optimus. (2026). Understanding the role and value of RPN Care in Ontario https://www.werpn.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Report-WeRPN-Value-of-the-RPN-2026-1.pdf
