The Canadian Institute of Health Information (CIHI) recently published a report called: Regulated Nurses, Canadian Trends 2004-2008. This extensive research report contains a great deal of information about the state of the Licensed Practical Nursing profession during that five-year period. The highlights of these research findings include:

•Licensed Practical Nurses represented 21.8% of the total regulated nursing workforce in Canada in 2008

•There were 81,121 LPNs practicing in Canada in 2008, an increase of 13.8% from 2004

•In 2008 there were 222 Licensed Practical Nurses per 100,000 population in Canada, up from 200 per 100,000 population in 2004. Since 2004, the growth of the LPN workforce has consistently been higher than the rate of population growth

•In 2008, CIHI reports the LPN workforce in Saskatchewan to be 2,514 or an increase of 18% from 2004

•CIHI reports that 54.5% of Saskatchewan LPNs were employed full-time in 2008, which is above the national average of 49% and the highest percentage among the Western provinces

•CIHI confirms that it is not uncommon for LPNs to have more than one nursing job, often with multiple employers. In 2008, 17.7% of the LPN workforce across Canada reported having more than one employer in nursing

•CIHI reports that in 2008, Saskatchewan had the lowest percentage of male Licensed Practical Nurses in Canada (3.4%)

•CIHI reports that in 2008, 46.3% of the Saskatchewan LPN workforce had graduated within the past ten years

•CIHI reports that in 2008, 88.2% of all Saskatchewan LPN grads were employed in the province, giving Saskatchewan the seventh best rate of retention among Canadian provinces and territories