Starting a Career as a Licensed Practical Nurse

With only a year of training in the healthcare realm, aspiring professionals can become licensed practical nurses (LPNs). Those wanting to join this ever-growing profession should possess a kind heart along with intelligence, common sense, a caring attitude, calmness under stress and tactfulness. The job also requires your own health to be in good order so you can bring energy and stamina to the job. Many times, LPNs are on their feet their entire shift at a hospital or other healthcare facility.

Becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse

If you are in high school and have an interest in pursuing a nursing career, try taking courses that head toward a better understanding of the body, mind and communication skills.
 
Typically, the coursework that helps pave the way to a successful nursing career in the future will include:
  • biology
  • chemistry
  • child growth and development
  • computer classes
  • food and nutrition
  • health courses
  • psychology.
Prospective LPNs can choose from a large variety of nursing degree programs that will help them learn the necessary skills to pass the license exam. In fact, in 2006, more than 1,500 state-approved training programs in practical nursing were available. Most are housed within a technical or vocational school or in a community or junior college. Training programs are also available through hospitals, colleges and universities. You must have a high school diploma or an equivalent to enroll in any of these programs.
 
For individuals who already have degrees or careers in different areas but decide that nursing is more stable or a more rewarding type of work, training to become an LPN is a smart option; LPN training is quite short compared to getting licensed for other medical jobs.

LPN Educational Programs

LPN programs typically take one year to complete. The program includes a combination of classroom study and clinical application in which students work with patients in supervised settings. The course work includes basic nursing functions and other subjects pertaining to patient care, from pediatrics to first aid to the administration of drugs.
 
The final step to becoming a registered practical nurse is to take an exam. All states and the District of Columbia require that nursing students pass an exam called the NCLEX-PN licensing exam. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing oversee this licensing exam. The computer-based exam covers areas such as:
  • health promotion and maintenance
  • physiological integrity
  • psychosocial integrity
  • safe and effective patient care.

LPN Job Opportunities

LPNs are trained as general medical nurses and work in all areas of healthcare. It is also possible for an LPN to work in specialized workplaces, such as a nursing home, a doctor’s office or in home healthcare.
 
In some areas, LPNs can advance to become charge nurses who manage other LPNs and nursing aides. Another option for LPNs is to become a registered nurse, a higher-level nursing profession that involves more responsibilities than the LPN position. LPNs looking to advance to a registered nurse position will likely need to pursue further schooling and certification.
 
The U.S. Department of Labor projects that more LPNs will be needed in the next 10 years, as nursing care facilities and home healthcare services start taking care of the Baby Boomer generation. In fact, employment of LPNs is suspected to increase at least 14 percent by 2016 – a quicker increase than the average for all occupations.

LPN Job Description

Licensed practical nurses are mostly involved in hands-on care for their patients. LPNs can provide basic care from taking temperatures and blood pressure readings, to monitoring patients and performing routine laboratory tests. They also typically feed, bathe, dress and care for their patients.
 
In other settings, LPNs may be the ones that make appointments in a doctor’s office, keep records and perform clerical tasks. Those who decide to work in private homes can prepare meals and perform other simple nursing tasks.

Career Advancement

While the range of responsibilities for an LPN is quite open, the potential for advancement and better pay can be limited. Registered nurses (RNs) who have at least two more years of training and schooling can take on many more aspects of a patient’s care than an LPN.
 
Registered nurses also tend to climb the ladder of success faster in an organization and can become a supervisor with better pay. Although LPNs might do many of the same tasks that an RN does, the RN has much more flexibility in making decisions for the care of a patient than an LPN.
 
Becoming an RN simply requires further education and experience in the nursing field, which is well within reach for an LPN. For LPNs looking to further their career and earn higher salaries, becoming an RN is a good option.
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