Licensed Practical Nurse

Answer 1

Licensed practical nurses play an important role in the health care industry. They work under the direction of physicians and registered nurses. After completing a State approved practical nursing program, a graduate must pass the NCLEX-PN examination that is required by all US state and Boards of Nursing.

Some of the courses required to graduate from a practical nursing program:

• English

• Anatomy

• Pharmacology math

• Biology

• Infection control

• Nutrition

• Psychology

• Risk management

• Psychosocial integrity

• Basic nursing skills and duties

• And more…

Some of the duties of a licensed practical nurse include some or all of the following, plus more:

• Taking vital signs

• Giving medications, both orally and by injections

• Starting IV medications if working in a state that allows this procedure

• Dressing and treating wounds

• Performing blood sugar tests

• Collecting samples for tests ordered

• Monitoring food and fluid intake/output

• Assisting with patient’s activities of daily living such as bathing, feeding, dressing, walking, et al.

• Documenting medical information regarding patient

• Teaching about good health habits to patients and family members

• Supervising nurses aides working under their direction

• Contributing to the development of the nursing care plans

Opportunities for employment are expected to grow through 2014 due to the increasing response to the long-term care needs of the elderly and the growth of the health care industry in general. The beginning salary for a licensed practical nurse averages $36,118.00 but varies with each State and the type of facility that offers employment.

Employment opportunities can be found in hospitals, nursing care facilities, clinics, home health care, surgical outpatient centers, and more. There is ample opportunity for growth due to the ability of a licensed practical nurse, with some additional education, to become a registered nurse. After that, there is plenty of opportunity for upward advancement in the nursing field.

A licensed practical nurse is considered to be a valuable employee in the health care industry and their services are appreciated by the various facilities that employ them.

Answer 2

A Licensed Practical Nurse is a professional who has completed a Nursing Program and has sat for a state licensing examination to become an LPN. This is the same as a Licensed Vocational Nurse, or LVN. An LPN is the primary provider of patient care in most healthcare facilities. They have many of the same responsibilities as a Registered Nurse with the exception of the administrative aspects of patient care plans and other reporting requirements. This means they will have a significant amount of patient interaction that makes a huge difference in healthcare.

Licensed Practical Nurses study for about a year to complete the requirements necessary to take their state LPN licensing board examination. This generally means that they will complete either an Associate Degree program or a Nursing Certificate Program. There are more general education and prerequisite requirements for those who complete a degree program. The degree program is always a better option if the student is able to complete all of the required work and to afford the additional costs entailed with a degree program.

There are not a lot of online options for those studying to become License Practical Nurses. While degree programs often will enable Licensed Practical Nursing students to complete their general education requirements online, most nursing courses require hands on clinical experiences and actual class time. Once you complete your LPN, you can often take online course to complete your LPN to RN certification. Having a degree is necessary if you want to use this sort of a program to advance your career.

Being a Licensed Practical Nurse means that you will make a big difference in the lives of your patients and in the field of healthcare. Salaries for LPNs are at an all time high, as now more than ever the LPN is in high demand. As administrative requirements grow, and RNs are called from the care of patients, LPNs are picking up this slack in every possible heath care environment.

Start looking at the different programs now if you are interested in attending Nursing school in the next year. This will enable you to have ample time to talk to the admission departments at each school and find out what makes them the right school for you.