A career in licensed practical nursing can be a rewarding one, most especially if you get fulfillment from touching the lives of the sick and alleviating the sufferings of individuals who are in pain. Before starting a career as a licensed practical nurse or LPN, it is essential that future LPN students familiarize themselves with the roles and responsibilities of a licensed practical nurse. This is to give a clear idea of the expectations and demands of this job. Though the job outlook and annual earnings show a lot of potential, practical nursing is a stressful and demanding job that constantly exposes LPNs to health hazards and emotional and physical exhaustion. Thus, it is necessary to assess one’s abilities and qualities before starting an LPN program.
LPNs are in close and direct contact with patients as they are mainly tasked to provide bedside care. They monitor their conditions, observing for signs of abnormalities that need immediate assessment and treatment. They assist the sick and the injured to do their activities of daily living when they are not able to do these activities themselves. They administer some medications, educate the patients and their families toward better health, supervise nursing assistants and constantly communicate with registered nurses and physicians in order to maintain the continuity of care. LPNs, indeed, have a wide variety of roles, making them a vital part of the health care team.
Certified and licensed practical nurses can get hold of advanced certifications to enrich their knowledge in specific areas. LPNs could also undergo skills trainings in areas like gerentology and long-term care. This can greatly increase their chances of getting better employment opportunities and higher salary wages. LPNs who want to pursue a career in registered nursing can enroll in numerous bridging programs with minimum time and lessened content credits.
LPN courses are offered by community colleges, universities, hospitals, medical centers and vocational and technical LPN schools. It is advisable that before getting into any of these LPN programs, students should check their accreditation status to ensure that licenses in practical nursing are obtained after the completion of these courses. LPN programs are accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission or NLNAC.
LPN schools require student applicants and prospective LPNs to have at least a high school diploma or its equivalent. General education courses, like mathematics and English composition, should be completed before entry to the LPN program proper. The prerequisites could differ from one LPN program to another, so it is best to check out the prerequisites of each school.
The LPN programs usually include classroom lectures and clinical rotations that are set in various health care facilities with actual patient management. To enhance their technical and clinical skills, the students are supervised by trained and licensed practical nurses and physicians that assess and evaluate their skills. LPN classes include courses in anatomy and physiology, fundamentals of practical nursing care, psychiatric health nursing, medical-surgical nursing, obstetrics, pediatrics, nutrition and dietetics and drug calculation and administration. First aid training is also taught to equip LPNs with appropriate skills during emergencies.
A career in LPN offers many opportunities for professional growth, thus, it is important to build a strong foundation through formal education and training.