Licensed practical nursing jobs or LPN jobs consist mostly of practical nursing work such as taking care of and monitoring the health of patients who are either admitted in hospitals, nursing homes, geriatric facilities, or birthing clinics.
The LPN jobs and openings can come from many institutions that need health workers to provide special care for patients who are commonly not in a very delicate state but are finding it hard to do things on their own. An LPN in a hospital environment should be able to do most of the things that an RN can, especially when the situation calls for it. They can administer injections, file reports, and help clean and dress wounds; usually under the supervision of an RN.
How Does One Become an LPN
The licensed practical nurse undergoes training that would better prepare him or her for the kind of work to be given to them. For most experts, the term practical nursing education applies to those that aspire to be licensed practical nurses. A licensed practical nurse can be a high school graduate or not, depending on the state regulations set by the nursing board. These soon to be care providers then need to attend a year of the Practical Nursing program in accredited LPN schools and attain a diploma. Most of this education is streamlined compared to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing for RNs, whose curriculum is wider and incorporates various fields.
After the one year training and education, the next step to being a licensed practical nurse is to take an examination from the Board of Nursing. This licensure examination is known as the NCLEX-PN. If they pass, they will have their license to work as a practical nurse and look for LPN jobs.
Jobs for Licensed Practical Nurses
Licensed practical nurses have lesser official responsibilities compared to registered nurses, but the actual patient work they put out is at par with most RNs, or even more. The differences are mostly in the specialization. Registered nurses are more open to various medical fields during their education; they are more likely to handle trauma patients, those who are mentally unstable, or the administering of subscription medicine.
There are a variety of LPN jobs available. A licensed practical nurse can work in a hospital, in retirement homes, as a household nurse, or in specialized medical facilities like rehabilitation centers. In a hospital, the licensed practical nurse works under the guidance of registered nurses and doctors. They can administer injections and various medicines, and are also entrusted with tasks like helping the patients up or getting them to bathe. They can also take blood samples, temperature, and other test samples needed for lab work. There has been a recent trend in some hospitals to do away with hiring LPNs for RNs.
For outpatient help like in geriatric clinics or as a home nurse, they can be very close to their patients and could monitor them at all times. These private care facilities have grown in number in recent years and serve as a good place to look for openings of LPN jobs.
Michelle works as a nurse in New Jersey and has been in the health care industry for more than 20 years.