Nursing is a career that’s in demand and the pay is competitive. There’s a variety of types to explore and many offer flexible scheduling options. Becoming an LPN, or Licensed Practical Nurse, is considered the fastest way to becoming a nurse. Online nursing schools offer classes and training programs to help you achieve this goal. The following information will help you understand what a Licensed Practical Nurse does and what you need to do to become one.Besides being a growing field, nursing is also an interesting and fast-paced job where you can see an impact on patients’ lives. If you like helping people and would like to gain the skills to assist them in the field of medicine, becoming an LPN is a good place to start. Work opportunities for LPNs are abundant in hospitals, clinics, nursing care facilities and physician’s offices. An LPN, under the close supervision of a Registered Nurse or Doctor, performs nursing duties like checking vital signs, applying wound dressings, collecting lab samples, and feeding patients. These are all crucial functions in a health care facility, making LPNs a valuable asset to the health care team.
Steps to becoming an LPN:
- Complete a nursing training program. An LPN, also called LVN or Licensed Vocational Nurse, performs nursing duties without having a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Educational training for an LPN can be obtained in only one year from a vocational center, technical school or community college. LPN courses focus on different nursing principles, such as pediatrics, adult health, and psychology. An LPN training program also exposes students to laboratory work and clinical practice. To qualify for LPN classes within a training program, you must at least be a high school graduate or have obtained your GED.
- Get licensed. After completing the nurse training program, you need to take and then pass the NCLEX-PN (National Council Licensure Examination-Practical Nursing), which will gauge your competency as a Practical Nurse. Check with your state to see if they have any additional licensure requirements. A nursing exam will cover a variety of nursing areas, including health promotion and maintenance, physiological integrity, pharmacological therapies, and safe, effective care environments.
- Hone your nursing skills. To be an effective LPN, you must have the necessary skills for the job to be able to think quickly on your feet. Don’t forget that nursing is often a physical job as well, so build up your stamina, since you will lift patients if needed, wheel them from one place to another, and work in a fast-paced environment for many hours at a time. The job description of an LPN requries you to also be gentle, caring and understanding. Remember, a grouchy, uncompassionate nurse is not what patients want—nor is it what they need as they struggle with their illness.
- Look for a nursing job. There are lots of options and opportunities to become an LPN, and hopefully your nursing training will have helped you understand what type of nursing your skills are best suited to. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities for LPNs are likely to increase by 14% by 2016. This means there are and will continue to be a lot of opportunities and job options for an LPN. Although you can look for work in hospitals and healthcare facilities, the main source of jobs these days are in home health care, provided at the patient’s home. When you are looking for a job, remember to highlight your competencies in your interview. Be prepared to discuss your training experiences and the types of nursing duties you enjoy the most.
Most LPNs currently report annual earnings of $36,033 to $43,420. But if you wish to earn more and improve your career, consider completing a bachelor’s degree in nursing. One option to look into is a Licensed Practical Nurse to Bachelor’s of Nursing (LPN-to-RN) degree program. Whatever you choose to do, becoming an LPN is a great place to start your nursing career.
