Become An LPN - Challenges And Rewards
Would you like to make a difference in someone's life by working as a licensed practical nurse LPN? It's not an easy job, but do you think you have the dedication and discipline required to take on this rewarding position?
If so, there are many LPN programs available to guide you in the right direction and help you make those tough decisions, but look into all your licensed practical nurse training options in order to choose the path for you. It will require hard work and focus, so get all the facts you need to feel confident and ready to take the step.
What Requirements Do I Need to Be Admitted
Nursing is a field that you can into without prior requirements other than finishing your LPN classes, but to ensure your success in your studies, you should consider a few things. Try to take as many science and math classes in highschool as possible to ease your LPN training. Furthermore, you should assess your personality to see if you possess the dedication, compassion, patience and physical and emotional strength to handle the challenges. From there, find a competitive school that can complete the skills you need to work in this fast paced environment.
Where Can I Find Good LPN Training Programs
The first step you need to take to become a licensed practical nurse is to seek out the right LPN courses. Training usually takes about 1 year, and you can pursue it at a vocational college, community college or directly through a hospital. There are also online options available to provide you with your theoretical training, but you will still need to seek clinical practice or an internship in order to get hands on training.
What Curriculum is Offered
An LPN or LVN as it's called in some states, will need to acquire a variety of abilities from LPN schools to work caring for disabled, ageing or sick patients in hospitals or health care centers. Your licensed practical nurse courses will take you through developing your skills in areas like taking vital signs, performing lab tests, collecting samples, giving injections and updating patient charts. Furthermore, you will need to establish abilities in helping to feed, clean and move patients who can't do it on their own.
Is Certification Required
After completing your 1 year of training to be a licensed practical nurse, you will need to take the national certification exam given by the National Council Licensure Examination, or the NCLEX-PN. Passing this test will give you your LPN license and enable you to find work in a hospital setting to work under a registered nurse or practicing doctor, so ensure that your school is accredited in order to be eligible to sit the certification test otherwise you will not be able to practice.
Are there Any Advancement Opportunities
Once you have your licensed practical nurse degree and have spent some years gaining on the job experience, you might start thinking of advancing your position and furthering your education to get ahead in the field. The next level up would be to become a registered nurse which would give you more responsibilities and have more authority over other nurses.
The easiest way to get to this level would be to obtain a LPN to RN degree by taking a bridge course, which would simply supplement your existing education with the additional training needed to be an RN. Furthermore you could also get your LPN to BSN degree, because with a bachelor's in nursing you could be eligible for further positions in administration, management or education.
Pros and Cons of Being A Lisenced Practical Nurse
As with any profession, there are both advantages and disadvantages to working as a licensed practical nurse. The hours will be long, the pace will be gruelling and the licensed practical nurse duties are so varied that you will find yourself responsible for a great deal of things, requiring both physical exertion as well as emotional challenges.
However, you will play an important role in the lives of your patients; assisting them in daily tasks that they can not do for themselves, and easing their rehabilitation process and healing. The difficulties of the job are completely offset by the sense of satisfaction you will receive for playing such a vital part of the lives of those in need.
What Kind of Salary Potential is There
With the demand for licensed practical nurses on the rise, especially in home health care and nursing home facilities, the average licensed practical nurse salary can be quite lucrative and reach even higher potential with continuing education and advanced degrees. The average earnings is about $46,000 a year in a typical hospital setting, but this can vary according to the type of facility you choose to work in.
A licensed practical nurse is a vital part of the health care system and as such, your work will be stable and consistent, financially secure and provide you with years of fulfillment. Ready to become a LPN?
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