There are many professions in the healthcare field that come with advantages and benefits. Among those professions, becoming a licensed practical nurse can be considered a long term beneficial one. So what exactly does it mean to be an LPN? A licensed practical nurse provides basic bedside care for people who are injured, sick, disabled, or convalescent. Some of the responsibilities include recording patients vital signs, giving injections and enemas, monitoring catheters, dressing wounds, etc. LPN’s assist patients with any kind of care they need. They also work under the direction of registered nurses or physicians. Those who are experienced are able to supervise nursing assistants, as well as aides. In this blog post, I will discuss what is expected when an individual is becoming a licensed practical nurse.
EDUCATION
To become a LPN, the first step is to acquire the proper education. You must complete an accredited practical nursing program that takes about a year to complete. This type of program can be taken at a community or technical college. Along with clinical experience, the academic aspect of the program includes nursing, pharmacology, biology, and clinical experience. The fact that becoming a licensed practical nurse only requires a year may be appealing to those who don’t want to spend four years becoming a registered nurse.
LICENSE/CERTIFICATION
Once you’ve completed a state-approved program, you will attain certification in practical nursing. Certifications may vary from state to state. The next step would be to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN) in order to receive a license to be able to practice as a licensed practical nurse.
JOB OUTLOOK
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), LPN jobs are expected to grow by 16% by 2024. One of the main reasons behind this potential growth is that people grow older with time. As this profession mainly requires looking after the older population, more LPN’s will always be a demand. It’s smart to invest in a career that has an increasing demand rather than one that may be declining. The average salary of an LPN is $46,240, and the median salary is $71,730. Although the compensation may not be high as a registered nurse, this profession would be beneficial in the long run.
BENEFITS
Alongside spending less time receiving the proper qualification, there are a few more advantages of becoming a licensed practical nurse. Choosing this career may allow you to balance your work and personal life in a better way. An LPN is able to have a flexible work routine, where they can find it easier to manage responsibilities at work and at home. You can work a night shift and be able to pay attention to your personal life during the day, whether is be running errands, taking care of your family, or simply having time off. You are able able to choose your work-setting as LPN’s can work in a hospital, physician’s office, or nursing home. Furthermore, the role of a licensed practical nurse can be more diverse than other healthcare professions. As an LPN, it is quite possible that one day you’ll be doing an ordinary check-up and next, you can be dealing with an emergency situation. There is no set schedule of the duties carried out by an LPN.
In terms of education, since you only spend a year completing a good LPN program, you are able to gain more hands-on experience with the time you save. The more experience you have, the greater your role of an LPN can be. An experienced licensed practical nurse, you can advance to supervisory positions with time. Moreover, you can also go back to school and receive further education to specialize in other healthcare professions.
It is also said that the job of an LPN is greatly appreciated by the patients. By working closely with recovering patients, you can form a selfless connection with those who at first are strangers, and then become a part of your life. Helping these people recover from their sickness or injuries can be quite satisfying as they express their appreciation.
If you are interested in becoming a licensed practical nurse, I would suggest considering the points I made in this blog post. Being a part of the healthcare industry can get difficult and stressful at times, but it is quite rewarding. It is also important to do proper research before choosing a career path. I wish you the best of luck if you choose to go about becoming a licensed practical nurse!