LPN CAREER

LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE

A program in practical nursing is specifically designed to those individuals who have the passion to care for the sick, injured, convalescent, in need of rehabilitation, treatment and prevention of illness.  It will prepare a person to face a challenging world in healthcare and at the same time, a rewarding career.

Some of us might be asking at this very moment as you are reading this article, if this is the right career for you.  Before you consider and decide to pursue this career, it is much better to be informed on the qualifications that an LPN or Licensed Practical Nurse should have.

Nursing is a career which requires that one should have a caring and compassionate heart, be emotionally stable, dedicated to the cause of helping people in need and good health condition, as working with the sick and injured could be stressful and physically demanding.  As a part of a multidisciplinary team, one is expected to have good communication and decision-making skills.

CAREER OVERVIEW

Based on the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics, it is projected that demand for LPNs will increase to about 21% by 2008 to 2018.  Due to an increase in senior population who are probably requiring medical care and the need to replace the older LPNs who will be retiring, there will be even more job openings in the long term and skilled nursing facilities, home health care services, doctors offices, acute facilities and government agencies.

You could agree with me that as we continue to witness the nursing shortage, many people will consider and have considered this career path to turn their nursing dreams into a reality.

EDUCATION

It only takes a person a year or two to finish LPN program, depending on the institution offering the course.  It is offered at many community colleges, adult schools, and career centers.  The program usually includes hours of theories on Basic Nursing, Anatomy and Physiology, Medical-Surgical Nursing, Geriatrics, Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Pharmacology in combination with clinical practice into different healthcare setting.

Throughout their practice, an LPN is required to take some units for continuing education to further knowledge on the healthcare trends to better serve their patients.

What to consider?

  • Before investing your time and money, be sure to check the school’s accreditation before you enroll. If a school is not accredited or approved by a regulatory body in your state or province, your education will not be acknowledged and will not be eligible to take the licensing examination. It will all turn out to nothing!
  • Each school has its own requirements on how to be accepted in their program.  Most schools usually require a high school diploma or equivalent to be considered into the program.  Call the school to inquire.
  • Once the program is finished and you passed the course, then one is eligible to take the licensing examination, NCLEX-PN in the US and CRPNE in Canada.
  • After passing the examination, you have to register under a state or provincial jurisdiction, where you consider to practice as an LPN.

List of an approved LPN programs are available from individual State and Provincial Boards of Nursing.

Different terms for LPN are being used. In California and Texas, it is termed as LVN (Licensed Vocational Nurse), LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) in most States and RPN (Registered Practical Nurse) in Canada. They call it EN (Enrolled Nurse) in Australia and New Zealand and (SEN) State Enrolled Nurse in United Kingdom.  However it is called, it will still be of one purpose, to give care and be of help to others.

JOB DESCRIPTION

A Licensed Practical Nurse or LPN can have different job responsibilities depending on health care setting they are in. Following are just some of their general responsibilities:

  • Performs under the direction of a Registered Nurse and Physician.
  • Provides general nursing care for ill, injured, convalescent and handicapped patients in healthcare setting.  Assist with dressing, bathing and personal hygiene.
  • Check vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, respiration rate, temperature, height and weight) and pain scale of a patient.
  • Administer medications by mouth, topical and by injection.  Report adverse reactions to medications and treatment to the supervisor.
  • Collects samples from patient for laboratory tests.
  • Performs treatment of certain types of wounds and dressing changes.
  • Gather information from patients and update patient’s record.
  • Encourage preventive healthcare through education.
  • Based on experience, an LPN can supervise nursing assistants and other LPNs.
  • In other States or Provinces, LPNs can start IV fluids and care of ventilator-dependent patients.

LPN SALARY

Salary of an LPN depends on the location, employer and years of experience.  In the US, an average starting hourly rate of LPN is between $16- $29, working 40 hrs a week could make $30,720-$55,680 per year.  In Canada, an RPN who just started could make an average hourly rate between C$18- C$28 and annual salary between C$34,560- C$ 53,760.

Bureau of Labor and Statistics have recorded that LPN held about 753,600 jobs in 2008, from which 25% worked in hospital setting, 28% in nursing care facilities, and 12% in Doctor’s offices.  The median annual wages of LPNs employed in different industries in May 2008 are stated below:

  • Employment Services- $44,690
  • Nursing Care Facilities- $40,580
  • Home Health Care Services- $39,510
  • General Medical-Surgical Hospitals- $38,080
  • Physician’s Office- $35,02o

CAREER ADVANCEMENT

An LPN has the opportunity to advance career, by going back to school and take bridging programs from LPN to RN.  Usually you will earn an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) that will qualify you to take the State or Provincial Board Examination to become Registered Nurses.  Another path is to take a Baccalaureate Program in Nursing, LPN to BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) to advance even more in the future.