Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Careers
Licensed Practical Nurses provide the most amount of direct patient care within the nursing category of healthcare. If you're interested in a healthcare career dealing directly with patients, becoming an LPN is a rewarding opportunity.
LPN Job Description
LPNs provide a large portion of direct patient care. LPNs may be assisted by nurses' aides ( CNAs ) and other assistants in some of their duties. LPNs are directed by doctors and nurses (RNs & nurse managers). Typically, a LPN's work duties include:
Taking vital signs
Preparing and administering injections and enemas
Applying dressings and bandages
Watching catheters
Treating bedsores
Providing alcohol massages or rubs
Monitoring patients and reporting changes
Collecting samples for testing
Provide patient hygiene
Feeding patients
Monitoring food and liquid input/output
LPNs work in a variety of settings like hospitals, outpatient facilities, long term care facilities, clinics and home care. Tenured LPNs may supervise nursing aides and assistants.
Salary Ranges
While nursing jobs in general are in high demand nationwide, LPN positions in hospitals are declining. However, since this has been caused by an increase in outpatient services, LPN positions in long term care facilities and home health is in as much demand as other nursing categories.
The U.S. Department of Labor has published the median income for LPNs as $31,440 in 2002. The range was $22,860 to $44,040 based on geographic location and work experience. Contract LPNs made the most money, while doctor's office nurses made the least on average at $28,710.
A nursing career offers other benefits including a flexible schedule, a short work week (three 12 hour shifts with four days off), tuition reimbursement and signing bonuses.
Education / Getting Started
Because of the high level of patient responsibility, nursing is highly regulated, requiring both education and a license. Graduates must complete a state approved practical nursing program and pass a licensing examination. An LPN certificate can be completed in less than a year. Some RN students become LPNs after completing their first year of study. Course work in the LPN program includes anatomy, physiology, nutrition, biology, chemistry, obstetrics, pediatrics, first aid as well as nursing classes.
Becoming an LPN is the fastest path to a nursing career. Advancement can take many forms, but additional education is usually required.
If you possess the traits necessary to become a successful nurse and want to secure a well paying, important profession caring for others, getting an LPN degree in nursing is a great way to secure your professional future.
About The Author
Max Stein is a freelance writer who writes about business, education and marketing.
Whether you are networking to find a new job opportunity,... Read More
There are many reasons why you could be in the... Read More
Some interview questions are asked so frequently that they've become... Read More
More than four out of ten thirtysomething professionals want to... Read More
Q. I'm about to graduate High School and I don't... Read More
Many young adults flock to bars, lounges and clubs on... Read More
Writing a good resume cover letter is something you should... Read More
It's clear there are a number of common issues faced... Read More
I have to admit that I'm starting to slow down... Read More
Want to break into the petite modeling industry but wondering... Read More
* If you believe you deserve a salary increase, ask... Read More
Interviews can be nerve-racking, brain-draining, headache-inducing experiences. These days, recruiters... Read More
Q. I just finished a job interview. Everything went well.... Read More
According to statistics one out of every five pregnant women... Read More
Rick Jarow, author of Creating the Work You Love, introduced... Read More
Planning and preparing before you begin to send out resumes... Read More
Though the name itself may seem a bit mysterious, the... Read More
Want to get hired faster than up to 97% of... Read More
Q. I hate my job as a computer consultant. I... Read More
To begin, make a decision to discard any former knowledge... Read More
We hear from our clients that they "hope the candidate... Read More
I know what you are thinking. You're thinking, "Wait a... Read More
Job loss affects most of us like any other loss... Read More
Are you thinking about switching careers? If you are, you're... Read More
Success is not always something you necessarily find when you... Read More
Does it seem that with every passing year it's getting... Read More
There is an end to the job search tunnel!It has... Read More
Do you have a tendency to think in absolutes?Is everything... Read More
According to the National Gardening Association, suckers are rapidly growing... Read More
If you ever studied any probability theory in high school... Read More
Are you interested in inside sales as a career? Inside... Read More
Many people's idea of networking relates to the 'size of... Read More
Chances are you already have many ideas about what it... Read More
May I explain what about what a red ball means... Read More
Think you have gone as far as you can in... Read More
Family is the driving force of our lives. You need... Read More
A friend was just promoted to a position of vice-president... Read More
Richard Bolles, job search guru and author of What Color... Read More
Being a current job seeker can be quite a challenging... Read More
I learned in first grade that one plus... Read More
In this ever changing world, we need to think out... Read More
A problem most freelance translators are facing with is how... Read More
When you start a new job, you probably realize the... Read More
Do you have a tendency to think in absolutes?Is everything... Read More
As the old saying goes, "you never get a second... Read More
Successful career change is based on first making an honest... Read More
Q. I just finished a job interview. Everything went well.... Read More
As many law enforcement candidates can vouch for, taking the... Read More
Whether you are an accountant, virtual assistant, or a corporate... Read More
When it comes to modern career development, one thing we... Read More
"James is so restless and energetic. I wonder if he's... Read More
We have been studying the labor rates of Oil, Lube... Read More
1. Do What You Love.Have you ever noticed we usually... Read More
The resume objective statement is typically something that trips people... Read More
Your breath catches in your throat - at last, an... Read More
I've heard it said?in fact, it might well have been... Read More
I remember being asked this question a lot when I... Read More
You are just about to leave university You are just... Read More
They're only words. Some believe the school-yard taunt: "Sticks and... Read More
The fundamental rule is: if you are going to apply... Read More
Interview Question, "Tell Me Something About Yourself?""Tell me about yourself"... Read More
I wanted to quit my job. So I decided to... Read More
Starting a new job can feel like moving to a... Read More
If you still picture a steady progression up the ladder... Read More
One of the most emotionally crippling aspects of unemployment is... Read More
Strange jobs? How do we define that? Years ago I... Read More
Careers, Jobs & Employment |