A licensed practical nurse or LPN are health care professionals who hold the responsibility of caring for the patients who are injured, sick, disabled, and convalescent in various care settings. In the provision of their care towards different patients, they are being supervised by the physicians or the registered nurses, thus, they do not work with independence.
Among the nursing facilities where licensed practical nurses work include skilled rehabilitation hospitals, nursing homes, general care hospitals, community health centers, and medical offices.
Listed below are the daily responsibilities of the licensed practical nurses which they perform to various clients:
– Working closely with both the patients and nursing staff for the execution of the care plans of the patients
– Compiling client health information
– Administering medications while at the same time monitoring the frequency and amounts of medicines being administered
– Cleaning the wounds as well as changing the bandages
– Doing a monitor of the vital signs including the temperature, heart rate or pulse rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure
– Providing assistance to the patients with regards to feeding, bathing, and dressing
– Becoming an advocate of the patients by reporting patients’ status and needs to the registered nurses and also to the physicians
– Giving supervision to the nursing assistants and the aides
– Other beside care that licensed practical nurses offer include preparing and giving enemas, treating bedsores, giving alcohol rubs or massages, applying ice packs or hot water bottles, and monitoring catheters
In order to become a successful licensed practical nurse, one should have the various qualities:
– Strong and able, having no problems or difficulties in providing help with walking to the unsteady clients
– Able to function well especially during situations which are highly stressful
– Can work fast and clean with the assurance of being able to have maintained focus on the patient while performing one task to another
– Have patience and empathy wherein he or she can sense whenever something is not right or the patients do not feel safe
– Other good qualities to have in order to excel with this profession include being compassionate, supportive, organized, and with good problem-solving skills
In becoming a licensed practical nurse, the initial step to do is to have the decision as to which type of credential to take either a diploma or a certificate. However, these programs need to be pursued with further education.
After coming up with the decision of which program to take, you can enroll to schools offering the needed credentials. The coursework includes studies in nutrition, anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, pharmacology, nursing care of the adult and child, and psychology or human growth and development.
Following the completion of the approved diploma or certificate program for LPN, one is required to take and pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN).
When one becomes registered a Licensed Practical Nurse LPN, further specialization can be done by completing the training in various professional development courses like the gerontology, long-term care, hospice and palliative care, IV therapy, immunization, dialysis, and neonatal education. Hence, with the skills and proper certification, one can already be qualified to work as a professional licensed practical nurse.