Licensed Practical Nursing is a career choice many people make for financial reasons. They are usually people with a genuine desire to enter the medical field and most, given the financial means and optimal circumstance, would opt for the more lucrative pay grade of the RN. The cost of the Licensed Practical Nursing diploma is within the financial reach of a greater cross-section of individuals seeking a career in the medical field.

Training as an LPN gets you into the workforce and earning a paycheck much more quickly. The
course of study for an LPN is 1 year. It is not a degreed course. You earn a certificate or diploma. You may have seen the term LVN, which is Licensed Vocational Nurse. This designation is gaining traction in some states and is the equivalent of the LPN designation.

It isn’t unusual for RN’s to start their careers as licensed practical nurses, as nursing aides or as medical assistants, and then go back to school to receive their RN degree when they are in a more favorable financial position.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics is optimistic about the job opportunities for nurses of all stripes. They predict that the demand will continue through 2016 particularly for RN’s. An aging population, growing numbers of disabled persons, and increased emphasis on home health care are contributing factors. The strongest job market for LPN’s will be in nursing care facilities but not to the exclusion of other opportunities. They also anticipate openings in the job market due to retirement and career changes. The future looks bright!

Pay scales for LPN’s vary by state and by region but range from $15/hr to $21/hr in the United States. There is ample opportunity to augment earnings with overtime and/or shift differentials. Another perk, especially so in today’s strained economy, is job security. This profession can’t be outsourced and with demand for qualified talent on the rise, the chances of being laid-off are almost zero.

An LPN’s duties will vary with the medical facility they work in. Their duties are different in a hospice care facility, than in a clinic. So, take the litany that follows with that in mind. Basic duties include caring for sick, injured, disabled and terminally ill patients. The care they provide is under the close supervision of registered nurses and physicians.

Licenses Practical Nurses are trained to administer IV’s (drips), perform clerical duties, clean and dress wounds, administer first aid, bath patients, monitor patients, take blood pressure and temperature, ensure medications are taken and taken on time, and assist the medical staff in the maintaining the patient’s general welfare. LPN’s may be responsible for select patients or entire wards.

Licenses Practical Nurses are the marines of the medical profession. They are front-line caregivers, in the trenches, doing the tough work. They fight for their patients’ recovery, fight for their patients’ very survival. It is rewarding work and it is respected work.

Whether a stepping-stone to a more advanced degree or a career choice in itself, the field of Licenses Practical Nursing offers a challenging, rewarding and respected career to the person with “the right stuff”.

Author Bio: Winston P. McDonald enjoys writing for Uniformhaven.com which sells cherokee scrubs and baby phat scrubs as well as a host of additional products.

Category: Education
Keywords: practical nursing,practical nurses,licensed practical nursing,licensed practical nursing training