March 8, 2007
By Kathy A. Johnson
Healthcare Programs Columnist
Licensed practical nurses (LPNs), known as licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) in some states, perform many of the procedures used to evaluate patients and keep them comfortable.
LPNs' duties include taking vital signs (like temperature, blood pressure, and respiration), preparing and giving injections, giving alcohol baths or massages, teaching patients' family members simple nursing duties, and helping patients bathe, dress, and eat. In some states, they may also administer prescribed medication or start IV fluids.
LPN Education
To become a licensed practical nurse, you must complete a state-approved LPN program. LPN programs can be found at hospitals, technical and vocational schools, community or junior colleges, and colleges and universities. Training includes classroom and clinical study, and covers subjects like basic nursing concepts, anatomy, the administration of drugs, and first aid. Most programs last about a year. After completion of the LPN program, all states require LPNs to pass a licensing exam.
Following licensing, LPNs may pursue further certification, (in pharmacology or long-term care, for example). An LPN interested in climbing the career ladders can enroll in an LPN-to-BSN program that will give credit for prior LPN training.
LPN Jobs
Hospitals, nursing care facilities, and doctors' offices provide most of the LPN jobs. A growing demand for LPNs, however, is in home healthcare services, as more elderly people need home care, and technological advances enable more people to receive care at home instead of in the hospital. Most LPNs work a 40-hour week, but due to the nature of patient care, those hours may include nights, weekends, or holidays.
LPNs give patients care and comfort that help them on the way to recovery. Working as an LPN can be a rewarding career in itself, or serve as a step towards becoming a registered nurse.
Sources
About the Author
Kathy A. Johnson has written articles on health, fitness, and many other topics in her career as a freelance writer and editor. She is the features editor of Forum, a bimonthly publication of the national mothers group Mothers & More.
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