Licensed practical nurse is one the most in demand jobs today. This is because this job is considered a valuable member in the healthcare team in hospitals, clinics, private practices, employment health services and other long term care facilities. Licensed practical nurse is also called LPNs have a wide range of responsibilities in order for them to deal with patients in an effective manner.
A licensed practical nurse job description is basically to provide bedside care for patients. This include preparing injections, taking vital signs, changing bandages, dressing wounds and other related tasks. They can also conduct other helpful activities such as bathing patients, brushing their teeth, showering, helping patients to get dressed and giving aid to those who need help to perform basic activities. More experienced LPNs are also supervise nursing assistants while providing them with tasks and instructions to be completed.
In order to become an LPN, it is necessary to complete training conducted specifically for becoming a licensed practical nurse. This training is usually offered by vocational schools as well as by career centers. Students are taught various subjects and skills that include courses in patient care, physiology, anatomy and laboratory procedures. The typical training program lasts for a year or two depending on the given curriculum of the training school.
Students are exposed to various subjects such as geriatrics or obstetrics under specialty patient care. Once the training is completed, one should pass the NCLEX-PN certification exam for certification purposes. The employment of a licensed practical nurse is only possible for those who are able to pass the certification examination.
LPNs work under the supervision of a doctor or a registered nurse. A licensed practical nurse needs to collect data from patients that are about to be admitted –concerns about medical records, pretreatment formalities, medical insurance and other health record details. An LPN is in charge of recoding the health details of patients that includes body temperature, blood pressure, heart beat and respiration rate. After taking the medical examinations, an LPN helps the patients by administering the things prescribed by physicians.
The licensed practical nurse job responsibilities also includes dressing the patients’ wounds regularly in order to promote fast healing and taking care of body’s sanitary requirements. One should be a hard worker in order to qualify for this job as there will be several patients that need to be addressed on a daily basis. This job is quite tiring for some people yet it gives a satisfactory feeling at the end of the day as people are being helped accordingly.
An LPN will be experiencing a job environment that is most similar to that of a nursing assistant or even to a registered nurse. There should be universal precautions that should be taken so that the spread of diseases can be prevented. Due to the fact that LPNs are dealing with patients with disease, licensed practical nurses could come in contact with several types of diseases. That is why it is vital for them to have vaccines and other preventive medical care.
Looking for a New Career in 2012?
Our 2012 Hot Jobs Guide is what you need. Get it for free.
