HomeToday a nursing job is in great demand. Choosing a career as a Licensed Practical Nurse can offer you immense employment opportunities as it is projected that the job prospects in this profession will further boom and may increase by at least 15% in the next few years. The career opportunities for Licensed Practical Nurses are definitely high in comparison to all phases of nursing. Besides this, over the last few years licensed practical nursing has become one of the better paying jobs.
Being a licensed practical nurse, you will attend to patients and as per the circumstances your responsibilities may include gathering patient health information, applying dressings and bandages, feeding patients and collecting lab samples for testing. In addition to this, you will also assist patients with their personal hygiene, and at times may even require providing massages or rubs to the patient. Choosing this profession also will let you work as a visiting nurse for those families who usually favor to keep their family member at home.
So, if you are thinking of how to become a LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) then you must know that this role would be emotionally and physically demanding. Moreover, as an individual you need to carry the will power to serve people. Here is step-by-step procedure that can help you understand the procedure to become LPN.
Step.1
Complete a LPN Training Program
The first gateway for you to enter the career in this licensed practical nursing field is by completing a LPN training program. You can get this training program at Community Colleges or Vocational Schools. The training normally takes 1 year and requires a high school degree or a GED. However, you must note that the program you choose get approved by their state's Board of Nursing in order to qualify you for nursing practice.
The best place to look for your training can be at the NAPNEs (National Association for Practical Nurse Education and Services). This is the oldest organization of practical nursing education which concentrates on producing both practical and vocational nurses.
Earn a LPN degree from a LPN nursing college
You may even go for or earn a proper LPN degree directly from a LPN nursing college. Usually the college's LPN program engages 1 to 2 years of study and training at hospital, community college or any health care facility. The LPN curriculum requires that you as the student learn and apply critical thinking in an actual heath care settings. Courses include anatomy and physiology, pediatric nursing, medication calculation, medical surgical nursing, nutrition, psychiatric nursing and CPR.
Step.2
Pass the LPN Licensing Exam
After you have completed your LPN training program or receive your license as an LPN, you also require passing the NCLEX-PN Certificate Examination. If you manage to pass the NCLEX-PN, then you can start practicing as a practical nurse. You need to pass this certificate examination to become nationally certified. But, again you must keep in mind that the requirements for nursing license are different from one state to another. Individual states administer this exam to qualifying candidates.
Finally, as a licensed practical nurse (and vocational nurse), you can receive up to $35,000 a year upon graduation, depending on where you are located and what type of medical facility you work in.
Being a LPN, you can also continue your studies to become a registered nurse, as many nursing colleges offer specialized LPN-to-RN degree programs. If you wish to earn the credentials as a registered nurse, then online nursing program may be a good option as it helps you earn online degree without any need to give up your current job. Today there many accredited online nursing colleges offering online programs that include LPN-to-RN or LPN-to-BSN, you can choose any of them but make sure your selected nursing program is approved at your state.
Conclusion
Today, certainly the job prospect of licensed practical nurses is high. This profession has tremendous scope for professional development and calling out candidates like you who can devote time to work for those who are in need of care.
