Pursuing An LPN Career

An LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) is someone licensed by the state that can care for injured, sick, terminally ill, disabled, or elderly people. Candidates will have to complete a specific program and pass an exam to become an LPN. They can immediately start working as a licensed practical nurse after passing the exam.



Duties



Licensed practical nurses have duties that range from administrative to clinical duties. It is the responsibility of an LP to give basic bed care to patients. They also assist patients in their daily tasks such as bathing and dressing, standing and walking, and eating. Additionally, they take and record patients' vital signs and they help them prepare for their medical tests. It is also their duty to prepare and administer injections, dress wounds, collect test samples, and perform laboratory tests. Some of the administrative duties that licensed practical nurses fulfill are gathering the patient's health information and insurance details as well as keeping records and making appointments.



Work Environment



LPNs usually work 40 hours a week at hospitals, clinics and doctor's offices. They are also not without risks as they are exposed to radiation, caustic chemicals and contagious diseases. They are also subjected to possible injuries when they are assisting uncooperative patients. Moreover, they often deal with the anxieties and the frustrations that the patient and their family members may have with the patient's health condition.



Salary



Every year, a licensed practical nurse receives an average salary of $39,000. The rate may vary between states, however, and are determined by several factors, such as the overall work experience that the licensed practical nurse has, their educational background, the cost of living in the area, the number of hours per shift that they get, and the type of healthcare facility that the licensed practical nurse practices nursing in.



Education



There are technical or vocation schools that let you finish an LPN program. In most cases, half of the program is spent on classroom study, which focuses on nursing related subjects such as anatomy and physiology, fundamentals of nursing, pediatrics, pharmacology, nutrition, and maternal and child health. The other half is spent on clinical practice and it is done at a hospital or other healthcare setting.



Program Requirements



The primary requirement for these LPN schools is a high school diploma or an equivalent certificate. Before submitting their application, students are required to complete a few prerequisite subjects. Candidates with a high GED score and high scores on the nursing admission tests have a better chance of gaining entry into the school that they are applying for. Certificates from any volunteer nursing experience that they have should be included in the application letter, which will elevate one's chances of being accepted.



Licensure Examination



The licensure examination that candidates have to pass is called the NCLEX-PN (National Council Licensure Examination). It is owned and developed by the NCSBN (National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc.). The exams are taken in a computerized adapting testing format and they vary in length. The exams may involve multiple choice, identification, and math problem solving questions.



Cost



Different LPN schools have different tuition fees. The average cost is around $10,000, with all fees included. You can also pay as little as $4,000. The most expensive schools may cost as much as $25,000, excluding the cost of books and other materials.