Becoming an LPN is an excellent career move. This career offers one of the shortest routes to a career in the medical field. LPNs help sick and disabled patients to handle their day-to-day needs. In addition, LPNs can earn a great starting salary that can develop into an even better salary with experience. Many nurses use the LPN degree as a stepping-stone to gain experience before entering other nursing professions. This safe and exciting career has much to offer those who want to become part of the nursing industry.
How to Become an LPN
Nursing students should look around at LPN schools to find the school that is right for them. Attending an accredited nursing program is very important to the future of LPNs. Students should visit the website of The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) to find qualifying accredited LPN programs near them. It is also important to check the admission requirements of each of the schools that students plan to attend so that they can determine if they qualify for the school’s admission.
Students must first earn a GED or high school diploma before they can be considered for an LPN program. Once they select the accredited LPN program that they want to attend, they can expect to earn their degree in one year or less. They can choose between vocational schools, community colleges, and technical colleges to earn their degrees. The programs may require students to take such courses as medical calculation, CPR, First Aid, nutrition, medical surgical nursing, and anatomy and physiology.
Once students have completed their respective LPN programs, they must sit for the LPN certification examination. They must pass the NCLEX-PN before they can become LPNs. LPNs may also have to meet certain requirements in the state in which they practice before they can earn their certification.
List of Tasks LPNs Perform Daily
LPNs are medical professionals who care for sick, injured, convalescent, and disabled people. LPNs work under the direct supervision of physicians and Registered Nurses.
Licensed Practical Nurses have a number of job responsibilities, including:
- Giving injections to patients
- Monitoring medical equipment
- Giving enemas to patients
- Dressing wounds
- Helping patients with their personal hygiene
- Assisting with standing and walking
- Feeding patients
- Monitoring the catheters of patients
- Assisting patients with dressing
- Helping care for, feed, and deliver babies
- Monitoring patients
- Ordering medications
- Organizing patient charts
- Booking appointments
- Arranging schedules
- Collecting patients’ personal information
- Collecting specimens for testing
- Recording fluid and food intake and outtake
- Cleaning medical equipment
- Reporting patients’ reactions to treatment and medication to doctors
- Completing referrals, pre-authorizations, and insurance forms
- Giving alcohol rubs to patients
- Assisting patients with bathing
- Education patients about good health habits
- Helping the families of patients care for them
- Administering IVs
- Caring for terminally ill or disabled patients
- Providing the basic bedside needs of patients
- Assisting patients with exercises prescribed by their doctor
- Replacing IV bags
- Planting and reading a PPD under the doctor’s order
List of Tasks LPNs Cannot Perform
LPNs can perform a number of duties, but there are certain tasks that they cannot perform, including:
- Performing surgeries
- Administering medication without the consent of doctors or Registered Nurses
- Providing patient assessments
- Administering IV medication without supervision
- Administering chemotherapy
- Providing triage in person or on the telephone
- Creating patients care plans independently
- Providing mental health counseling
- Handling case management
- Working in supervisory positions in medical facilities
- Changing a trach tube
- Substituting an RN
- Irrigating nephrostomy tubes
- Administering direct IV push medications (except heparin and saline flushes)
- Initiating different or new medication IV fluid
- Accessing any type of central line
- Inserting, changing, flushing, removing, or changing PICC line dressing
- Administering test without the order of a doctor or Registered Nurse
- Acting independently on patient data
- Interpreting clinical data of patients
- Working independently
- Implementing or initiating protocol or standing orders without the individualization by a doctor for a specific person
Becoming an LPN in is becoming one of the most often chosen professions in the medical field. LPNs perform many of the tasks that Registered Nurses perform but with a few exceptions. As long as they are under the supervision of doctors or Registered Nurses, LPNs can perform a larger number of duties. Becoming an LPN can lead to a prosperous career in the medical field.