| By :
Nick Messe
Today's demand for licensed practical nurses (LPN) is growing at a rapid pace. It is projected that job opportunities in this profession will greatly grow and increase by at least 15% in the next few years. Due to the longevity of life that American's are now experiencing and more procedures being done on an outpatient basis, the demand for nurses is at an all time high. Job opportunities will also occur from the need to replace LPNs that retire, transfer, or leave the field for other reasons. If you are looking to change careers or are just starting out, there is no better time than now to consider a job in this exciting field of medicine. Do you have a sincere desire to help people and can be sympathetic to the needs of others? Nursing is the most rewarding and challenging of professions. It is a career that involves care, compassion, specialized knowledge, and skill. Choosing a career as a Licensed Practical Nurse can offer you immense employment opportunities. The career opportunities for Licensed Practical Nurses are greater than in comparison to other opportunities of nursing. As a one of the better paying jobs in the nursing industry becoming a licensed practical nurse certainly has its advantages. As a licensed practical nurse, you will attend to many different types patients and situations. Your responsibilities may include measuring and recording vital signs and gathering patient health information, applying dressings and bandages, feeding patients and collecting lab samples for testing. You may also assist patients with their personal hygiene. Licensed practical nurses help other registered nurses and physicians perform tests and procedures. They often teach family members on how to care for patients when they leave a medical facility. You may also work as a visiting nurse for families who usually want to keep their family member at home. To become a licensed practical nurse, you need to complete a training program which normally takes 1 year and requires a high school degree or a GED. Community colleges, vocational schools, and many hospitals may offer training programs to prepare you to become licensed as an LPN. Most programs include classroom instruction and supervised clinical practice. Classroom coursework for most if not all programs includes basic nursing concepts, anatomy, physiology, medical surgical nursing, obstetrics, pediatrics, psychiatric nursing, nutrition, first aid, and the administration of medication. Clinical practice usually takes place in hospitals, health care settings, or clinics. All states require licensed practical nurses to be licensed. Each state board of nursing can set their own licensing requirements which may include a background check and payment of a fee. The licensing requirements are usually completing an approved practical nursing program and passing the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN). Many schools offer full-time or part-time course work, evening part-time and long distance course education, making it easy to fit into your schedule. Take the first step today to an exciting and rewarding career and find the program that is right for you.
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