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