LPN Jobs | LPN Careers | LPN Employment

You may well be interested in becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse, or LPN.  The fact of the matter is that many are becoming increasingly interested in becoming an LPN.  There are almost certainly any number of reasons for this increased interest, but quite possibly one of the most frequent reasons cited will be due to the poor economic conditions faced by the economy at this time.  The fact is that there are increasing numbers of people who are uncertain about their own jobs or have already lost their job and are looking to re-train into a career where the job prospects remain good and are likely to do so for some time to come.

The fact is that training to become an LPN is a comparatively cheap and quick way to get into nursing and a good way to find that first nursing job.  But before embarking on this journey into your new career you really should now what is involved in order to get LPN certification.

The first task you will need to undertake is to enroll on a State Board of Nursing approved LPN training program.  There are many such programs available these days and if you write to your State Board of Nursing they will provide you with a list of the ones available in your home state.  Alternatively there are an number of LPN certification programs available online.  A quick online search should present you with a number of options almost straight away.  In order to qualify for an LPN certification program you will need a high school diploma and occasionally you will have to sit an entrance exam which is a simple test of your math skills, your english and your comprehension skills.

The typical LPN course is about training to become a practical nurse, and therefore there is a high degree of clinical training within each course.  You may well need to spend some time at your local community college if you are studying your LPN certification online as this may well be the only way you can get the requisite practical experience.

Most LPN certification courses last between 12 months and two years.  At the end of the program, in order to qualify as an LPN you will need to sit the National Council Licensure Examination – Practical Nursing exam or NCLEX-PN exam.  This examination is administered by your State Board of Nursing and it is they who will certify you as an LPN should you successfully pass the exam.

In conclusion the process of LPN certification is comparatively straightforward, does not involve a high degree of academic study and is quite short in length but does combine necessary study with a high degree of practical experience which should ensure that when you get your first LPN job you are capable and confident from the very first day.

The acronym LPN stands for Licensed Practical Nurse.  The LPN has a particular nursing role to play in a number of healthcare environments in the modern day healthcare sector.  They undertake a number of patient care activities such as:

• Personal care;
• The taking of medical histories;
• Monitoring of vital signs; and
• Administrering certain medicines;

They are required to work under the supervision of a Registered Nurse, or RN, or a physician, but they can relieve those professionals of significant amounts of their workload allowing them to concentrate on providing better outcome driven patient care themselves.  In the states of Texas and California the LPN is called the Licensed Vocational Nurse, or LVN, so you need to remember this in order to avoid confusion.

Nowadays there are a number of different ways in which a prospective LPN student can qualify.  There are the traditional LPN schools that offer conventional LPN programs at which the student attends, just like college and studies in a classroom and clinical evironment.  But increasingly these same schools, in order to extend their reach, and as a reflection of the advances of modern technology, and in particular the impact of the world wide web are able to offer LPN training online as an alternative to conventional training.  At the end of any LPN training program the student still, of course, needs to pass the examination NCLEX-PN (PN stands for Practical Nursing) which is run by their State Board of Nursing, but the advantages of LPN training online are worth considering when deciding on which particular LPN program to take.

The first thing to note about becoming an LPN is that in order to pre-qualify you need as a minimum a high school diploma and a clean criminal record.  However, some LPN programs do include other entry requirements so whatever program you are considering it is worth checking that you meet their particular qualification criteria.  LPN training online courses give you the following advantages over the more conventional LPN programs:

• As much of the learning is online you will be able to adapt your time to suit your particular family circumstances.  This means that you may well be able to do much of your study at times convenient to you, rather than at times convenient for the teachers at the LPN school you are attending.
• The flexibility provided by LPN online training may well mean that you can continue to work whilst studying which will ease the financial burden considerably.
• LPN online training programs are likely to be far less expensive than conventional LPN training programs due to the fact that you are not placing a burden on the school resources in the same way as daily attendance would do.

You should before taking the final step satisfy yourself that the level of tuition and contact with the lecturers and teachers will suit you as you may otherwise find the online LPN program isolating, but if you are happy with all that you find then you would do well to undertake LPN training online as a route to becoming a qualified LPN.

If you are interested in training to become an LPN and want to know what LPN training qualifications you will need then read on. Fortunately one of the reasons why starting a nursing career by initially pursuing the Licensed Practical Nurse or LPN qualification is that the initial qualifications that you need to get on to most LPN training programs are comparatively easy to come by.  Indeed a candidate only need show that they have been able to attain a high school diploma and that they have no criminal record.  Some LPN training programs do not even wait until you have a high school diploma and you can start your training whilst in high school.

The reason for the comparatively low LPN training qualifications is due to two main factors.  The first factor is that the LPN role, whilst increasingly a significant part of healthcare teams across hospitals, physicians surgeries and other healthcare outlets, remains a relatively junior role with most activities undertaken by the LPN requiring supervision by a physician or possibly by a registered nurse.  This does not mean that the role of the LPN is unimportant.  Far from it.  The LPN increasingly relieves other healthcare professionals from the need to undertake a wide array of every day tasks.  It is really a reflection of the qualification process, which concentrates on a short training program with a high degree of practical experience included on the LPN program.

The second reason is that increasingly there is a shortage of good quality LPN’s.  This is not due to the quality of the candidates who are looking to use the LPN qualification as a route into nursing.  No, this is much more a reflection of the fact that demand for the services of LPN’s has been increasing for a number of years and is expected to continue to increase at a reasonably significant pace until at least 2016 and possibly beyond.  As a result, the State Boards of Nursing are anxious not to set the bar too high and to encourage as many prospective students to start on an LPN training program as possible.  This is complemented by the fact that accessibility to LPN schools has been made a great deal more straightforward and the LPN programs themselves are now a great deal more flexible than has been the case in the past.  Indeed, with the introduction of online LPN programs it has never been easier or more flexible to become an LPN.

The fact of the matter is that LPN training qualifications are comparatively easy to achieve and will remain so for the foreseeable future.

A licensed practical nurse, commonly referred to as an LPN, may have a variety of duties. The duties will depend on the employment setting, level of experience, and the scope of practice within that particular state. Careers within this field are unlimited. LPN jobs are plentiful and pay relatively well. In addition, many of the training programs are cost friendly and may be short term.

The largest expansion of LPN jobs is in the long term care sector. Many long term care and skilled nursing facilities consist of an extensive network of LPN’s. Current trends suggest that geriatric nurses will continue to be in high demand and many more LPN’s will be needed. However, LPN’s are not limited to nursing facilities. Many are employed at hospitals, doctors offices, schools, and daycares. There are also many employment and travel agencies who employ LPN’s.

There are a few common roles that the LPN can expect to perform, regardless of where they are employed. This may include obtaining vital signs, administering medications, and providing basic care and assistance. Educating and counseling patients may also be necessary. All LPN jobs require that the nurse be able to work with other qualified health care professionals.

Earnings for LPN jobs have been increasing over the last couple of years. According to the United States Department of Labor, the median income for an LPN is a little over $31,000.00 annually. On the higher end, some may make up to $50,000.00. This may not reflect income projections in all areas though. The amount an LPN can earn is based on where they are employed, how many years of experience they may have, and the demographic region.

Many LPN’s receive training at vocational schools, community colleges, and/or junior colleges. The average program takes anywhere from 12 to 15 months. After successful completion of an approved program, the student is eligible to take the state licensing exam. Many LPN jobs are available for new graduates. Often, the school has career placement programs for these individuals.

Several LPN’s will opt to continue their education. Many will go on to become registered nurses. An LPN may be able to get accepted into an RN program much more quickly than other students due to their experience. Training to become an RN may be shorter for them as well. For those who decide this is not something that they wish to do, they still have several opportunities available.

A Licensed Practical Nurse, or LPN, must complete an LPN program that typically lasts one full year. The program is fairly inexpensive and does not have stringent admission requirements compared to other college programs. An individual considering this career can begin looking for programs at the community college or local hospital. Even in semi-rural areas the community college provides an LPN program. It is common for LPNs to work at a hospital while pursuing further education for a promotion. An example would be working on an LPN to RN program. This program takes into consideration the courses already completed and saves the LPN time in earning the title RN. With the promotion and graduation to RN the responsibilities become greater, the pay is higher and the burnout rate goes down.

Once an LPN finds a job, he or she will work under the supervision of a physician or Registered Nurse (RN). LPN employment consists of typical hands-on nursing duties. Some of these duties are: taking vitals of new patients, assisting RNs or doctors with patient charts, and ensuring a patient is comfortable during hospital treatment. LPN employment can be found 24 hours a day as many clients require constant care. LPNs also provide shots, draw blood and maintain any medical equipment a patient is using. Duties that LPNs do that create job dissatisfaction consist of bathing clients, changing clothes and assisting clients with routine self-care (i.e. using the bathroom, using a bed pan, or changing soiled linens and clothes).

LPN employment leads to a moderate annual salary of $30,000-$35,000 depending on the location. In some areas of the United States the demand for LPNs is so high that sign on bonuses and higher salaries are offered. One may find that LPN employment is a great stepping stone before seeking further education and license to practice as an RN. Because LPN programs only last one year, it is a great way to explore the healthcare field after graduating high school or when considering a career change. One year of training is not a large commitment and it will allow the individual to determine if LPN employment is a good fit. Turnover is high in the LPN position because of the type of care provided to patients, the number of hours LPNs are needed and the only moderate salary paid. Overall, LPN employment is rewarding and focuses on basic nursing tasks and dealing directly with patients.