Becoming a licensed practical nurse can give you the opportunity to get into the medical field quickly and start helping people. The licensed practical nurse is one step above certified nursing assistants and one step below registered nurses in the hierarchy of nursing. If you are interested in becoming an LPN, you must complete the necessary educational requirements.
Getting into School
If you want to become an LPN, you have to complete a nursing program first. Before you can complete this step of the process, you have to get into nursing school. Most schools that offer licensed practical nursing programs are vocational or technical schools. Getting into one of these schools typically requires you to have a high school diploma or a GED. Besides having this, you also must take an entrance exam with most LPN programs before you can be accepted.
LPN School
LPN programs typically take about a year to complete. Programs involve a great deal of classroom learning as well as hands-on experience. You will learn about the human body as well as how it is treated with modern medicine. The courses also focus on learning take care of patients and provide them with the best medical help available. Once you graduate from the program, you are given a diploma.
LPN Licensing
After you graduate from a state-approved LPN program, you must become licensed before you can start working as a nurse. To get licensed in the area, you have to take the appropriate examination. This exam is referred to as the National Council Licensure Examination. For LPNs, the test is the NCLEX-PN. Each state gives a variation of this test, and once you pass it, you can then start working.
Temperament
Besides having the right type of training and licensing, you also have to be the right type of person to work as an LPN. For instance, you must be willing to take orders from a registered nurse before you can work as a licensed practical nurse. You also have to be caring and sympathetic to the needs of the patients you care for. You must also be willing to handle heavy stress.
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