More than 753,000 people worked as licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in 2008.
Licensed practical nurses, or LPNs, work under the supervision of registered nurses and physicians and provide basic bedside care. One of the primary responsibilities of a licensed practical nurse is to monitor vital signs such as blood pressure and temperature. In addition, licensed practical nurses record the weight and height of patients. Other responsibilities include performing massages, dressing wounds, monitoring catheters and giving patients injections. LPNs often help patients with hygiene by bathing and dressing them when they're disabled.
Practical Nurse Training Program
The majority of practical nurse training programs take one year to complete, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, or BLS. Individuals can complete these programs at community colleges, technical schools and vocational schools. Aspiring LPNs should make sure the program they're interested in is accredited by their state's board of nursing. Graduates of the program may not be eligible for licensure if the program isn't accredited by the state nursing board. The majority of practical nurse training programs require students to hold a minimum of a high school diploma, but certain programs let students in without one.
Curriculum
Practical nurse training programs include both supervised patient care and classroom study. Topics covered during classroom study include anatomy, medical-surgical nursing, pediatrics, nutrition, pharmacology, patient care and first aid. Supervised patient care usually takes place in hospitals but can also occur in settings such as nursing homes or medical clinics.
License Exam
After completing an accredited practical nurse training program, graduates must take the National Council Licensure Examination, or NCLEX-PN. Individuals must pass this exam to obtain a license as an LPN. The National Council Licensure Examination is taken on a computer and covers four main topics: safe and effective care environment, physiological integrity, psychoosocial integrity, and health promotion and maintenance.
Specialties
After passing the NCLEX-PN and obtaining licensure, LPNs can choose to obtain credentials in specialty areas such as IV therapy, pharmacology, gerontology and long-term patient care. Obtaining credentials in specialty areas can help improve employment opportunities.
Employment
Licensed practical nurses commonly work in settings such as hospitals, nursing facilities and doctor's offices. Other avenues for employment include elderly community care facilities, nursing homes, outpatient care centers and home health-care services. LPN training programs sometimes help graduates find jobs. The median salary for LPNs in 2008 in the United States was $39,030, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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