Accreditation

The single most important thing that you need to find out when looking at LPN schools is whether or not the school in question is properly accredited. In order to get your license and become an LPN you need to attend a program that is accredited and recognized by the appropriate bodies. Usually this is the State Board of Nursing for the state in which you wish to practice as an LPN. Remember that different states have different rules when it comes to deciding which LPN schools will be accredited and which will not, so it is very important that you find out what the exact accreditation LPN requirements are in your state. By going to your state’s Board of Nursing website you should be able to find a list of accredited schools in your area. There are also many other online resources. If you prefer to phone you will be able to find the number for your state board of nursing in any directory. When choosing an LPN school it is always best to start your search at your States Board of Nursing because that means that you will not waste your time with schools that are not in fact accredited.

Preparation

Good LPN schools will prepare you adequately for:

• The NCLEX-PN exam
• Your actual career as an LPN

It is very important that you have a close look into the ability of each of the schools you are considering to prepare you adequately for what lies ahead. There are a few ways in which you can check up on this. Firstly you can look into what proportion of students who attended the particular LPN school you are looking at actually passed the NCLEX-PN examination successfully. Following that you need to start speaking with LPNs that you know who are working and try to find out how many LPNs from which schools are actually currently employed. Reading online reviews may also be quite helpful in this regard as people are often more than willing to share their views about schools online. However if you take this route for trying to find out about these schools, you need to remember to read a lot of reviews so that you get a good overall picture of the school. Don’t stop at the first good review you find and go to that school based on what you read. Make sure the coursework of the school matches up with what will be asked in the exam.

Specializing

There are a number of different areas that you can specialize in as an LPN:

• Nurse practitioners
• Clinical nurse specialists
• Nurse-midwives
• Nurse anesthetists
• Nurse educators

When you are looking at LPN schools you should first think about what kind of specialization you may want to do at a later date. It is not compulsory that you know what you want to specialize in ahead of time. You may need some time to choose. However if you already have a vague idea of where you want your career in nursing to take you, you should definitely focus on schools that offer specialization in the topics that you are interested in, or that at the very least have a slightly stronger focus. However when you’re learning to be an LPN at an LPN school you may not have a very clear idea in your mind about what kind of specialization you will want to do. You may need some time to try everything out and see where you best fit in. Specialization can always be done after school, so don’t worry too much about this at the beginning.

Coursework: Theoretical And Practical

The best LPN schools offer coursework in the following areas:

• Fundamentals of Nursing
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Anatomy
• Physiology
• Psychology
• Psychiatric Nursing
• Pharmacology
• Contemporary Health Issues Vocational Adjustment
• Emergency Medical Technology
• First aid
• Physical education
• Foods and nutrition
• Diet Therapy
• Medical-Surgical Nursing
• Maternal Child Health
• Child growth and development

These will mostly be included in the theory side of your course. However you need to remember that in addition to the theoretical side you will also have to complete clinical training in a practical environment. Without this training you will not be able to become a licensed LPN, so this is why you must be careful to choose an LPN school that offers both clinical and theoretical training in order to guarantee your success. There are several schools out there that claim to offer comprehensive programs that cover all of the bases but it is up to you to determine whether or not this is in fact true. You will need to look closely at the coursework offerings from each of the schools you are considering in order to make a good decision in this regard.

Job Placement

The best LPN schools are also those schools that are able to help you with job placement once you have completed your course. If you find a school that is able to provide you with this service, that may be the best LPN school for you to choose. However, like with all of the other criteria that we have looked at so far, it is important that you do not base your entire decision on this one factor. You need to think carefully about a variety of different components before plunging in headfirst. That said it can be very helpful to attend a school that claims to offer job placement. You should, however, check from as many sources as possible what their success rate is in this regard because they may offer a job search service without guarantee of actual placement. Don’t put too much stock in claims like these and remember that there is a nursing shortage and that your skills are in great demand. Consequently you should have a little bit of faith in your ability to find a job for yourself when the time comes.

Quality Of Tuition

The quality of the tuition is related to the reputations of the various schools that you are considering and the information can be found in the same way. There are a number of factors that come into play here:

• The experience and qualifications of the teachers at the school
• The quality of the course work offered by the school
• The clinical facilities that you will have access to when completing the clinical side of your training

These are all very important considerations to take into account when looking at LPN schools. You want to get the best tuition possible out of your education. There are a number of reasons for this. Of course it will help you pass the exam with flying colors, which is important. But you mustn’t forget that the exam is not everything. Once you have graduated from an LPN school you will have to actually start working as an LPN, and the better the tuition at the school that you attended is, the better your chances of being a successful LPN will be. So, in summary, it is very important to evaluate these schools based on the quality of the tuition that you will receive form them.

Flexible Schedule

Something that is quite a big consideration for a lot of people is the flexibility of the schedule offered by the various LPN schools. This will not be an important factor for everyone, but for those people who need to work while they study or who have young children that need a lot of care, you may want to consider looking into LPN programs that have schedules that are flexible enough to fit in with your daily routine. There are some schools that offer evening classes, for example. If you are currently working as a CNA, there are often LPN courses offered by your hospital or healthcare facility that are designed to fit in with your work schedule. If you are in this position, then you will have to consider the flexibility of the schedule as a high priority and choose a school based on that to a large degree. In some cases there are also a few work and learn programs out there so you may indeed be able to quit your current job in order to become an LPN. This can be a very important consideration when trying to choose an LPN school.

Tuition Fees And Financial Aid

For a lot of people, the cost of the schools in question play a very big part in their decision. If you are in this position then you may need to base your decision on whether or not the school is cheap. However you shouldn’t let this hold you back too much because there are a number of ways for you to get financial aid to study at an LPN school:

• Some LPN schools offer financial aid options to students in order to encourage more of them to attend their institutions. If you have a particular school in mind, inquire with them.

• The government also offers a variety of financial aid options. Apply at FAFSA.

• There are a number of private individuals and institutions offering scholarships and grants for people to study.

• Your employer may be willing to help you cover the costs if you work for him or her for a set amount of time once you have graduated as an LPN.

So, although financial concerns are definitely important, try not to base your entire decision of a school on this one aspect alone as there are many other things to consider as well.

The Location

The location of the school could also potentially play a role in whether or not you attend it. Preferably, you want to attend a school that is close to where you are situated. This is because you will save time that would otherwise have been spent on traveling every day and you will consequently be able to fit more things into your schedule. You could also potentially save some money if the school is close by, as you will not have to pay so much for transport costs. If there are last minute changes to the schedule and a class is rescheduled to start earlier than it normally would, you will not have to worry about missing it as you live too far away.

If there are no schools with good reputations near to where you live, you may want to consider relocating. Rent an apartment or find student housing in an area where there is a good LPN school. This may turn out to be worth it in the long run. Just be careful; if you move and study out of state you may not be able to practice in your home state as an LPN unless you meet certain requirements. Different states have different rules in this regard so be aware of all of the facts before deciding to do something as drastic as move.

Now that you have all of the LPN school facts you should be well equipped to choose the best option from among the many LPN schools that are available. Remember to put the right amount of thought into this. You cannot afford to make a fundamental mistake and choose a school that will interfere with your career. Make sure that you consider all of the above-mentioned criteria together, as they all play a big part in choosing the best schools. Some points are more important than others, but they all need to be very carefully considered before you reach your final decision.

The post Finding The Best LPN Schools appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

Overview

The LPN career overview is a very good one indeed. There are a wide variety of reasons why this is one of the best careers that you could consider having. For one thing there is an ever increasing need for LPN nurses throughout the country, so if you have the skills you will be in demand, no questions asked. This is a career that will also provide you with job stability and there is plenty of room for advancement once you have begun your LPN career.

Curriculum

There are a number of topics that you will have to cover when you are training for your LPN career. These include things like, the Fundamentals of Nursing, Anatomy and Physiology, Contemporary Health Issues Vocational Adjustment, Nutrition and Diet Therapy, Growth and Development, Introduction to Pharmacology, Psychiatric Nursing, Medical-Surgical Nursing, and Maternal Child Health, among many other things. A good knowledge of these concepts is essential for a career as an LPN. Remember as well that a good LPN curriculum consists not only of theoretical training but also of a large quantity of clinical practice. You need to be able to perform a number of duties in an actual healthcare setting as an LPN and the only way to learn how to do this is through practice. In fact you will be unable to become an LPN and have an LPN career if you have not done the required clinical training during your LPN studies.

Requirements And Training

There are a number of requirements that you will have to meet in order to have an this career. The main requirements are listed below. Remember that these requirements can differ significantly from state to state, so be aware of this when checking the requirements you need for becoming an LPN:

• You will need to be at least 18 years of age in order to be a licensed LPN in most states.

• You will have to have graduated from an LPN training program. There are a number of sub-requirements to keep in mind when it comes to the training program that you will need to complete. For one thing the program needs to be at least nine months long. Many programs are as much as a year long. A longer program often means a better education. The program also needs to be accredited by the State Board of Nursing for the state in which you hope to work as an LPN. If it is not, you will be wasting your time and money studying there.

• In order to be eligible for one of these programs and for LPN licensure, you need to have a high school diploma or an equivalent in the form of a GED.

• For most programs you will have to take a basic academic skills test in order to enter. You will only be able to attend that program and gain LPN licensure if you successfully pass the test in question.

• When it comes to actual licensing you will have to pass the NCLEX-PN exam, so make sure that you attend a school that adequately prepares you for this test. You will have to pay a fee of $200 to the company that administers this exam, namely Pearson Vue. There is also usually a licensing fee that you will have to pay to the state board of nursing or another body in order to get your LPN license.

• In most cases you will need to pass a background, drug, and a health test in order to become licensed as an LPN and start your LPN career.

• You will also have to renew your license regularly, usually proving continuing education hours in the process.

Job Description And Duties

There are a number of duties involved in an LPN career. The following is a list of duties that you will encounter in most of the settings where LPNs can work:

• Monitor the patient’s conditions closely
• Report your observation to the physicians and RNs in charge of your patient
• Oversee the nurse aids working under you
• Collect patient’s health history
• Collect samples for laboratory testing
• Perform simple laboratory tests
• Measure and record patients’ vital signs
• Prepare and give injections
• Prepare and give enemas
• Monitor catheters
• Dress wounds
• Give alcohol rubs
• Give massages
• Clean and monitor medical equipment

Specialization

Here are a number of important things to consider when choosing a specialization for your LPN career. These things are:

• Type of setting or treatment, such as emergency or maternity
• Type of health issue, such as oncology or rehabilitation
• Type of bodily system, such as cardiovascular or orthopedic
• Type of patient, such as pediatric or geriatric

Once you have clarified these aspects for yourself you will then need to consider a range of other issues in order to make the best choice possible (remember that it is not compulsory to choose a specialization right from the outset – you will have time to see which areas suit and which ones don’t). You need to decide right from the beginning what kinds of people you would like to work with throughout your LPN career. It is important that you choose a demographic of people who you like and who you can get on with easily if you want to be a successful nurse. You will also find that there are nursing settings that are higher pressured than others. In this case you need to base your decision of specialization on what kind of environment you would prefer to work in. Likewise there are different areas of medicine that you could look into finding out more about.

In Training

During your LPN training you will be exposed to many different kinds of medicines. After training you may then be better equipped to make a decision about what sort of medicines you would like to specialize in during your LPN career. As an LPN nurse you need to have LPN career goals. Know what your goals are right from the beginning. This will also help you decide on a specialization. You will also need to consider what kinds of responsibilities you are up for dealing with while working. Different specializations come with different kinds of responsibilities and duties that you will have to fulfill. An LPN career in one specialty can carry with it a job description that is completely different from other areas, so make your choice carefully in this regard. Different fields of nursing also tend to have slightly different hours and some can be more flexible than others.

If you need a lot of flexibility in your schedule you may want to focus on a specialization in which you will be able to have the time you need to do other things. If you want a specialty that fits in with your lifestyle then you will need to consider this aspect as well when deciding on what path you want to take in your LPN career. Personality plays a big part in an LPN career, but many people don’t seem to realize this. There are also different personality requirements for different areas within the health care field. For example you will need a different personality entirely for dealing with children as you would for dealing with coma patients. As a result you need to base your LPN specialty choice on your personality to a certain degree. Becoming certified in a certain specialty can take a lot of time. There can also be slight differences in the amount of time it takes to reach certification in each particular specialty. Therefore you need to consider how much time you will be able to give to becoming certified. This may help you choose your LPN career path.

Salary

The overall average salary figures for LPNs across the country are as follows:

• Hourly Rate: $13.17 – $23.47
• Overtime: $15.52 – $35.28
• Bonus: $0.00 – $1,521
• Total Pay: $27,364 – $51,834

However this is just an average. There can be huge differences in what different LPNs actually earn during their LPN career based on a number of aspects. Let us take a look at the salary of an LPN information in more detail now.

Nurses can have an LPN career in a number of different settings and industries. This is a summary of the average amount you can expect to earn if you work in the following popular industries as an LPN nurse:

• Healthcare: $13.23 – $24.07
• Nursing Home: $13.35 – $23.93
• Long-term Care or Rehabilitation: $13.66 – $24.10
• Family Medicine: $12.96 – $23.35
• Hospital: $13.52 – $24.58

Different employers also pay different rates to LPNs. LPN career information according to what you can earn from the most popular employers will now be discussed in more detail. If you work for Maxim Healthcare Services Inc. you can expect an hourly rate of around $15.56 – $22.39. If you work for DaVita Inc. the hourly rate is about $14.12 – $25.29, if you work for Kindred Healthcare the hourly rate is about $15.32 – $25.27, and if you work for HCR Manor Care Inc the hourly rate is about $17.18 – $25.15. Another popular employer is Life Care Centers of America where you can expect an hourly rate of about $13.97 – $26.73.

Sometimes gender differences can also affect pay, but not by every much. Although women make up 92% of the people employed in an LPN career they still earn slightly less than the 8% of men who are employed. On average women employed as LPNs can earn $15.24 – $20.32 an hour while men employed as LPNs can earn $15.30 – $20.43 an hour. The difference is slight, but still very noticeable.

The actual degree or educational qualification you have can affect how much you earn. Let’s have a look at the degree LPN career information statistics:

• Associate’s Degree: $13.20 – $22.93
• Bachelor’s Degree: $13.13 – $23.31
• Diploma of Nursing (DN): $13.78 – $23.31
• Certificate (Cert), Nursing: $13.14 – $24.07
• Diploma (Dipl), Nursing: $13.18 – $22.76

And last but not least, the pay that you can earn during your LPN career will be affected not only by the state in which you work but also by the specific cities within that state. Here is a list of the cities that pay the most to LPN nurses:

• Boston, Massachusetts
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Mesa, Arizona
• Albuquerque, New Mexico
• Baltimore, Maryland
• New York, New York
• Phoenix, Arizona
• Las Vegas, Nevada
• Portland, Oregon
• Seattle, Washington
• Chicago, Illinois
• Detroit, Michigan
• Charleston, South Carolina
• Houston, Texas
• Denver, Colorado
• Tucson, Arizona
• Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Raleigh, North Carolina
• Sarasota, Florida
• Naples, Florida

Now that you have considered all of the LPN career information presented here you should be far better equipped to make the best decisions possible in your LPN career. You should also be able to decide whether or not this is the best career choice for you or if you should perhaps look into something else instead. There are certainly many things in favor of having an LPN career. The salary is good, there are plenty of different settings that you can work in making it more likely to find a niche where you fit, and the job stability for this profession is very good indeed. However you need to make sure that you have the right personality for the job. This is your career choice, so make it carefully.

The post Everything You Need to Know About an LPN Career appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

There are many cases in which malpractice insurance will come in handy, and, although you hope to avoid these situations, you never know when that may arise. It is important to look at reasons why you need to get your own personal malpractice insurance and why you cannot simply rely on the supposed coverage offered by the facility by which you are employed. Also, you cannot assume that you will not find yourself in a legal situation where you are being blamed for something that you did (or didn’t) do. You absolutely have to do everything in your power to protect yourself through the best nursing malpractice insurance.

Common Misconceptions Of Nursing Malpractice Insurance

There are a number of myths and misconceptions that surround the issues of LPN malpractice insurance. These include the idea that if you get nursing malpractice insurance you stand a higher chance of being sued, that nurse malpractice insurance that covers your facility will automatically provide adequate coverage for you too, and that good nurses have nothing to fear so why should they get this malpractice insurance.

Making Yourself A Target

The first misconception is that if you get malpractice insurance you are opening yourself up for abuse and exploitation. This is simply not the case. There is no way for a potential fraudster or trickster to find out whether or not you have nurse malpractice insurance unless you tell them. Even when a case goes to court the existence of your malpractice insurance will only be made known after charges have been leveled against you. It is important that you ignore this myth and that you ensure that you have the best nursing malpractice insurance possible to cover you.

Many LPNs believe that they are covered under the malpractice insurance offered by the hospital or other health care institute for which they work. This is true in most cases but you need to have your own personal malpractice insurance as well because there may be limitations involved with your company’s insurance. They may not offer full coverage. And, if there is a conflict of interests between you and your employer, you may find that you are suddenly not covered at all. It is always better to improve your chances of coming out on top by having additional insurance. In addition to this there are some cases where your facility or employer will be able to give you adequate malpractice insurance coverage even if they wanted to. For example if you give medical advice to someone outside of the company for whom you work and the advice results in harm to that person you may be held liable. In this instance your company will not be able to cover you using the facility’s insurance as the event occurred outside of work. This will be discussed in more detail later, but it is another good reason to get private nurse malpractice insurance.

Many nurses feel that they do not need to get malpractice insurance because they are good nurses. Now this may be the case but mistakes are made by even the best doctors, so how can you assume that you will never make an error? Also there are many people out there who will sue you even if you have done nothing wrong because they think that you are an easy target to get money out of. This means that you need to have nursing malpractice insurance in place at all times as you never know when a situation like this may arise.

The Main Advantages of LPN Malpractice Insurance

There are a number of reasons why it is important that you get private LPN malpractice insurance. These reasons include the following:

• All health care professionals are open to being sued, so you cannot assume that it will never happen to you.

• The nurse malpractice insurance offered by your company may have a number of limitations and you may not be adequately covered by that insurance package.

• You may find that if there is a conflict of interests between you and your employer that the malpractice insurance you though they provided disappears very quickly.

• If you consult or lend assistance in settings outside the one in which you work then the nursing malpractice insurance offered by your company will simply not be able to cover you even if your facility would really like to have your back.

Even the most skilled doctors make mistakes and you are open to making very similar errors. This is why you need to make sure that you have adequate malpractice insurance. Nurses are sued all the time and it is not always because they are in the wrong.

The nursing malpractice insurance offered by your employer may have a number of limitations. When it comes to it, you will not be adequately covered. It is important to know what the possible limitations are, but it is equally important to have your own private LPN malpractice insurance to fall back on as your employer may not be 100% reliable in this regard.

If you work part time or if you have a part time job on top of your full time job you need to remember that it is highly unlikely that you will receive nurse malpractice insurance coverage from the company that you work at part time. This is a benefit that is usually only offered to full time employees. As a result, it is very important that you organize your own form of coverage.

You need to remember that being insured does not make you a target for people who live by making false claims. Another very important thing to remember is that having no insurance does not mean you won’t get sued so you cannot afford to take this risk.

In addition the cost of defending a malpractice case on your own is so high that you will be unlikely to pay for it all yourself. Lastly, without insurance, a plaintiff can go after your assets and take absolutely everything for you. Consequently you need to get malpractice insurance.

A Good Nurse Malpractice Insurance Plan?

When getting nurse malpractice insurance it is not enough to merely be covered. You need to be covered well and for all of the eventualities that may arise. It is worth your while to get one of the better plans out there. A good plan will include the following:

• Professional LPN malpractice insurance
• Public nursing malpractice insurance
• Coverage for errors and omissions, malpractice
• General legal expenses
• Claim-related expenses
• Legal defense expenses against abuse and so on
• Legal defense expenses against allegations of discrimination

If you already have a malpractice insurance policy then good for you, but you may want to re-examine the details contained in that policy and see whether or not you are getting the best coverage that is possible. The basics you should be covered for are the first three points mentioned above. The rest are not as essential but it is still better to have them all than to run into trouble at a later date and not have the financial means to get yourself out of it. Hence the importance of nursing malpractice insurance.

Eligibility For Insurance

In most cases you will need to provide proof that you are qualified in your field as well as in your country of residence and practice in order to be eligible for most malpractice insurance policies. It is also essential that you are able to provide proof that you have all the necessary professional training and education required to practice your profession as an LPN. You will also need to have a clean loss record and be able to provide proof that you have not been subject to previous claims made or filed against you. You also need to prove that you have no knowledge of the possibility of claims being filed against you in the future. These eligibility requirements for malpractice insurance may seem quite steep but in actual fact, if you consider the importance of what you will be covered for, they are actually quite reasonable. It is essential that you get nursing malpractice insurance so if you don’t meet these requirements you may need to look into those policies that are more expensive. If you are not eligible, you can still be covered but at higher premiums.

NSO: Your Resource For LPN Malpractice Insurance

The best place to apply for LPN malpractice insurance is at NSO. This website will offer you comprehensive nurse malpractice insurance that will suit all of your needs. Applying is easy. Once you have reached this page you will see that you need to fill in your state and the type of coverage you are looking for. This needs to be completely accurate as coverage options and insurance can differ quite drastically from state to state. You need to know the facts about your state in particular.

Of course there are also many other options available when it comes to actually getting malpractice insurance. NSO is one of the best but it is definitely in your best interests to shop around a bit before you make your final decision, regarding what kind of nurse malpractice insurance is best for you. If you take the time to do this, you will stand a far higher chance of getting coverage that suits you and that will provide you with adequate protection in the event that you do happen to run into trouble in the future. Although you are of course planning to avoid all situations that may require malpractice insurance, it is still better to be safe than sorry.

This information should help you to reassess your malpractice insurance situation. If you already have nurse malpractice insurance then that is great, but if you don’t, you need to look into getting it right away. The various situations that have been mentioned here can occur at any time and you simply cannot assume that you will continue to go through your daily tasks without incident. If you do already have insurance you should consider looking more closely at the policy you hold to see if it is in fact the best option available out there at the moment. If it isn’t, you should definitely look into getting something that is.

The post What You Need to Know About LPN Malpractice Insurance appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

To be an LPN you must:

• have graduated high school
• pass a state LPN exam, called NCLEX-PN, which is the National Council Licensure Examination — Practical Nurse
• complete a credited nursing program, which you keep renewing periodically

Becoming a Travel LPN

There are some basic steps that you can follow if you want to apply for LPN travel jobs. It is easy enough to become a travel LPN once you have your LPN qualification, and there are many benefits to working in this field.

• Apply for an LPN program – information about how to do this and where can be found online along with a list of schools in your area
• Complete your LPN certification courses – mentioned above
• Pass your state licensing examination – mentioned above
• Get nursing experience – as you will learn later in this article you will first have to have experience working as an LPN before you can apply for LPN travel jobs, so this is an essential step in the process that you simply cannot afford to omit
• Fill out an application at a travel-nursing agency – you will have to go through a travel nursing agency in order to work as a travel nurse so fill out applications at several agencies to be sure of employment
• Pass additional state licensing exams – there will be additional examination to pass in order to be a travel LPN so make sure that you are well prepared for them
• Pick an assignment – travel LPNs are allowed to pick their own assignments so once you are a travel LPN you can choose from the long list of LPN travel jobs available to you

Nature of travel LPN job assignments

LPN travel jobs usually last for about 13 weeks on average. In many cases the contract is extended, but this will only happen if both the travel LPN and her employer agree. The advantages are:

• You will be able to choose your locality and setting, so in a way it will give you the opportunity to pick and choose the best hospitals and travel the US while working
• You will work in top hospitals
• You will be eligible for fantastic compensation packages

What experience do I need to be a traveling LPN?

In many cases you will need to have 6 months to a year’s worth of experience working as an LPN before you can qualify for any of the many travel LPN jobs available out there. This is a minimum requirement. The more experience you have the more likely you are to qualify for LPN travel jobs. In most cases you will find it easier to qualify for LPN travel jobs if you have a specialty. If this is the case then you will have to work for a minimum of year in your specialty field before you are allowed to become a travel LPN. LPN travel nurse jobs are highly coveted by some so the requirements at some agencies are quite stringent. However, if you are eligible to apply for LPN travel jobs I think that you will find that you will have a fantastic experience. Here are some specific experience requirements for certain areas of nursing:

Orthopedics: In order to become a travel LPN in a orthopedic setting you will need to have a minimum of one year’s experience in that setting in the last three years and you will be required to present a current state license
Rehab: In order to become a travel LPN in a rehab setting you will need to have a minimum of one year’s experience in that setting in the last three years, you will be required to present a current state license, and you must have cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) from the American Heart Association (AHA).
Corrections: In order to become a travel LPN in a correctional setting you will need to have a minimum of one year’s experience in that setting in the last three years, you will be required to present a current state license, and you must have cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) from the American Heart Association (AHA).
Medical/surgical: In order to become a travel LPN in a medical or surgical setting you will need to have a minimum of one year’s experience in that setting in the last three years, you will be required to present a current state license, and you must have cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) from the American Heart Association (AHA). With these qualifications you will also be eligible to work as a travel LPN in the intermediate medical care unit and telemetry.
Pediatrics: In order to become a travel LPN in a pediatric setting you will need to have a minimum of six months experience in that setting in the last three years, a minimum of one year’s nursing experience, you will be required to present a current state license, you will have to show appropriate Trach and Vent certification, and you must have cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) from the American Heart Association (AHA).
Pediatric Home Care: In order to become a travel LPN in a pediatric home care setting you will need to have a minimum of one year’s experience in that setting in the last three years, you will be required to present a current state license, and you must have cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) from the American Heart Association (AHA).
Intensive Care Unit: You must be an experienced critical care nurse to work in this setting.
Emergency Room: You must have an emergency room background to work in this setting.

Where Can a Travel LPN Work?

There are a few very specific settings in which a travel LPN may find themselves. These settings are:

• emergency room positions
• rehabilitation nursing
• roles as nurse parishioners
• obstetrics
• oncology
• psychiatry
• surgical services
• dialysis
• critical care
• radiology

Physical setting in which an LPN travel nurse can work include the following:

• nursing homes
• hospitals
• clinics
• private duty

Work Demands

If you are going to be a travel nurse you need to remember that you are going to be away from home a lot. The periods of time that you are absent may be weeks or even months depending on the assignment. This is one of the main features of LPN travel jobs. Consequently you will need to assess whether or not you are willing to be away from home so often. If you are willing to be away from home, consider the plans that you will have to make in this case.
The basic requirements for becoming a travel LPN are:

• one to three years nursing experience
• proof to work in a certain state or country
• shots
• a passport
• a valid license
• be able to work right away
• be able to adapt to new surroundings quickly

What Are The Duties of a Travel LPN?

The duties of LPNs working in LPN travel jobs are more or less the same as LPNs working anywhere else. A list of the most basic tasks expected of a travel LPN are to:

• administer injections, enemas, massages and alcohol rubs
• dress wounds
• monitor patient drug reactions and treatments
• monitor intake and output
• provide advice to family members

Perks

There are perks and benefits in any nursing job, but the perks you will get in LPN travel jobs are considered by many to be the best. The main perks that you may be eligible to receive as a travel LPN are:

• cover travel expenses
• offer health care expenses
• arrange or pay for housing
• meals
• flexible schedules
• time off when you need it

Pay

There is quite a large pay bracket when it comes to LPN travel jobs. The money that you may receive could be anything from $18 an hour to $30 an hour. The variations in pay depend on a number of factors:

• location
• experience
• skills
• demand

Travel LPN jobs pay much higher than average LPN jobs and the salary is on the increase.

Danger!

If you are hoping to get a hospital based LPN travel job then you must be warned that you may struggle to find one. This is because in general there have been less LPNs hired in hospitals, and hospitals may prefer a permanent LPN rather than a travel LPN.

Being a travel LPN is not for everyone. Not everyone has the ability to leave home for long periods of time. A lot of people prefer the security and routine-like atmosphere that comes with a permanent position in one place. If you are considering becoming a travel LPN and applying for LPN travel jobs keep these considerations in mind and be sure that you are not making a mistake.

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LPN Resume

There are a few very basic tips that you should keep in mind when writing your LPN resume.

Format: There are two basic formats that you can choose to use when writing your LPN resume. A chronological format is one that emphasizes and lists your word and education in chronological order starting with the most recent items. A functional format emphasizes your accomplishments. The first format is better for new graduates who have never applied for a job before while the second is more suitable for LPNs with a lot of experience. Assuming that you are in the first category, what follows will be related to the first style of LPN resume.

Save your work: It may seem like an obvious thing to do, but the best way to write your LPN resume is on your computer. Make sure that you save your draft of your LPN resume periodically in order not to lose your work. In a word file you will be able to make changes to your LPN resume as you go along. As it is suggested that you revise and rewrite your LPN resume several times before submitting it, this is a very useful feature indeed. Also have a printer on hand to make copies of your resume once you have finished writing it.

Personal information: You should be sure to start your LPN resume by including your personal information at the top of your page. This includes your full name, your address, phone number, and email address. If you have a professional email address that indicates your professional capacity as an LPN. Use that one as it will look better on your resume then if you simply use a Gmail or Yahoo account.

Objective: In your objective you will want to write a few short sentences about who you are and what you want. If you are aware of the mission statement of the facility you are applying at be sure to tailor make your objective statement to fit in with that mission statement. This is the first part of the actual LPN resume that your potential employer will pay attention to, so make sure that you think long and hard about what you are going to write.

Work experience: Next you should include your work experience. As a new LPN you will not have any, except for your clinical training during your LPN program. Include this in your resume, along with details about what you did there, how big the facility was, and what skills you felt that you learned during your time working there. (An experienced LPN will obviously have a lot more to add at this point. If you are reading this as an experienced LPN then be sure to write a list of your work experience in chronological order starting with the most recent work you have done or the most recent job that you have held as an LPN).

Educational Experience And Achievements: In this section you will obviously want to include the school where you studies to be an LPN along with any relevant information about that school. If you achieved any awards or honors while studying at your LPN school or at previous institutions, include these in this section.

LPN Cover Letter

Your LPN cover letter is a very important part of your resume and consequently you want to make sure that it is perfect. It is not always easy to know what to include on your cover letter, so here is some advice for you to follow in this regard:

Firstly in a cover letter, just as in any other letter, you will need to include your address as well as the address as the person or organization that you are sending your cover letter to. The rules for where these must be paced are as follows:

1. your address on the top right-hand side
2. the recipient’s address below on the left-hand side

You should then include the following:

1. A subject line
2. A salutation (addressing the recipient by name is you know what the name is)
3. Introduction (where you identify yourself and state your interest in applying for the job)
4. Body (provide a brief summary of your education and experience – remember that a cover letter should not exceed 1 page)
5. Conclusion (this is where you ask if it will be possible to meet with the reader for an interview)

The educational information you include will be different to the format used in the actual LPN resume itself. This is because it will be written in paragraph form rather than in bullet point form, which will give you more freedom to elaborate on the main points and highlight important aspects of your educational experience. Discuss your school and give specific details about what qualifications you have achieved. Focus on educational achievements that relate directly to the job as it has been advertised.

The work experience you mention should likewise be directly linked to the job that you are applying for if possible. Discuss it briefly but at the same time make it sound appealing. Make sure that you include the number of years that you have worked in the various jobs you have held as years of experience are often one of the main criteria when hiring new employees.

• Remain formal throughout.
• Thank the person who is reading the letter at the conclusion of your letter for the chance to apply for the job.
• Check your grammar, spelling and punctuation – mistakes in any of these categories will leave a very bad impression with the person reading your LPN cover letter and your LPN resume.
• Give your contact information so that your request for an interview can be followed up with.

LPN Resume Sample

Here is an LPN resume sample template to help you:

OUR NAME, LPN
123 Any Street
Any Town, USA 55555
(555) 555-5555
123email@anyprovider.com
LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE
Seeking an LPN position within a progressive medical office setting, offering 10+ years of experience in Certified Nurse’s Assistant / Licensed Practical Nurse positions, along with:

• Currently enrolled in BSN Program; expect to graduate in XXXX.
• Strong observation and interpersonal communication skills; Fluent in Italian and Spanish.
• Advocate for patients rights; strive to understand a patient’s needs and concerns.
• Hardworking and energetic; flexible; adapt easily to change of environment and work schedule.
• Maintain critical thinking skills essential to providing competent and dignified patient care.
• Personable; interface effectively with patients, families, and nursing staff.
• Proven ability to create a positive working environment that uplifts patients’ spirits.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

10+ years of combined experience held at Name of Hospital and Name of Nursing Center:
Licensed Practical Nurse, Name of Hospital, Location date – Present
Nurse’s Assistant, Name of Nursing Center Location date – date
Nurse’s Assistant, Name of Nursing Center, Location date – date
Provide high quality nursing care for patients, with responsibility for:
Oxygen Therapy; Tracheostomy Care; Vital Signs; Wound Care; Nasopharengeal and Oral Suctioning; Intravenous Therapy; Application of Dressings; Insertion of Catheters

• Follow up with timely and accurate charting procedures and verify prior shift information.
• Conduct initial assessment of patients upon admission and assist with discharge planning.
• Report changes in patients’ conditions routinely and when requiring immediate attention.
• Collect specimens from patients for laboratory testing.
• Monitor, evaluate and record food and liquid intake and output levels.
• Orientate of new personnel in areas of patient care, medical practices and procedures.
• Operate equipment and assistive devices to safely transfer patients dispensing of medications.

EDUCATION

NAME OF COLLEGE, Location
Currently enrolled in Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program
Expected Date of Graduation: XXXX
NAME OF COLLEGE, Location
Licensed Practical Nurse Program
Certificate of Completion, Date

LICENSES / CERTIFICATIONS

XXXX State Licensed Practical Nurse, Date
XXXX State Certified Nursing Assistant, Date
CPR Certified for Adults and Children

This is a very basic LPN resume sample, and it would be wise for you to carefully tailor it to fit both your qualifications and the job that you are applying for. Don’t rush when writing your resume. Think about everything carefully. Look at a few different LPN resume samples online to see what your different formatting options are. Rewrite your resume as many times as it takes to make you completely happy and comfortable with it. Your LPN resume is your first impression, after all, and first impressions count a lot more than anything else in some cases.

The post Tips On How To Write An LPN Resume And Cover Letter appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

Being an LPN is often considered to be less stressful. Being an LPN can serve as a gateway to becoming an RN. There are a number of differences between the two, and if you are interested in joining the nursing arena but can’t decide if you want to be an LPN or RN. Consider this table below to help you reach a decision.

The above is a fairly comprehensive account of the differences between LPN nurses and RN nurses. In some cases the differences are quite small and for many they are only a matter of responsibility and independence. In many ways LPNs can do a lot of what RNs can do as long as they are properly supervised. The difference lies in the education that each type of nurse has received.

Many people use their cheaper and shorter LPN qualification as a way to get ahead and start working while they at the same time study for an LPN to RN bridge program. Being an RN can have its disadvantages as there are a number of reasons why this job is more stressful than that of an LPN nurse. With this in mind it is important to note that your decision about which kind of nurse you would like to become has to be made very carefully. You cannot focus only on one of the aspects mentioned above.

For example, the salary may be a lot better as an RN, but you will also be required to engage in teaching behavior when patients are discharged, something that not all nurses are naturally good at. You need to examine where your skills as well as your motivation and inspiration lies before making your final choice about what kind of nurse you want to become.

The post Comparing LPN Vs RN – What Are The Differences? appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

In hospital or a clinic, an LPN can assist with intravenous fluid administration under the supervision of a physician, as well as attending clerical requirements. These duties include giving medicines as well as feeding and looking after patients. At Yale University an LPN job description is listed according to the training curriculum. According to the Institution, a list of LPN duties follow:

• Provide care and carry out a medicinal therapy regime.
• Gather patient history as well as other medical info.
• Assist in minor medical and surgical procedure.
• Report and record a vital sign assessment and measurement as well as collect specimens.
• Observe the patient for any physical and/or emotional change that may occur and report these observations.
• Prepare exam rooms, maintaining and setting up medical equipment and supplies.
• An LPN job description will also require the maintenance of an orderly, clean and comfortable environment that is safe for the patient.
• Responding to any necessary medical emergency.
• Recording relevant patient information.
• Preparing patients to experience ongoing care post-treatment and can instruct team- mate LPNs as well as offer information regarding critical and relevant issues.
• The scheduling and coordination of patient appointments and tests.
• Administering medication under the direct authority of an RN or doctor.
• Performing further functions that fall under the scope of nursing activity.

The LPN job descriptions listed represent characteristic LPN duties needed as well as the relevant level of work and skills that will be performed in this career description and duties change along with each job title. The Technical and Clerical description of a job for the LPN D Grade needs to have college-level specialized course-work; a basic idea of 1 or seven related work areas and a substantial amount of knowledge of the broader scoped of learning in this field.

LPN Job Description Skills And Administration Scope

Yale University’s Required Skills include extracting and compiling a wide range of data derived from a written research source and other individuals by questioning them, or available databases with a limited interpretation to the data. To fulfill an LPN job description the individual will also need to be able to use a dictionary, as well as files of labelled material, which have chronological or alphabetic systems.

Individuals are also expected to write easy memorandums for internal use as well as complete complex word forms and on occasion, use difficult machinery like computers or word processors.
These duties include performing a number of easy lab or scientific procedures needing a certain amount of training yet can be reversed inexpensively or duplicated and to be able to record result where necessary.

An LPN job description under office and administrative skills section will require the use of a keyboard, information forms, medical labels and other materials. The individual will enter and retrieve information data from half-finished sources such as computer documents which needs an ability to interpret the documents and a primary understanding of the relevant software parameters.

This includes arranging for and coordinating meetings, schedules, projects, events and conferences. Advising, screening and referring any visitors will also come into practice. Under the LPN job description there will be a need to exercise initiative and independent judgment regularly, while in the case of leadership responsibility, provision of guided work or orientating for procedures which are not routine are needed.

LPN working conditions include being exposed to safety risks. There are often contradictory demands and pressures of time such as deadlines and emergencies. All of these need consistent concentration and a focused and dedicated effort physically and a skills with hand and fine finger dexterity.

An LPN job description will also require supervision of the elderly, oversight of patients who have cardiovascular diseases and blood sugar ailments such as diabetes as well as Hepatitis, which require a vigilant consistent monitoring and medicines to be given in a timely manner. Nurses oversee blood pressure, glucose as well as temperatures, however duties can differ from state to state. There is a marked increase in complex procedures that used to be performed in hospitals alone, that are being undertaken in doctors offices as well as outpatient centers like ambulatory freestanding emergency and surgical centers. As a result, jobs for candidates fitting an LPN job description are projected to accelerate quicker than the norm where the need for healthcare becomes more prevalent.

Career Evolution

For many people, becoming a Registered Nurse is not possible due to financial and/or time constraints however a career as a Licensed Practical Nurse is an excellent opportunity to get into nursing without having to commit to three or four years of studying. As a result of the restrictions on an LPN job description performance, many LPN’s continue with their studies and eventually become Registered Nurses. LPN jobs can lead to career advancements, with a nursing degree enabling the individual to shape a career as they go, taking the opportunities that fit their interests.

An LPN’s job description requirements will need the individual to be constantly challenged to take on more responsibility as they prove themselves and gain experience. Sooner or later this will spur an LPN on to wanting a more specialized focus. In these cases, the following specialties available in a variety of settings and environments;

• Cardiac Nurse Care
• Case Manager Nurse
• Critical Care Nurse
• Dermatology Nurse
• Emergency Nurse
• Hematology Nurse
• Hospice Nurse
• Labor and Delivery Nurse
• Medical Surgical Nurse
• Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Nurse
• Nurse Anesthesiologist
• Nurse Educator
• Nurse Practitioner
• Oncology Nurse
• Otorhinolaryngology Nurse
• Pediatric Nurse
• Peri-anesthesia Nurse
• Perinatal Nurse
• Psychiatric Nurse
• Public Health Nurse
• Radiology Nurse
• Rehabilitation Nurse
• Respiratory Nurse

LPN job descriptions differ significantly from the growth they will experience once skills are gained. While working as an LPN, many encounters may reveal interests in particular career paths in the nursing field such as tabled above. Cardiac care nurses for example work with families and patients experiencing problems with heart disease. These are skilled CCN’s (Critical Care Nurses) who work in hospitals a well as at homes, helping with monitoring cardiac drug dispensing and offering patients care posit bypass, pacemaker of angioplasty surgery.

Case management nursing on the other hand requires coordination oversee the sick who are being treated in the long-term which requires high-paced timing for all aspects within the treatment regime. Case management nursing will differ from an LPN job description in the case for cancer treated patients, where these nurses oversee visits, radiation, surgery as well as chemotherapy. The NCM will also carry a specialty in for example HIV AIDS, geriatrics or as a pediatrician.

Critical care nurses care for patients of all ages who are acutely ill or in critical condition while Nurses specializing in dermatology will educate and oversee patients experiencing treatment and investigation of skin disease and wounds. This specialty will differ from an LPN job description in that starting off in emergency rooms of a hospital can lead to an interest in Emergency nursing, where the individual must be skilled to offer oversight and care to patients who are experiencing the critical phase of a disease or illness. This includes being able to isolate potentially life-threatening issues and problems that may arise and promptly providing solutions and care.

For further career advancements, nurses in Hematology will differ from an LPN job description in that they care for people with blood related diseases such as Leukemia and Sickle-Cell anemia. Hematology nurses will assist families of patients suffering from these diseases. LPN work that ends up exposing the individual to Oncology and Hematology Nursing can lead to an interest in specializing in this field as a result of the fact that these diseases have a close relation to cancer so nurses more often than not, specialize in both.

Hospice nurses offer specialist care and the relief of pain for patients who are nearing the final stages of their lives. This entails protecting the ill from painful, unnecessary treatment and often doing so in their homes, so that the patients can spend valuable last hours with their families while they are still able. Labor and delivery nursing can appeal to individuals with an LPN job description where they need to assist RN and other hospital staff with the provision of caring for women in labor, have just given birth or in regard to any labor complications. Maternity nurses also assist doctors with developing plans for the safe deliveries of strong and healthy infants.

Medical surgical nursing as a specialty are for RN’s serve in residence, clinics, intensive care units as well as long-term care settings with adult patients who are undergoing surgical procedures. This will be the case where, once fulfilling an LPN job description, workers find an interest sparked in the specialization of having been supervised by RN’s attending patients being treated with medicines for illnesses.

LPNs who enjoyed studying for their qualification and find an aptitude for delivering babies may want to consider becoming Neonatal intensive nurses. These individuals provide specialist attendance to acute premature or ill newborns, as well as their families while Nurse anesthetists, also known as CR Nurses (Certified Registered Anesthetists), deliver both local or general anesthesia to any patients who under surgical procedures. An LPN job description requiring this type of engagement may open doors for further specialization in anesthesia the future.

Oncology nurses take care of patients who have been diagnosed with suffering cancer and are in charge of giving and supporting the process of chemotherapy as well as the management of symptoms that reflect a relation to cancer. Otorhinolaryngology Nursing (Head and Neck Nursing) requires nurses to provide care and support to patients undergoing medical and surgical procedures concerning the ears, the nose, and the throat. In such a case, an LPN job description that requires work in a specialized clinical environment where such treatments are delivered, may very well lead to this specialization. In closing, it is always worth conducting on site research in a particular setting to determine the next step and to ensure that the LPN job description of choice is fulfilled.

The post Understanding What The LPN Job Description Entails appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

According to the State of Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), the Colorado LPN curriculum course is nine to eleven months and concentrates on patient care with outcomes prediction. The curriculum focus falls on maintaining skills and performance with surpasses expertise in the technical arena. The LPN student is directed to isolate differences in the body system and seek any change in the patient state. In defining the LPN scope of practice, these are then communicated to the supervisory doctor or registered nurse for ongoing assessment procedure.

DORA: LPN Scope Of Practice Guidelines

The CBN is overwhelmed with calls on a daily basis to answer questions on practice scope and other matters. These are set up in alignment with DORA. As a result, their nursing practice allocated consultants who developed frequently asked questions for guidance. These may assist in generating ideas related to how the scope of practice may differ from state to state.

These questions include reference to for example the AddVantage intravenous system such as whether an antibiotics IV can be administered by a certified LPN antibiotics using the AddVantage system bearing in mind that it is mixed beforehand. The answer states that it is possible, and that if the RN or pharmacist assembles the unit then the certified LPN can administer the solution.

Defining LPN scope of practice around Delegation considers the primary concept of rules for delegation. The answer covers that all the law components and rules are essential yet based in limiting the registered nurse to a particular delegatee, client and time-frame. In other words it wouldn’t be accepted for the Nurses Director to delegate IV administration of medicines to the LPN’s in the setting in question to any facility client at any cost. LPN scope of practice and rules are founded in a belief which states that an ongoing registered nurse assessment from the delegatee, client, task, and time frame is needed.

In considering whether a registered nurse may delegate to licensed practical nurse the answer is indeed and that in the rules it is stated that a delegate is one who is not authorized to do the duty. In other words, a delegatee may be a CNA, LPN or professional without licence.

Within the delegatory LPN scope of practice, an LPN however cannot delegate according to the law. The delegatee can however decide not to perform the task according to rules in which state that whomever has been ordered to do a duty must obey. If they are not willing delegation is not valid.

In order to compare and understand an LPN scope of practice concerning matters such as what can’t be delegated; elements requiring consideration as to whether a task can and must be delegated such as showing that if an orderly takes a class showing catheter insertion in to the urinary tract and is certified to do so, whether the task be delegated without an evaluation of competency – and the amount of supervision required – the Colorado Board of Nursing Website further offers solutions to these inquiries.

Further questions address concerning authority and nutrition counselling in regard to an LPN scope of practice include answers to whether it is:

• Within the practice scope of an LPN with intravenous authority to draw blood directly from the vein?
• Within the practice scope of an LPN with the intravenous authority to give solutions which have been mixed beforehand with labeled instructions through gravity/pumps via IV or to piggyback instead?
• Within the LPN scope of practice with intravenous authority to do the same as the above mentioned but instead via an intravenous push?
• Within the practice scope for the LPN with intravenous authority to conduct an administration of antibiotic solution which was mixed beforehand, fluids and flush with usual saline/heparin as well as care for the dressing to veins which bear a catheter which originate in femoral/ sphenoid area and to terminate in the area of the inferior vena-cava?
• Determined that there are restrictions within the NPA (Nurse Practice Act) which cover the distribution of nutritive supplement products?

When considering the DORA graduate nursing program’s inclusion of a “hands-on” clinic-based component to training and where participation therein requires a nurse to be licensed in their residential state yet may sometimes require travel to a state where they may not have a license, DORA students do not need a Colorado license to engage in this clinical training.

The relevant legislation that allows this, cites that the board can issue permits for practice to both practical or professional nurses for a certain time period which must not exceed 2 yrs. Alternately, this can be stated according to the board to an individual from a state within the USA or a foreign territory present to do specialized training and observe nurse education programs. This must be conducted by proving so to the board by the nurse who is licensed within an LPN scope of practice within an individual the state, country or residence. The nurse practicing may be allowed by permit but is also subject to a limit, according to the particular practice performed as is linked with the specialized training program.

Alberta: LPN Scope Of Practice Sample

LPNs in Alberta have been working for more than sixty yrs and in this time, both clinical and education practice have evolved. This includes sweeping change to the basics of containing education as well as actual practicing environment, which have influenced the need for LPNs and spark ongoing opportunity across Alberta itself.

As professional nurses, LPNs operate in a certain practice scope adhering to the standard of practice and ethical codes required of them. The LPN study material is the same as registered and psychiatric nurses only having an approach more clearly focused on basic knowledge, judgement and critical thought to suit a contemporary LPN role. An LPN scope of practice integrates knowing, skills, judgmental capacities and ability needed to do justice to the various phases of health care from treating and managing acute illnesses to preventing others, as well as fulfilling palliative and longer term care needs. LPNs can have either an inter- or independent role in a care team, or they can overlap.

Alberta’s LPNs complete their courses through a 2 yr practical nursing diploma through the selected level at college. This program offers a min of 1,650 hrs of instructional teaching and 750 hrs covering the theory aspect, with nine hundred hrs clinical and laboratory experience. LPN jobs can also be defined via a variety of learning specialties post the basics, which result in opportunities such as advanced orthopaedics, immunizing, working in the operating room as well as renal dialyses. These include further programs for certification within areas like podiatry, psychology, acute disease management, care of wounds, leadership roles and palliative care.

Practicing nurses at National Institute for Health Clinical Center can select specialist roles in a variety of areas, including research support within its 27 separate centers and institutes for example the NHLBI for Heart and Lung treatments, NCI, National Cancer Institute and Institute of Allergies and Infectious Disease.

When engaging in the field of nursing within an NHI Center, services take place in environments in which both research and care of patients come together. The setting offers LPN scope of practice in a one of a kind lab of clinical research which is conducted across each discipline. Nurses work on a daily basis with specifically informed and assured consent, family and patient education, collection of data and further aspects of implementing the correct protocols.

Individuals wishing to extend from a limited LPN scope of practice can consider staff and leadership functions such as teacher in clinical nursing, researcher, nursing manager, specialist in clinical nursing, practitioner, nursing consultant or nursing anaesthetist. The below outlines advancement options;

An Alberta LPN scope of practice is relatively autonomous and assumed total responsibility within their area of practice whilst in service of individuals, groups and families needs assessments and care provision with appropriate treatments. The various types of roles in the state of Alberta for nursing LPNs to embody include: community, primary, teaching, public health, acute care, leadership as well as occupational health and safety. LPNs work in collaboration with the family, team of colleagues and client to enforce consistent quality and care in the area of health services delivery.

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The job of a nurse requires the individual to show care, sympathy, responsibility and attention to detail oriented, as well as showing an inclination toward leadership when it comes to supervision and direction of others. These individuals need a developed sense of stable emotions to be able to deal with situations at hand such as the extent of suffering and other pressures and stresses the job entails. LPN jobs can take place in private and government agencies which include the school, clinic or retirement home setting. These nurses concentrate on communities as well as individuals and families, striving to improve their circumstances of health.

Nurses in public health educate relevant groups in the case of health matters like child care, nutrition and prevention care. These nurses oversee and administer immunizations, test for blood pressure and conduct other necessary health screening tests. They work alongside the leaders in the community, other educators, doctors and parents.

LPN Jobs – An Overview

LPN nursing jobs include certain dangers particularly in the hospital clinical setting. Diseases which are infectious in nature are an example of where nurses must follow particular protocols and standards such as when dealing with needles, instruments needing sterilization, radiation and chemical exposure.

LPNs also manage and create a plan for nursing care which can assist to give instruction to both families and the patient, and assist those who may be in need to embark on a routine which can lead to improving or maintaining health. In each state, different laws are set to govern over the various tasks that LPN jobs perform, however work settings determine duties for each day. For example, occupation health nursing which is also referred to as industrial nursing who care for employees and customers who sustain illness or injury on the job site. These nurses administer emergency care, put together reports of the accident as well as follow up care and impart health counselling. They also conduct examinations as well as inoculating those who require it and assess the work environments for the identification of potential problems that may affect employee or customer health in any way.

Hospital nurses are the most common form of all LPN jobs, providing care at the bedside of patients and overseeing as well as implementing various medical regimes. These nurses work within a specific department under the supervision of an RN, such as in maternity, childcare, surgery, ICU or treating patients with cancer. Some serve in a rotational capacity.

Nurses who work in the administrative areas of the hospital doing office work oversee outpatients in doctors rooms, clinical settings, ambulance surgical centers as well as in the ER. LPN jobs in this setting require the preparation of patients to administer medicines and injections and assist with medical examinations and take care of wound dressing. Their services are also required in cases of minor surgical procedures, record maintenance and routine office or lab work.

Nurses in care facilities primarily oversee and manage the resident’s who suffer from Alzheimer’s as well as fractures and other conditions. Albeit spending time on admin and supervision, LPNs also provide oversight for the health of these residents by putting together plans for treatment when skilled enough and may learn to administer IV’s. LPN jobs can extend to serving in special-care settings such as with patients in longer term rehabilitation suffering from a stroke or injury to the head.

In the case of residential health, nurses at a certain level of expertise can also offer a service to the patient in the comfort of their own homes. Here, they assess the patient at home and assist in educating and with instruction of the patient and family. Nurses who work in patients oversee those who are stricken with disease, cancer, in labor as well as the convalescent. These LPN jobs require the nurses to work separately and may also call for the supervision of residential health assistants, requiring a designated skills level.

The Next Stage – Specialization

The three primary paths of education to an RN are; a BSN or bachelor science nursing degree; ADN nursing associate degree or diploma. Bachelor nursing programs can be taken at university or college, lasting about four years whilst community and juniors education institutions offer a two to three year associate program.

Those who receive a diploma or are educated as associates often aim for bachelor study programs to facilitate entry in a more specialized choice of field. These candidates often seek LPN jobs as staff nurse after which they utilise the reimbursing of their tuition as a benefit whilst studying for their BSN and finishing the available LPN to BSN bridge programs.

Accelerated BSN programs are also an option, lasting twelve to eighteen months, providing the quickest way to a Bachelors for those with an existing degree. Individuals considering career advancements of this nature must think strategically when considering the pros and cons or applying for a Bachelors since these advancement opportunity is more vast. LPN jobs do not cover all positions and BSN is usually a prerequisite for an admin post as well as when being admitted to research, education, clinical or consulting graduate programs of specialization.

An LPN not being on the level of qualification as that of an RN means they are restricted to certain working responsibilities. As a result many LPN’s choose to advance their careers from LPN jobs to working as an RN, which has its perks such as the many job opportunities and requirements for this level of nursing as can be seen in the graph. As an LPN is the first qualification before the RN level, LPN’s will have a limit on their duty and responsibility.

Good on the job performance and skills expertise can result in the nurse being promoted to a position of higher oversight and more responsibility. An example is managerial in nature, where a nurse can be promoted to being the head nurse’s assistant or the head nurse and then to directors assistant or the director and even vice president.

In the cases of caring for patients, LPN jobs can evolve into specialized nursing areas such as a midwife who is certified or CNS and CRN (certified registered and clinical specialist) as well as anaesthetists. Each has a prerequisite of two graduation years which will go onto a masters nursing degree.

Further areas of specialization include the possibility of studying to become a Nurse educator. These individuals’ duties include education and mentorship of the next set of young nursing candidates, as well as teaching in class and clinical settings. LPN jobs can lead to a desire to teach and in this case, they must draw up plans for the lessons and encourage the student to appreciate the professions through inspiration, and by setting an example.

Other specialists include paediatric nursing for the younger patient whose age range is from new born to early adult, nursing in peri-anaesthesia Nursing or in the rooms of recovery with a patient who is recovering from anaesthesia post-surgery as well as peri-natal nursing to assist a family and women in labor with support during as well as post-birth.

Psychiatric nursing is another specialist interest that may be sparked during LPN jobs where nursing aids in the field assist patients who are deemed mentally unstable with a complex range of psychological requirements. Nurses in public health operate in both private and government agencies as well as clinical settings. Radiology nursing speaks for itself and these workers are also known as catheterization cardiac laboratory nurses. The choices are endless, its just a matter of weighing options versus in the field passion, the rest will reveal itself as the job progresses.

Finding LPN Jobs

Discover Nursing is a comprehensive online database of information for individuals interested in this field. According to the site, LPN jobs and opportunities have a favorable projection such as the need for RN’s which is expected to accelerate more than any other job through this decade. Since the demand is growing, it is in turn projected that the job market will need more of these nurses. In addition, nurses currently working who will retire also leave ongoing spaces in the job market.

LPN jobs can be found online at various search engines such as; Simply Hired, Indeed.co, Monster.com, Wow Jobs (Canada) and the www.bls.gov as well as www.lpnjobsfinder.com.
As a result of the rise in market for a nurse certain hospitals may offer a bonus of up to fourteen thousand dollars for a nurse in the skills category they require. The National Student Nurse’s Association has many articles on becoming a nurse, from where to begin to what to do for your first job. Nursing Spectrum and NurseWeek magazines have a nationwide job search engine at their site – nurse.com.

Additional article resources for LPN jobs guidance can be found at the Resume Objective Know how career portal, the Bureau of US Statistics and Labor and Career Owl. Another source for LPN jobs is NHT, Nursing for a Healthy Tomorrow, this coalition of over forty health care and nursing organizations operate in partnership around a salary communication campaign which is designed to draw individuals to following a nursing career. The coalition aims to address a potentially dangerous nursing shortage in the nation, with the risk in short and long-term being more serious in certain geographic areas than others. As a result, NHT is now working now to heighten awareness about the looming nursing shortage and excellent opportunities awaiting those seeking a career in nursing.

LPN jobs at NHT can be found in addition to the coalition having assumed the role of communicating and bringing the message and image of the nursing profession, in line with the realities of its tremendous social importance and personal potential for career satisfaction. The site offers Career Profiles and a list of LPN jobs and Career Descriptions. Below are examples of what is available as an option for specialization;

• Nurses who work in critical care
• Nurses in emergency-situations
• Palliative or hospice-care nursing
• Material delivery and labor nursing
• Nursing in nephrology
• Anaesthesia
• Educator nurses
• Executive nursing
• Nurse practitioner
• Nursing in oncology
• Nursing in orthopeadics
• Peri-optive nursing
• Mental care or psychiatric ward nurses
• Nurses in schools
• Staffing nurse
• Nursing health practitioner for women

NHT also offer a recruiter campaign for nursing educators and careers page which can be accessed on their website. Alternately, LPN jobs on Nurse.com can be found by searching thousands of nursing jobs in any location in the U.S for nurses in every specialty, state and setting. The site allows you to post your resume and gain career advice. Other online sources include general job boards such as Monster, Career-builder, and Craigslist and nursing-specific job boards: such as Nurse Jungle Nursing Job-Source, Nurse-job-shop, Top jobs in the USA and Hire- nursing.

In addition LPN jobs can be searched for at http://www.licensedpracticalnurse.org who offer additional helpful services such as links to finding sample templates for cover letters for LPN positions.

The site also offers guidance when writing a resume using either a chronological resume, the most popular format, or a functional resume focusing on the skills and experiences and a combination resume uses both of the aforementioned formats. LPN jobs are also available by visiting local setting where this nursing designation will work and speaking to staff about opportunities or placing oneself on lists for when positions may become available.

The post LPN Jobs – Career Prospects And Specialization appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

An LPN’s responsibilities include everything from taking vital signs, feeding, drawing blood, anaesthesia administration, keeping logs of patient’s progress and/or changes to applying bandages or dressings and collecting lab samples. An LPN salary reflects the capacity of the candidate to know the patients and their history, as well as play a significant role in the diagnosis. An education and licence is required to handle the responsibility of an LPN, which can be completed in about a year.

Around May 2008, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the average annual LPN salary was $39,030.00. While this LPN salary amount varies from state to state, those employed in larger cities are paid more. Other factors to consider regarding the LPN salary range include qualifications, experience, geographic location, and industry type. The highest paid LPN’s usually work for an employment agency, followed by those in a nursing home or long term health care home. The lowest paid LPN’s work in hospital or doctor office settings. Graveyard and weekend shifts also pay higher hourly LPN salary rate at nursing homes and hospitals.

Caring and facilitating healing needs to be a passion and part of the job is high stress and heavy workloads. As result, LPN’s are found to make a more lasting impression on patients in hospitals, ER, outpatient facilities than doctors do. As a result, LPN’s are compensated well for this level of responsibility. Overall, the need for medical personnel is projected to grow in demand over the coming years. As a result, LPN salaries will be influenced, increasing alongside the demand.

Responsibilities and demand considered, there is a vast difference between top and the bottom of LPN salaries. State differences are affected by the cost of living and may seem to be higher, but when compared in ratio and context this is not necessarily the case.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Massachusetts LPN’s are the highest paid in the US with an average LPN salary of 48,180 a year. The District of Columbia is second, averaging annual wages of USD 45,450. Rhode Island LPN wages are USD 43,460, and Delaware LPN’s earn USD 41,460 as annual average. New Jersey salaries range around USD 41,240 a year and Maryland LPN’s earn over 40K a year. The below diagram gives a more detailed idea of state-to-state LPN salaries:

An LPN also acts as an administrator in the workplace, ensuring patient documentation, notes and records are impeccably updated. With the media drawing attention to the shortage of RN’s and LPN’s it is not necessarily an indication of how easy it will be to find placement and a good salary. Average starter salaries show that hospitals have cut back plans regardless of the demand as seen on payscale.com. A typical starter LPN salary ranges from $46,014 – $66,112 for those with more experience.

For context, in 2008 the national average wage for employees working in the private sector was $50,028, while those in the Federal Civilian sector averaged was $79,197. Bearing in mind that difficult economic circumstances in the US are seeing substantial job shedding. In other words, an LPN salary starting point will be below average while an experienced candidate will be above. In general, an LPN has good prospects with access to further LPN training and development and good job security. The below Payscale diagram reflects salary by years experience:

Differences Between An RN And LPN Salary

As a result of the demand for registered nurses along with their experience and education, RN salaries are higher. LPN duties are performed under the observation and direction of registered nurses and physicians. The year required to graduate allows only for basic care, but does not offer as wide a variety of career choices as a registered nurse would have.

As we have seen above, an LPN salary is not high enough to provide a comfortable income or sustain and support a family. Registered nurses minimum education is an associate degree in nursing with added training available for many positions and job titles, which further require bachelors, masters and Ph.D’s.

While RN’s serve as extensions of many physicians, decision makers concerning treatment and long-term health needs of patients, LPN responsibilities are restricted due to their qualification. As a result, career choices for RNs far outnumber those of an LPN with options such as educators, staff nurses, administrators, home health care, patient care, teaching and administration.

According to PayScale.com, on average compared to the LPN salary, RN’s earn over 50k per year. This includes a $15k/year increase in salaries showing that nurses can expect higher salaries working for governmental agencies and private contract facilities, while lower wages are recorded for nurses working in schools or self-employed.

The US Bureau of Labor and Statistics shows that in 2004 the top 10% of nursing jobs offered salaries upwards of $74k/year. The lower LPN salary figures reflect pay scales of nurses based on those holding only a basic license of registered nurse. With the wide range of educational options available, salaries for positions requiring higher degrees may even exceed 100k/year in many of the employment options available.

Online LPN Salary Comparison Resources

This shows that as soon as an LPN takes the step toward becoming a registered nurse, an increase in salary is on the cards. With the burgeoning of ecommerce and internet resources, there are many sites available to conduct LPN salary comparisons. Once such website is Simply Hired.com. According to their site, the average nursing salary is $49,000. Their statistics are calculated using the average salary for all jobs with the term “nursing” anywhere in the job listing. The following are the results:

LPN salary and other wage data from SimplyHired’s free calculator is based on millions of job listings indexed by their job search engine. The site’s nursing salary comparisons feature allows job seekers to get the information required to make important career decisions and negotiate salary ranges.

RN Travel Space compares staff nurse with travel nurse salaries offers comprehensive, up-to-date information. They teamed with Salary.com to provide a Travel Nursing Salary Comparison Tool. This allows you to compare an LPN salary to the salaries of staff nurses and travel nurses across the US with a side-by-side bar graph. It is a useful way to research what nurses with similar qualifications and specialties are earning around the country.

Since the market online is competitive it offers more options for cross-referencing information and matching your results. Indeed.com has a similar tool to SimplyHired, offering job searches with a salary comparison section.

AllNursingSchools.com is a one-stop shop offering a job search section, where to advance nursing educations as well as LPN salary comparisons to other nursing careers. Their advanced practice nursing information shows the vast potential differences in salaries an LPN could expect with the right amount of specialization and academic training;

Nurse Salary Range Comparison

LPN salary comparisons can also be conducted alongside Nursing Specialties such as at Hospital Non-Profit Organization or Private Practice/Firm for Company Acute Care Nures, Adult Nurses, Cardiovascular Nurses, Informatics Nurses, Neonatal Nurse, Pediatric Nurse, Psychiatric Nurse, School Nurse and Surgical Nurses. Doing an LPN salary comparison in this manner is informative and creates an incentive to pursue further career advancements.

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