The nursing field is expanding in all directions due to the ongoing nurse shortage in the United States. This shortage is due to many nurses going on pension, insufficient nursing colleges or schools to feed the demand, and largely due to the ever-increasing elderly requiring more nursing care for longer. It is simple; people are living longer due to the great strides modern medicine has and is making, but just because they are living longer does not mean that they are healthy until they die. This means that there are more and more elderly people who have diseases or conditions which would have killed them before now surviving those diseases and conditions, but with the need for ongoing care.

An LPN qualification is an entry-level licensure. Once you have fulfilled all that is required by the LPN curriculum, you will need to sit for the NCLEX-PN examination, and only on passing that will you gain licensure to practice. An LPN does basic nursing tasks and mainly sees to the comfort and mobility of a patient, helps them to get dressed, with their daily ablutions, some administrative work, and in some states they may dispense medication.

Most individuals study to become a licensed practical nurse at a community college where the class schedules are flexible, which means that you can continue to work at your current job or continue to raise your children and study at the same time. The other option is to study through a vocational nurse training school that specializes in LPN and CNA programs.

The LPN Curriculum

The curriculum for licensed practical nursing is basically the same everywhere, no matter the school, as they have to cover certain subjects. There are, however, some choices that you can make yourself, such as whether to study over three semesters or four semesters. Obviously the less time you take to study the quicker you can sit for the NCLEX-PN examination and the quicker you will get your licensure and be able to work, but you need to make sure that you have sufficient time to study, so think carefully before making your decision.

Subjects Studied In The LPN Curriculum

NUR 101: Body Structure and Function or BIO 201 (Students choice)

This module will provide you with the basic knowledge of the normal structure of the human body, and how it functions.

You will learn:

• How the organs relate to each other
• The relationship that each organ system has with the homeostasis
• Medical terminology

Upon completion of this segment you will be able to demonstrate a basic knowledge of the systems in the body, how they interrelate and associated medical technology.

In this section you will earn 3 theory credits, 1 lab credits and 0 clinical credits, and a total of 6 contact hours.

NUR 102: Fundamentals of Nursing        

This portion of the LPN curriculum will help you to develop the competencies required to meet the needs of patients throughout their lifespan in a manner which is legal, safe and ethical, using the process of nursing.

You will learn:

• Theories and concepts basic to the science and art of nursing
• The role of the nurse as a valuable member of the medical team
•  The psychomotor nursing skills that you will need to assist patients in meeting their most basic human needs
• The concepts of client needs, critical thinking, communication, ethical-legal, nursing history, safety, cultural diversity, teaching/learning, and the philosophy of nursing
• The skills required to maintain physical, microbial, and psychological safety
• Skills required in order to perform therapeutic interventions

At the conclusion of this program you will be able to demonstrate competency in performing the basic nursing skills required for individuals with common health alterations.

In this section you will earn 3 theory credits, 2 lab credits and 1 clinical credit, and a total of 12 contact hours

NUR 103: Health Assessment

This section of the LPN curriculum focuses on the adult, and will teach you the theory and give you a chance to practice what you have learned.

You will learn:

• How to take the history of patients
• How to perform physical examinations
• How to analyse symptoms in patients
• How to do psychosocial, physical, and growth and development assessments

Once you have completed this section you will know how to utilize critical thinking skills to identify health alterations, how to formulate nursing diagnoses and how to document your findings.

In this section you will earn 0 theory credits, 1 lab credit and 0 clinical credits, and a total of 3 contact hours

NUR 104: Introduction to Pharmacology

In this part of the LPN curriculum you will learn how to develop the competencies that you will need to meet the needs of individuals in a legal, ethical and safe manner, utilising the nursing process.

You will learn:

• The basic principles of pharmacology
• How to safely administer medication
• Legal implications
• Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics
• How to calculate drug dosages
• How to administer medications
• An overview of various drug classifications

Upon completion of this module you will be able to calculate and administer certain medications

In this section you will earn 0 theory credits, 1 lab credit and 1 clinical credit, and a total of 3 contact hours

NUR 105: Adult Nursing

In this section you will be given the opportunity to develop your competencies in meeting the needs of individuals in a legal, safe and ethical manner throughout their lifespan, using the nursing process.

You will learn:

• How to provide care to patients undergoing surgery
• How to deal with common alterations in the respiratory, gastro-intestinal, endocrine, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and integumentary systems
• How to handle fluid and electrolyte imbalance
• You will also learn more pharmacology and communication concepts
• Cultural and community concepts are integrated.

On completion of this section of the LPN curriculum you will know how to handle surgery patients, and see to their needs in respect of their entire system. You will also have gained knowledge about working in communities and dealing with various cultures.

In this section you will earn 5 theory credits, 1 lab credit and 2 clinical credits, and a total of 14 contact hours

NUR 106: Maternal and Child Nursing

This module of the LPN curriculum focuses on the role of a nurse in meeting the psychosocial, cultural, physiological, and developmental needs of maternal and child patients.

You will learn:

• Antepartal, intrapartal, and postpartal care
• Possible complications that can occur in a pregnancy
• How to care for a newborn
• Human growth and development
• How to care for children (pediatric care­)
• Selected pediatric alterations
• Nutrition, pharmacology, communication and cultural diversity
• The correct use of technology
• Anatomy and physiology review
• Medical terminology
• How to apply critical thinking
• Applications of the nursing process

Upon completion of this program you will be in a position to provide and manage care for pediatric and maternal patients in various settings.

In this section you will do earn 4 theory credits, 0 lab credits and 1 clinical credit, and a total of 7 contact hours

NUR 107: Adult/Child Nursing

This module of the LPN curriculum continues your education in the competencies required to provide the best, safest, legal and ethical manner in which to provide nursing services to patients throughout their lifespan.

You will learn:

• How to provide care to individuals who are experiencing complex alterations in their endocrine, neurological, cardiovascular, or genitourinary system
• How to provide nursing care to patients who are undergoing complicated changes in the sensory/perceptual reproductive, lower gastrointestinal or immune system.
• How to treat patients with burns, emergent conditions or cancer
• Nutrition, critical thinking, error prevention, therapeutic communication, and pharmacology
• Cultural diversity, community work, health promotion, and various impacts on maternal and children’s health

Once you have completed this section you will be in a position to treat children and maternal patients with various complex problems and conditions.

In this section you will earn 5 theory credits, 0 lab credits and 3 clinical credits, and a total of 14 contact hours

NUR 108: Psychosocial Nursing

This section of the LPN curriculum deals with the psychosocial adaptation and coping concepts used when nursing certain patients.

You will learn:

• The psychosocial adaptation and coping concepts to use when caring for patients who are suffering from acute and chronic alterations in mental health, in various settings

• Therapeutic communication skills
• Normal and abnormal behaviors
• Various treatment modalities
• Developmental needs

Upon completion of this module you will be able to demonstrate the ability to assist your patients to maintain psychosocial integrity through the use of a legal, ethical nursing process.

In this section you will earn 2 theory credits, 0 lab credits and 1 clinical credit, and a total of 5 contact hours

NUR 109: Role Transition for the Practical Nurse

This is the final module of the LPN curriculum, and it prepares you to transition from student to practicing nurse.

You will learn:

• About current issues in health care
• Practical nursing leadership and management
• Professional practice issues
• How to transition into the workplace

The emphasis in this portion of the training is placed on computer-assisted simulations and practice tests, National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurse (NCLEX-PN) test-taking skills, the development of a prescriptive plan for remediation, and a thorough review of selective content which is specific to the practice of a licensed practical nurse.

In this section you will earn 2 theory credits, 1 lab credit and 0 clinical credits, and a total of 5 contact hours

Prerequisite Courses

Apart from the above LPN curriculum, some schools require that applicants must have completed some prerequisite coursed before entrance to the program will be given. These could include:

• MTH 116  – or Higher Level  Mathematical Applications (3 credit hours)
• English 101 – English Composition (3 credit hours)
• BIO 201  – Human Anatomy and Physiology I  (4 credit hours)
• BIO 202 – Human Anatomy and Physiology II (4 credit hours)

Whichever program you decide to study through, remember that although the LPN curriculum may be the same, not all colleges are accredited, and unless you study through an accredited institution you will not be able to sit for the NCLEX-PN examination, which means that you will not be able to gain licensure.

Licensure By Examination

Once you have completed the entire LPN curriculum you will need to sit for the NCLEX-PN examination in order to determine whether you are competent to practice nursing safely and effectively. Only on passing this exam will you gain licensure and be allowed to use the designation Licensed Practical Nurse and work in the nursing field. The exam should be taken in the state in which you intend practicing as a licensed practical nurse.

Qualifications for the licensure by examination include:

• You must be at least 18 years of age
• You must be in possession of a high school qualification or the equivalent
• You must be of good moral character
• Successful completion and graduation from an accredited practical nursing program
• No felony convictions
• You must be willing to undergo drug screening
• You must provide the results of a current TB Screening or current Chest x-rays

In order to retain licensure you will need to satisfy the continuing education requirements in order to re-register every two years. You will also need to have a current unendorsed license, have worked for a minimum number of hours within the previous two years, and not have been convicted of a felony, or exhibit any mental incompetence.

Once you have completed all of the studies required in the LPN curriculum and have worked for a while as a licensed practical nurse, you may want to study further, and there are many opportunities for you to do so via other programs or bridging courses.

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Coursework

EMT Basic training involves becoming skilled in the following:

• Primary skills needed for emergency treatment
• Making patient assessments
• Delivering respiratory care
• Anatomy and emergency cardiac services

These are not the only skills that you will be taught in your EMT Basic curriculum, but they are some of the more important topics that will come up during your training. The coursework will consist of a certain amount of theory work, but in addition to this you are required to receive practical hands-on training. The reason for this is obvious: the role of an EMT is extremely hands-on and you will be unable to adequately prepare for the profession if you do not receive practical training for it in the field. Consequently you may assist in emergency rooms or rise along in ambulances during your EMT Basic training and preparation.

Module 1

Module 1 consists of:

• Introduction to Emergency Care
• The Human Body
• Lifting and Moving Patients

Essentially it is the introductory module, introducing you to the EMT profession and giving you and overview of what you will be doing, as well as by easing into an explanation of how the human body works. The theory work for this module will require 1 and ½ hours to 3 hours of training. On average you will be expected to only expend about 1 hour of your time on this theory module before moving on to the next section of the coursework.  Later in your training you will be required to put what you have learned in the first module into practice in a genuine emergency care situation. This is one of the shorter modules that you are required to do during your EMT Basic training but it is still an important aspect of the curriculum.

Module 2

The second module focuses on the following topic:

• The airway of the patient and how to keep it clear

The EMT Basic curriculum will only include an introductory and very cursory coverage of this topic. If you plan to advance through the emergency medical services and improve your qualification you will later on be required to do additional training in relation to the airway. However, as an EMT Basic all you will need to know is how to care for the airway in emergency situations. The airway is needed for breathing, and breathing is one of the functions that you will need to stabilize in an emergency medical situation. As an EMT Basic your only duty is to stabilize patients and to do everything in your power to ensure that they survive. Improving their ability to breathe is an important aspect of this. In general this section takes 7 hours to complete.

Module 3

Module three involves interactions with patients. As an EMT you will need to interact with patients on a regular basis. The way in which you interact with and speak to those around you will reflect on your professionalism and your ability to complete your tasks adequately. This section will usually involve practical exposure in a real life situation, such as in an emergency room of a hospital. In addition this section of your training usually takes something like 20 ½ hours to complete. Skills that you will need in this regard include communication skills (as you will need to be able to communicate your understanding of the patient’s condition quickly and clearly in order to ensure that proper care is given) as well as interpersonal skills (the ability to relate to others easily and in a way that is appropriate to the situation art hand).

Module 4

Module 4 focuses on actual medical emergency situations that you may encounter in your job as an EMT. The EMT Basic curriculum will usually include topics such as the following (among others):

• Respiratory Emergencies
• Poisoning and Overdose
• Obstetrics and Gynecology

For example you may be required to attend a scene where a pregnant mother is about to give birth and does not have time to go to a hospital. In this case you may even be required to go so far as to deliver the baby yourself. Consequently you will need to know about obstetrics and gynecology. This is the largest and most important module. Consequently it involves a large degree of practical training. In addition it will take you around 42 hours to complete this section of your EMT Basic curriculum. In a goof EMT Basic program all of the most likely medical emergencies will be covered.

Module 5

This is the module that deals with how to handle actual physical trauma in patients and how to provide basic care and treatments. You will receive:

• Lessons on soft tissue injuries
• Lessons on bleeding
• Lessons on shock
• Lessons on injuries to the head and spine

This is also one of the longer modules. In total you will take about 18 hours to complete this module. The 18 hours is divided up in the following way:

• The theoretical classroom knowledge that you need should take about 2 to 8 hours to complete depending on the nature of the program that you attend.

• In addition to this there is a practical hands-on training session included in this program. This section could take anything from 7 to 14 hours to complete and the more practical exposure you get the better prepared you will be for your role as an EMT.

Modules 6 And 7

The last two modules involve very specific areas of the EMT profession:

• Module 6 is related to dealing with children and infants. Clearly at this age your patients will require different treatment, both medically and emotionally, than adult patients and consequently it is necessary that you are trained in the specific skills needed for treating young patient. This module is usually expected to take about 7 hours at the most and includes a theoretical aspect as well as a clinical and practical aspect before you can move on to the seventh and final module of your EMT Basic curriculum.

• Module 7 is an overview of EMT and ambulance operations and requires around 5 hours of work to be completed. Although not as interesting as the other modules, not as practical, it is a very important aspect of your EMT Basic curriculum if you are to truly be prepared in all ways for the field.

NREMT

Your EMT Basic training will allow you to be certified by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT). This is the largest accreditation board in for EMTs in the country. Certification involves writing an exam that the registry provides. However, passing this exam and receiving certification does not automatically mean that you will be able to practice as an EMT. You will in addition need to receive licensing from your state in order to work as an emergency medical technician. In addition not all states rely on the NREMT for certification. If you live in a state where this is the case there will be alternative certification and licensing requirements that you will ache to meet. You will therefore need to research the requirements for your own specific state carefully in order to become a fully certified as well as a fully licensed EMT with the right to practice there.

College Training

Community colleges and technical schools offer qualifications in emergency medical services and often have EMT Basic curriculums for prospective emergency medical technicians. There are a number of considerations to keep in mind:

• These courses will usually result in a diploma.

• Typically a diploma cannot be transferred to a degree and if you would like to earn a degree in medicine or in emergency response services you will need to begin a fresh program from scratch.

There are a number of schools that offer on-campus training for EMTs. These include:

• Florida Career Institute
• Medix School
• EMS Training, Inc.

When choosing a school to attend you should examine the EMT Basic curriculum offered by that school very carefully before making a decision. Knowledge of the content of the EMT examination will be extremely useful in determining whether or not the course is a comprehensive one.

Online Training

In addition to on campus training there are also a number of online training options available. However, it is extremely important to note that this is a very hands-on qualification. Consequently only small portion of the qualification will be offered in an online format. The rest of the training will still need to be done in a field situation where genuine medical emergencies are encountered on a regular basis. The online program that you enroll in must be approved by the National Traffic Highway Safety Administration (NTHSA). In addition it is generally considered better to look for those programs that are affiliated with ambulance stations of hospitals as these will provide you with opportunities to receive the required hands-on training in order to complete your certification. Trainingdivision.com offers coursework online and sets up local sites for the hands-on training portions of the class. There are also sites that specifically exist to help you with exam preparation.

Continuing Education

In addition to the EMT Basic curriculum EMTs at every level must apply for re-certification every two years by obtaining 24 hours of additional education. This is in order to ensure that the quality of the profession is kept at a very high level and that EMTs working with patients in critical conditions do, in fact, have the skills required to ensure that those patients are kept safe and to enhance their chances of survival. Courses are available online through sites such as EMS House, a division of Thomson Delmar Learning, and EMS CEU. In addition the NREMT will also provide continuing education opportunities. By looking at the continuing education credits as a means to improve you own skills and confidence in the field you will have a more positive outlook on re-certification and continuing education and you will not find it to be a burden at all.

Overview Of Accelerated EMT B Training

An EMT Basic curriculum consists of:

• Basic life support skills
• Patient assessment skills
• Instruction on how to utilize and maintain EMT equipment

Generally speaking these courses will last for a period of 120 to 150 hours of coursework, which culminates in a written and practical exam. The coursework is usually both theoretical and practical.

An accelerated EMT Basic curriculum consists of the same coursework and the same number of hours. However the coursework may be distributed over a shorter period of time. The 120 hours in question could be stretched out over 6 months, 4 months, or even as little as 3 months. Students who have the time to devote such a high degree of concentration to a program and who want to start working as EMTs sooner rather than later can consider looking into accelerated programs over rather than more traditional training options.

There are a number of considerations to keep in mind when deciding whether or not EMT Basic training is for you, in many ways this is one of the best EMT courses to start off with as it does not take very long and you will be able to develop a feel for the work and come to an informed decision regarding whether or not this is the best line of work for you before committing to a longer training program to become a paramedic. The EMT Basic curriculum, as outlines above, is comprehensive and will prepare you adequately for the job.

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