How Do I get Started in Nursing with a Practical Nursing Diploma?
There are few paths that are as full of potential and positive impact in the world as one in the nursing field. But it can feel intimidating to start down that path knowing that it might take four years (or more) to reach your destination. If you are looking for a way to quickly begin a rewarding new life as a nurse, then you might want to look at a position as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN).
The Contributions of Practical Nursing
In the ongoing battle that takes place between medical professionals and health problems, practical nursing is vitally important for mitigating the onset of sickness and disease, while improving the quality of life for patients.
Germs live all around and within us, doing everything from helping our bodies function to processing organic matter wherever it can be found. But in a health care environment where there is an unusually high concentration of disease-causing microbes and people with sensitive or non-existent immune systems, patients need to be treated with extreme care while the environment around them is kept as clean and orderly as possible.
LPNs work with and around the patients in the care of their medical team. They prepare and administer medications according to the prescribed schedule given by the doctor, which may include tasks like changing intravenous fluid bags or injecting syringes. Basic care like bathing and feeding patients is one of their duties for those who cannot do so for themselves, such as with senile or severely injured patients.
LPN duties may change according to the specific care being provided by the medical team. In a surgical environment, LPNs help to prepare and maintain a sterile operating room, provide assistance as needed during operations, and care for the patient before and after surgery. If the LPN goes to work in a neonatal unit, they may be required to care for both mother and child at the same time.
In addition to their primary duties, LPNs monitor and report on the condition of the patient to their fellows on the medical team by filling out information in forms and medical software while communicating directly with doctors and other nurses.
Skill Requirements for Licensed Practical Nurses
To be ready and prepared to care for their patients, practical nurses need a wide range of skills and knowledge centered around human anatomy and care.
The foundation for an LPN's work is the medical education that familiarizes the LPN with how the human body works, health care terminology and procedures, an ever expanding selection of medications and dosages, and how to provide care for patients suffering from a wide variety of medical conditions. As part of a medical team, LPNs will also need to know how to effectively communicate with other members of the nursing staff, doctors, and the patient.
Training and Certification for LPNs
LPNs go through a training curriculum that takes six months to a year, depending on where the diploma is obtained and course scheduling. Course material includes the fundamentals of nursing, human anatomy, pharmacology, and nursing principles for specific situations such as caring for elderly, infants, or surgical patients.
Once the LPN-in-training has finished their initial education, they must pass an examination designed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) known as the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nursing (NCLEX-PN).
passed the TEAS test for nursing God just keeps on blessing me and I'm loving it committed to ecpi university
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Step onto the Path to a Rewarding Medical Future as an LPN
At ECPI University, you will have access to skilled and experienced teachers with real world experience. Once you enroll in the program to earn your Diploma in Practical Nursing, you could be ready to get to work in your chosen field in a fraction of the time necessary for other programs. Are you ready to get started? Contact ECPI University TODAY!
It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!
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