Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) - A Career Opportunity

The nursing qualification ladder begins with the Licensed Practical Nurse or LPN. If you wish to qualify as an LPN you must complete a training course approved by the State Board of Nursing. The qualification program lasts approximately 18 months to two years. Some school courses may be as little as 12 months. In order to achieve full qualification prospective candidates who have completed the approved program must then pass an examination.

The examination that needs to be passed in order to get licensed is called the NCLEX-PN. You must pass this examination if you want to become an LPN and go on to practice as a nurse. Once you have achieved your licensed status then you can go on to carry out a medical procedures ranging from simple to complex. It is a requirement however that the work undertaken by an LPN is required to be supervised by a physician or Registered Nurse (RN).

Before you are admitted onto an authorized training program you must first demonstrate you have a high school diploma as a minimum. You must also be able to prove that you, as a prospective student do not have criminal record. High levels of demand for qualified LPN's have meant that it is now possible to start the qualification regime prior to gaining your high school diploma. Indeed some students are able to commence the LPN course by entering into vocational training programs whilst still in high school.

The choice of approved training schools across the country is plentiful, all offering the necessary qualification programs.

In 2006 the Bureau of Labor Statistics disclosed that there were more than 1,500 state approved training courses in practical nursing according. A significant number of programs have been created in the period since 2006 a substantial proportion of which have been designed specifically for online completion.

You mustn't forget the qualification program also includes a clinical phase. If you are learning on a distance basis completion of the clinical phase may well prove problematic. The solution is to attend some form of organized clinical training events. Given that there are many local vocation schools, technical programs and community colleges that offer complete courses or just specific aspects of the training regime this should not present a significant problem.

A qualified LPN is capable of undertaking a wide variety of activities. These range from simple measurements for example taking someone's blood pressure or body temperature, through to giving CPR on a patient who is experiencing a heart attack. In the main however the LPN will be administering basic care to elderly, infirm or recuperative patients caring environment.

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Want to become a qualified LPN? Read this great resource which gives you all the steps you need to take to find out how and what LPN Jobs are out there if you do.

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