Do you have what it takes to be a licensed vocational nurse? Does a career in health care seem attractive to you?
Nursing aides are among the most in demand professionals in the health care industry. An ageing population needing more medical attention; a people more conscious of their health; and medical advances that make it possible to diagnose and treat more conditions have pushed the growth of health care professionals.
Hospitals, medical and care-giving facilities are relying more on nurse aides - certified nursing assistants (CNAs) and LVNs or licensed practical nurses as they are also referred to - to deliver front-line patient care services largely due to cost. Compared to nurses who average $22 to $30 hourly, nursing aides receive much lower salaries doing the less sensitive but still vital functions (and often the dirty work) to care for patients. This means more employment opportunities at less the time and cost it takes to be an RN. So if a licensed vocational nurse is a career option for you, here are some pointers:
1. DO IT FOR THE RIGHT REASONS. To be an LVN is to serve. The work is far from glamorous or easy. If you're in it for the money, be sure that an hourly rate of $15 to $20 is commensurate to the time you put in to prepare for the job and what is actually expected of you at the workplace. Patients expect -- or even demand -- care, understanding and patience whether they are in pain or just plain cranky. It takes a truly selfless and committed individual to succeed in this career. If this is what you really want to do, then the sense of fulfillment you get will be worth more than your LVN salary.
2. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS. You must be at least 18 years old with a high school diploma or its GED equivalent. You may be shifting from another career, but unless it is of a related field, any previous college coursework may or may not be credited. You need good communication skills, a compassionate nature and should be physically fit. Any volunteer experience in a health care setting is a plus for when you become a licensed vocational nurse.
3. GET THE BEST TRAINING AND EDUCATION. First decide how quickly you want to start earning. This will determine whether you're headed to a vocational or community college for a 12 month or less diploma or certificate program, a traditional college or university for a two-year associate degree or do you take the online route and go about getting an education at your own pace. Whatever your choice, just make sure your license vocational nurse school is accredited. It will help if you want financial aid for your studies and this will qualify you for licensure after graduation.
Typical LVN programs curriculum include basic nursing concepts, medical terminology, patient education and science courses such as anatomy, physiology, biology and chemistry. Additional courses include emergency medical technology, first aid, foods and nutrition and child growth and development, some of which you may eventually choose to specialize in.
4.PASS THE LICENSURE EXAM. After completing your training in one of the many LVN schools accredited by the National League of Nursing Accreditation Commission, you can sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN). This is a four-part test to determine your readiness as a licensed vocational nurse, both in theory and practice. So the more clinical or hands-on experience you gained in school, the greater your chances of passing and getting licensed.
5. CHOOSE FROM AMONG SEVERAL JOB OPPORTUNITIES. A licensed practical nurse lpn can find opportunities not only in hospitals. There are convalescent and nursing homes, long-term care facilities, private medical clinics and doctor's offices. Lately with more of the elderly opting for live-in care arrangements to save on costs, you can, after gaining experience, look into home care opportunities through insurance companies. Starting salaries range from $8 to $16 but over time and depending on your workplace, and if you are based in the city or outskirts of town, you can expect this to increase.
Many LVNs have long fruitful and rewarding careers. Eventually, they may advance to supervisory positions, run their own licensed vocational nurse training school or get further education to become a registered nurse.
Middletown, Sebastian, Illinois, Franklin Park, La Grande, Pasadena, Virginia, Torrington, Grayslake, New Jersey, Pewaukee, Iowa, Rohnert Park, Clayton, Chowchilla, Malden, Vadnais Heights, La Ca??ada Flintridge, Orange, Cudahy, Tahlequah, Lebanon, St. Charles, Garden City, Arizona, Galt, Sheboygan, Burlingame, Madison, Hartford, Vandalia, Dumont, Covington, Decatur, Dickinson, Redmond, Aliso Viejo, Fairmont, Ringwood, North Carolina, River Falls, New Mexico, Hibbing, Rhode_Island, Akron, Punta Gorda, Franklin, Woodland, Ferguson, Mokena, Mamaroneck, Poway, Sandusky, Scottsbluff, Inglewood, New Smyrna Beach, Willoughby, Cleveland Heights, San Francisco, Vicksburg, Cedarburg, Hollywood, Santee, Bound Brook, Miami, Augusta, Owosso, Portland, Wadsworth, Beaufort, Roanoke Rapids, Ontario, Greenwood, Dearborn, Norwalk, Shelbyville, Alabama, Spencer, Mississippi, Colorado Springs, Martin, Hampton, North Palm Beach, Parma, San Luis, Front Royal, Scottsdale, Blue Island, Elk Grove, Hastings, Baker
