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Understanding LPN Degree
LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) will care for the disabled or sick patients under the supervision of registered nurses and physicians. They usually assist patients with their personal hygiene such as dressing or bathing, prepare and administer injections, gather urine samples for tests, and sometimes help in childbirth or infant care.
LPN Degree Explained
An LPN is a very basic nursing degree that forms a good foundation for higher nursing courses such as RN (Registered Nurse) or BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing). It has one year course duration in theory and practice. The requirements to award this degree may vary depending on the state where the degree is taken.
Generally, LPN Degree programs are offered in community colleges and vocational schools. It involves classroom study as well as supervised patient care. Training topics include psychiatric nursing, anatomy, drug administration, pediatrics, and physiology. For those who need to work in a job while studying, there are also online programs to enroll in. These programs will allow the students to keep up with their busy schedule and finish their degree at the same time.
Becoming an LPN could be a good way for you to enter the field of nursing. Once you’re there, you can have a wide array of job opportunities. It will not take very long to become an LPN but it also requires diligent study.
LPN Degree Career Outlook
To have a license, a graduate of LPN Degree need to pass the licensing exam called NCLEX-PN. It’s a computer-based exam where the main categories include effective and safe care of the environment, physiological integrity, health promotion and maintenance, and psychosocial integrity.
Professional LPNs need to be compassionate, caring, perceptive and emotionally stable. They also need to possess communication abilities and sound decision-making. Recently, a survey revealed that $47,000 is the median salary for an LPN nurse.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics in the United States also reported that employment opportunities for these nurses are expected to grow fast in the coming decades. As of last count, there are 726,000 nurses employed as LPNs where 12% work in doctor’s offices, about 25% work in nursing care facilities, and an estimated 25% more work in huge hospitals. |