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Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)Licensed practical nurses - LPN - work under the direction of a physician or registered nurse - RN. The duties of licensed practical nurses vary greatly depending on factors such as employer type (nursing home, hospital or doctors' office), staff available and shift. Some of the LPN job responsibilities are to take vital signs such as blood pressure, temperature, pulse and respiration, to observe and promptly report adverse reactions to treatment or medications, to prepare and give injections, treat bedsores, apply dressings, give massages and feed the patients. Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) are trained for one year in a state-approved program mostly at vocational or technical schools. The practical nurse training includes both classroom study and supervised clinical practice. LPN must pass a licensing examination - NCLEX-PN ® - after completing an approved practical nursing program. Alabama practical nurses study basic nursing and patient care subjects, usually including but not limited to nutrition, anatomy and physiology, pediatrics, administration of drugs and first aid. The LPN clinical practice usually takes place in Alabama hospitals. The main duty of licensed practical nurses is to provide care for the disabled, injured or sick. The requirements for licensing LPN are set by the Board of Nursing of each state. Licensed practical nurses who wish to become registered nurses can enroll in special programs such as LPN to RN programs that take into consideration prior education. Licensed practical nurses provide bedside care, evaluate patient needs, develop care plans and supervise the actions of nursing aides. They may also be required to make appointments, perform clerical and administrative duties and train other employees. Licensed practical nurses may also collect testing samples and perform simple laboratory tests, monitor catheters, keep detailed records of food and fluid intake and output for each patient as well as help patients bathe, dress and maintain a good level of personal hygiene. Depending on the state, LPN may also be allowed to help deliver, monitor and feed infants or administer medicine. Some experienced licensed practical nurses may also be required to supervise nursing assistants and aides. Median annual earnings of licensed practical nurses are around $35,000 but can be more than $46,000 in some areas. Employment of practical nurses in Alabama is expected to grow about as fast as average for all occupations through 2014 in response to the long-term care needs of an increasing elderly population and the general growth of health care services. Replacement needs will be a major source of job openings for LPN, as many workers leave the occupation permanently. LPN applicants for jobs in Alabama hospitals may face competition as the number of hospital jobs for licensed practical nurses declines, however, rapid LPN employment growth is projected in other health care industries, with the best job opportunities occurring in Alabama nursing care facilities and in home health care services.
Featured Nursing School |
Samford's Nursing School Named One of Four 'Centers of Excellence' in NationAlabama - Samford University's Ida V. Moffett School of Nursing has been named a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education by the National League for Nursing. The school was one of four nursing programs in the nation to receive the designation during the NLN's annual Education Summit in Baltimore, Md. The award recognizes outstanding achievement in the promotion of excellence in nursing education. The Samford program was cited for its demonstrated excellence in "Creating Environments that Promote Student Learning and Professional Development." It will carry the Center of Excellence designation for three years. Read more about Samford's Nursing School. |
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