What it’s about:

The practical nursing major is a one- or two-year program that prepares you to assist registered nurses and physicians in providing general nursing care. After you graduate, you will be eligible to take the National Council Licensing Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN). Passing the exam allows you to be certified by a state board of nursing as a licensed practical/vocational nurse (LP/VN).

What the study of this major is like:

Licensed practical nurses (LPNs)-also, called licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) in some states-play an essential part in hospital care: monitoring patients’ condition and reporting changes to nurses and physicians; taking temperature and blood pressure; helping patients do rehabilitative exercises; giving medications; bathing patients; changing bandages; and collecting laboratory samples. With the growing shortage of registered nurses (RNs) throughout the world, the role of the LPN continues to evolve. For example, intravenous (IV) therapy for patients used to be provided only by RNs. In some states, certified LPNs can now perform IV therapy.

The major includes general education, science, and nursing courses. behavioural and social science courses stress the elements of human behaviour, growth and development, interpersonal relationships, and cultural diversity. Nursing courses generally, cover the nursing process, basic and advanced nursing skills, communication, disease, medications, dosage calculations, lab tests, treatments, ethics, legal/professional issues, and patient care form birth to death.

Behavioural and social science courses are typically in lecture format. Nursing and natural science courses include both lecture and laboratory/clinical experiences. You initial lab courses allow you to safely practice your nursing skills. Before working with patients, you need to become knowledgeable, competent, and confident. You then move out into the real world for your clinical practice work, where you are supervised as you care for patients in acute care or long-term care facilities.

The most likely challenge you may face is to recognize how difficult the work can be and to devote the necessary time and effort to it. To participate actively in class, you must prepare the required class presentations and written work. Many programs expect you to maintain a minimum grade point average. After you graduate, you must complete a national exam.

To become an LPN, you can pursue either a one-year vocational program at a technical school or a two-year associate degree at a college. As you compare programs, consider your career plans. If you see yourself as a bedside nurse working under the supervision of a registered nurse, doctor, or dentist, then a one-year vocational program is enough. On the other hand, if you think you might want to advance further in nursing, you should start with an accredited two-year program where you can transfer credits to other programs. Because nursing courses vary among colleges, it may be hard to transfer-so if you need to transfer, meet with the director of the new program and provide a description of the courses you have completed. Try to get credit for what you have learned.

Career options and trends:

Specialty certification is available to LPN’s in areas such as long-term care, pharmacology, I.V. therapy, and gerontology. To advance to higher levels of nursing-to become, say, a registered nurse or a certified nurse specialist in paediatrics, you will most likely need a bachelor’s or master’s degree, work experience in the particular area of nursing, and a passing grade on a certification exam.

Employment prospects for LPN’s are excellent because of a severe shortage of nurses worldwide. The majority of LPNs work in hospitals, clinics, long-term-care and nursing home facilities; but other employment opportunities are available in rehabilitation centers, public health agencies, industrial/occupational health offices, private doctor’s offices, and schools. Employment growth is expected in the areas of community and home health nursing, because insurance companies are mandating shorter hospital stays, and more patients will require nurses to aid recovery at home.

Source: CollegeBoard 2012 Book of Majors