Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

Licensed practical nurses provide care to patients in different places and

in varied profiles. In earlier times, the scope of work of a licensed

practical nurse was limited to hospitals or nursing homes. But now their

services extend even to the homes and offices of patients. Most of the

licensed practical nurses work under a physician or a registered nurse’s

supervision. The tasks of a licensed practical nurse include cleaning the

patient and equipments, feeding them, administering medicines, helping

them walk, measuring blood pressure, pulse and temperature.

In order to become a licensed practical nurse, one needs to enroll for a

licensed practical nurse training program approved by the state. The

requisite for this licensed practical nurse training program is a diploma.

After the training the graduates must clear the National Council

Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses to start their career.

Becoming a licensed practical nurse offers benefit to individuals who

want to change their career or who have found a passion to serving

people. Even older individuals can turn to this career. This direction is

easy to take-up, as many vocational institutes provide evening classes

for licensed practical nurse program. It is also easy to find job as a

licensed practical nurse, due to their high demand. This career provides

scope for growth as a registered nurse after completion of the program.

A licensed practical nurse can work in many places like hospitals, home-

health centers and clinics. This job inculcates a sense of satisfaction in

the nurse that they are a helping and caring hand in the society. They

are regarded as important part of the community. A licensed practical

nurse generates a decent salary in the range of $ 30,000 to $ 50,000.

With higher experience, geographical factor and the establishment size

higher salaries are also offered to licensed practical nurses.