licensed practical nurses | Distance Learning Systems (DLSI)

Difference between LVN and LPN

There are different health care workers in a certain hospital or clinical site. They have different jobs and responsibilities to help patients recover. This includes Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) and Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVN). Many are confused with the two. Some think that they are just the same. However, they might be correct. They may just differ with their names, but not on their functions. Here we will be discussing further the two courses.

LPNs are nurses who have passed the academic requirements to acquire their license with the next phase within their profession as being a Registered Nurse (RN). LPNs are usually found working under a doctor or RN’s supervision in hospitals or treatment centers. They can also provide home healthcare and practice in nursing care facilities. LVNs are also nurses who passed the state’s educational requirements and the exam to get a license as a registered nurse. LVNs perform their nursing responsibilities in a variety of hospitals, nursing facilities, physician’s clinics, and surgical centers.

Nursing programs today that provide LPN/LVN training possess a moderately intensive listing of subjects which are needed for certification, for example communications, critical thinking, dosage information, drug reference and interactions, ethics, along with other areas. In Texas, the academic needs for that title of LVN require students to accomplish 20 contact hrs every 2 yrs, along with a specific (once-off) two hrs of contact in Ongoing Education for LVNs who are employed in Emergency Rooms and Forensic Evidence Collection. California requires 30 contact hours of Ongoing Education, every 2 years, for license renewal.

The rest of the 48 states have different requirements in terms of continuing education and also the title given by these states is LPN. Some states, for example New York, require LPNs to complete three contact hours for infection control every 4 years. Yet others, for example Florida, require additional study in Prevention of Medical Errors, HIV/AIDS and Domestic Violence, to acquire the LPN title. Essentially, the academic requirements of both LPN and LVN are extremely similar, as well as their responsibilities are consistent.

Actually, the only variation between the two is the state where the course is being offered. In Texas and California, the academic needs are identical, however the title is LVN whereas, other states with similar educational requirements, give the title of LPN. Both jobs require no less than a high school graduation certificate, or GED, just before entering nursing school.

LPN Career

A Licensed Practical Nurse, or LPN, manages patients under the supervision of a doctor or a medical doctor. A Licensed Practical Nurse often provides basic care such as cut or lesions dressing, medication management and monitoring vital signs. LPNs must also complete the paperwork that is kept in the individual’s file. Besides working with nurses and physicians, a licensed practical nurse also works with certified nursing aides and home health aides.

Licensed Practical Nurse works in medical centers, doctors’ offices, schools and health centers. They are taught to get blood and urine samples, and to get patients ready for surgery. A Licensed Practical Nurse often works managerial duties as well. Some licensed practical nurses manage doctors’ offices, while others work in assisted living facilities under the direction of a doctor. A Licensed Practical Nurse receives training at vocational schools or medical centers. The programs vary in length. Their training requires them to learn about individual care, health regulations and sometimes business. Upon graduating from a certified nursing course, they must still obtain state certification before they are allowed to work in the field. Some LPNs go back to school to obtain a degree in medicine, which would qualify them to work as a doctor.

LPNs work indoor in clean and sometimes sterilized environments. Their job requires mental and physical activities. Licensed Practical Nurses sometimes help in moving and transporting patients, which requires actual strength. They also must understand about medications, plans of care and diseases. Licensed Practical Nurses can work full-time or part-time. They often do shift work, such as in medical centers and assisted living facilities. Licensed Practical Nurses sometimes rotate the shifts that they work, which mean that they might work on some weekends and holidays.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) tasks includes taking temperatures, cleansing abrasions, documenting vital signs, gather blood and urine samples and set up patients for examinations, etc. This may also include some clerical work and may work under the direction of a doctor. They may also provide basic medical care helping physicians and nurses to focus on more specialized areas in patient care.

LPN Training

The LPN or the Licensed Practical Nurse works under the supervision of a physician and/or a registered nurse. They take care of the sick, injured, recovering and disabled in a variety of health care settings. The LPN’s job includes measuring and recording of the patient’s weight, blood pressure, height, pulse, rate of respiration, and temperature as they enter the hospital. These data is needed by the physician to have an accurate diagnosis of the patient’s diseases or illness and to know the right medication for them.

There are states that allow LPNs to prescribe medication, operate devices and conduct basic laboratory tests. The direct care provided by LPNs is supervised by doctors, registered nurses and advanced practice nurses. The student can either take the LPN preparation program in a hospital, community college or vocational-technical school. When the students fully satisfy the required training, they are then eligible to take the license examination as an LPN. They are immediately allowed to apply and work in a hospital.

It’s quite easy to get the LPN certification, but it requires much effort when it comes to the work requirement. Most of them are required to work a 40-hour week, but in graveyard shifts or sometimes in weekends and holidays. They sometimes need to work standing and moving, to assist fully the patients who need care and monitoring. This job requires physical fitness for the LPN in order to fulfill the job requirements.

The LPNs can either continue with their studies or remain in the same position. The work requires patience to deal with a stressful workplace just like any other healthcare job. If you want to be an LPN, make sure you have the passion for patient care for you to last long with the job.

LPN Career Basics

Due to an aging population in need of assisted living care, wellness care is a booming field looking for many new workers. If you are considering starting your profession in wellness care or making a career move, becoming a licensed practical nurse or LPN, might be a wise decision. However, if you do not have the time or resources to attend school in-person to study for a new credential, an LPN online class might be a great choice for you.

Licensed practical nurses are healthcare staffs who work under the direction of doctors and RNs. LPNs provide many kinds of primary bedside care. Their responsibilities often include dressing wounds, measuring and rewarding vital signs and assisting with bathing and feeding. LPNs also assist RNs and doctors in administering a variety of tests. LPNs work in many areas of health care, including home health care, assisted living facilities and long term care facilities, and in physician’s offices. Highly experienced LPNs sometimes have supervisory responsibilities where they are in charge of healthcare aids and assistants, as well as more inexperienced LPNs. In some jurisdictions, LPNs are also able to administer medications, take care of sufferers dependent on ventilators, as well as start intravenous fluid therapy.

In the U. S., licensed practical nurses generally need one year of training at a college or technical/vocational school. LPN training programs can be completed in person at a university or technical school, or through an LPN online class offered by one of these kinds of institutions. These programs generally need a secondary school degree for admission and generally combine classroom research on primary healthcare topics as well as supervised clinical practice. After completing this course, newly-graduated LPNs must pass a nationwide licensing exam (NCLEX-PN) to become a fully-licensed LPN.

The major difference between licensed practical nurses and RNs in the U. S. is the number of years of education each one undertakes. Licensed practical nurses generally complete a one-year program, whereas RNs generally have either a two-year college degree (RN) or a four-year undergraduate degree (BSN). As well, depending on the jurisdiction, LPNs and RNs have differing scopes of practice; RNs are generally able to work more responsibilities and work with less stable sufferers.

LPN to RN Bridge Programs

An LPN to RN bridge program is really a degree program that can help students move from being Licensed Practical Nurses to acquiring their Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Once this requirement is met, enrolling to have an LPN to RN bridge program allows students to pursue their BSN within four years, sometimes less. Obtaining a BSN will enable individuals to become an authorized Nurse (RN). Since getting a bachelor’s degree in nursing isn’t a specific requirement of becoming an RN, the advanced education will open new job possibilities. Furthermore, it can lead to significant salary increases.

Like an LPN, you are able to strengthen your abilities and get ready for a wider area of career possibilities by continuing your education and attaining a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN). The LPN to RN bridge program follows exactly the same academic plan and needs like a traditional BSN program. A LPN to RN bridge program enables you to definitely receive full credit for those courses taken in the LPN program. Many schools require students to obtain their LPN before being accepted in to the program.

To be able to sign up for LPN to RN bridge program, you have to be a licensed LPN or LVN. Students must have a high school diploma or GED and become presently employed as an LPN. Some programs require an associate’s degree in nursing. Admission needs may also incorporate a nursing entrance exam, CPR certification or perhaps a criminal record check. Programs could be carried out in 4 years. An earlier associate’s degree lessens the time required to accomplish a BSN program. Most courses can be found online, even though clinical component is generally on-site. Many nurses begin their careers as Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) or Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) but to succeed, they require more education.