Tag: LPN

Everything you need to know about Credit by examination

Credit by Examination grants students to have credits towards earning an associate, bachelor’s degree in college. Students take specific type of examinations that are needed in their chosen field of study. These type examinations test a student’s knowledge about the particular subject of choice. Testing sites all around America sponsor Advanced Placement (AP) exams and the College Level Examination Program or CLEP that are conducted several times within the year.

A lot of college schools accepts the credits earned by the Credit by Examination program as transfer credits. Many adult students opt to take Advanced Placement Courses such as a credit by exam to save time in earning a four-year degree. A lot students earn a maximum of 40 credits included in a degree program through this type of testing.

Who is qualified to take these type of examination?

Adult student employees often take this type of exam. High school students can also take this test and earn college credit to prepare them from general education requirements that can be transferred to many colleges and universities around the country. Individuals who are not currently enrolled in any school has also the chance to take this kind of exam. This is a great opportunity for people to make up the credits lost while he or she was not enrolled.

How can person benefit from a credit by exam?

One noticeable advantage of these Advanced Placement Courses is it allows students to saves thousands of dollars from earning a college degree. It also save a student time to finish a degree program. These type examinations also aid adult post graduate students who have already earned a degree with their career growth. They can get continuous educational credits for a graduate degree that are often times basic requirement in position appraisal and employment promotions.

Hospice care Updates: News, Trends and latest facts

Hospice Care has been a very popular option for families with members who are at the end of their life. In the U.S. and U.K., the hospice care industry has been growing progressively in the last ten years. This provided employment opportunity to healthcare professionals and chance to get a less expensive professional patient care to very sick dying people.

Here is a quick update about the latest news, developments and new facts from this field in healthcare.

UK recent study about Hospice care

A recently conducted study by the National Institute for Health Research showed that the fatality rates in hospice care incurred a steady increase from 17,400 in 1993 to 26,000 in 2012.  The Study also showed that 3.4% of all death in England came from hospice death. In relation, the figure doubled in 2012 showing 6% from hospice death. This was the first study to use the whole population of 223 adult inpatient hospice facilities in England. The study showed and figuratively defined hospice deaths changed from the year 1993 to 2012. The study also showed that majority of hospice death were cancer related cases. The study also found that a lot of people who died under hospice care are from prosperous areas than poverty-stricken areas in the UK.

Advance Hospice improves patient care but increases Medicare costs based on study

A new study in the New England journal of medicine investigates the impact of Medicare’s increase in hospice benefits in hospice facilities from 2004 to 2009. The research conducted concluded an improvement in the quality of hospice care administered and found an increased to Medicare costs of $6,761 in every patient. The research also validated that Hospice cases increased from 27.6 percent patients in 2004 to 39.8 percent in 2009. The study also showed a significant increase in the average length of time in a hospice or senior care from 72.1 days in 2004 to 92.6 days in 2009.

How to prepare yourself for a Nursing career

Choosing a career requires careful thinking and right decision making. You want to have a career that will enhance your ability, skills and knowledge. A good career path should be interesting, enjoyable, and inspiring. You want to be in a career that makes you happy and enables to you have worthwhile experiences while working.

Among the many available careers, you have chosen to be in the field of healthcare as a nurse. This type of career is lucrative and highly respected. Proper knowledge and high quality of skills are required from healthcare professionals. On top of that, a nursing graduate should undergo the mandatory board exam that regulate and maintain the standards for this particular profession.

Although pursuing this type of career can sometimes be strenuous, it’s better to be ready and prepare for the long career journey ahead.

Choose which type of nursing career you want

Basically there are two nursing career you can take. One as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and the other as a Registered Nurse (RN).  There is actually a noticeable difference between the two closely related careers. RN’s have more subjects and spend more time in school earning their professional nursing degree.  While LPN’s earn a degree in practical nursing. RN’s have better opportunity in terms of high compensation and career growth.

Learn, Study and pass your course

The best preparation for a nursing career is by making a good reputation in your academic performance.  These lessons you got while earning your degree in nursing are vital in your chosen career. It’s preferable to have basic to advance knowledge on the fundamentals of nursing which are very useful in your line of work.

Make sure you pass the licensure exam

Implement strategies that will increase your chances of passing the nursing board exam in your location. You can enroll in tutorial classes or spend a time doing self-review before you take the exam. Through the help of dedication and the right preparation a career in nursing will be within your reach.

Top Two Jobs Nursing Graduates Can Get

Graduation means the end of painstaking formal education and the start of your professional career. Among the many courses offered in the school you choose is a degree in nursing. Now, you’ve probably been wondering what kind of jobs you will get with the Nursing education you got in college.

As a nursing graduate you would want to have a job that is closely related to healthcare. This industry has always been stable and continuously progressing. The demand for healthcare related jobs is also rising.  A career in the field of healthcare requires proper education and professional skills which a lot people don’t have. Fortunately, you got the right education and training that can qualify in this type of industry.

The healthcare industry has a wide scoop of careers that nursing graduates like yourselves can have. If you decided to practice your profession in the field of healthcare here are some of the top jobs you can have:

  1. Hospital Nurses- One of the primary workforce in hospitals are the nurses. They are the ones who assists doctors and physician in doing medical treatments to patients. Nurses are also in-charge of the patient’s recuperation when the doctors is not around. Almost every Hospitals in the world are in need of qualified nursing professionals who can provide medical skills to their institution. A hospital is the best place to build a career if you want to have a top-notch job with your nursing degree.
  2. Part of an Emergency Medical Team (EMT) – Members of an EMT are required to have healthcare related education and training. As a nursing graduate you are qualified to be a Paramedic. If you are an outgoing type of person, this type of career would be very much favorable and enjoyable to your part.

LPN to RN Bridge Course

License Practical Nurses experience certain challenges in their career. As much as they would want to do more for a patient, their skills are limited. LPN’s are trained and educated to be bedside nurses in the hospitals. They assist the registered nurses and physicians on taking care of the patient. LPNs are mostly limited to  basic patient care, administering medications, wound care and some basic nursing assessment with the intervention of RNs and physicians.

Today, the work of an LPN involves more than bedside care and paper work. While the role of LPNs gives them limitation in performing patient care, there are opportunities for LPN to advance in their field.

LPN RN bridge is a course designed to assist Licensed Practical Nurses in the transition of their role into Registered Nurses. LPNs who get into this course will get the opportunity to further their skills and knowledge. This serves as a stepladder for them to be trained and learn more. They can advance in their field with more understanding of the human body. LPN RN bridge programs vary from one school to another. They will be trained to conduct patient assessment and  care planning. as well as advance pharmacology, pathology and physiology.

LPN to RN bridge programs are structured on LPNs’ knowledge which they have gained from their experience. They will be offered credit for LPN education or working experience. LPNs take test on certain subjects. If they obtained a high score in that particular subject, they will be given credit even without them taking the class. As stated earlier, LPN to RN bridge courses vary from one school to another. There are also  online schools that offer LPN to RN programs. This provides a flexible option for LPNs. Be  sure to look at the educational requirements or if there are any prerequisites for the program.

Major Responsibilities of LPNs

Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) monitor the patient, seriously injured, convalescent and handicapped in many different health care settings like hospitals. In some states they are known as Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs).

LPNs/LVNs provide hands-on care to patients under the direction of RNs or medical doctors. LPN prep programs include a year of education at a healthcare facility, vocational-tech school or community college. Once they meet the education, students are then qualified for licensure as an LPN or LVN. Once certified, they are allowed to work at a hospital.

LPNs’ duties are restricted and they also have to work under the direction and supervision of a registered nurse or doctor. Most LPNs deliver standard bedside care. They get vital signs like temperature, blood pressure level, heartbeat and respiration. They also prepare and provide injections, apply dressings, provide alcohol rubs and massage therapy, use ice packs and keep track of catheters.

LPNs monitor patients and document complications or adverse reactions to medicines or treatments. They gather samples for assessment. They also execute routine laboratory tests; give food to patients and fluid intake. They assist patients with bathing, dressing and individual hygiene, they help keep them secure and care for their psychological needs. In states in which the law permits, they may provide prescribed medicines or commence intravenous fluids.

The majority of LPNs in hospitals and nursing homes work for 40-hour week, but due to the fact patients need around-the-clock care, some work nights, holidays and weekends. They frequently stand for very long periods and assist patients to move in bed, stand or stroll. Their job is physically and mentally demanding but may open doors for career development and satisfaction.

LPN Challenges

Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) are a few of the most crucial individuals in the nursing care field. They assist the RNs with their tasks and make their job a lot easier and improve the quality of services. However, LPNs do face certain challenges once they make an effort to execute their jobs. A few of these challenges are the effects of the legalities of nursing. LPNs are restricted with what they are should do, which sometimes make challenges for an LPN who needs to rely on the RN for a lot of things.

One of the difficulties for LPNs, particularly in this tight job economy, is locating a spot to work. Many hospitals restrict their employment to registered nurses alone, which is frustrating for LPNs who wish to operate in acute care settings. Some hospitals do hire LPNs, usually in roles which have less authority and therefore task-oriented.

LPNs will find jobs in nursing homes, however they don’t have the authority, and they will still work under the supervision of a registered nurse. Again, the LPN might be reduced to roles like medication nurse or treatment nurse rather than getting full care of the patients. Some centers, like dialysis facilities only hire RNs to operate the dialysis machine and care for patients. For many LPNs, this lack of diversity in job possibilities could be a challenge.

LPNs are frequently restricted with what they are able to do because, legally, they are bound with the task of delegation. An LPN cannot assess, identify or evaluate care since this is the job of the RN. Sometimes, this is often frustrating to have an LPN who may have heard what must be done and can’t really get it done. An LPN may even disagree with their supervisory RN, and can be powerless to alter the duties they’re assigned to accomplish.

This concern is surmountable, though you can’t alter the laws and regulations regarding patient care, however, you can cultivate a good working relationship with the RN, to supply the very best care for that patient. Simply because an LPN is assigned a particular task it doesn’t mean that she or he can’t do anything like when a patient is getting breathless. When the assigned RN does nothing or ignores the problem, the LPN can assist the patient. Despite the fact that LPNs are technically beneath the RN within the chain of command, they are able to still impact a patient’s care.

In certain situations, an LPN with two decades of experience will discover that the new grad nurse is their supervisor. This can be a challenging situation since the LPN likely knows a little more about patients, their diseases and just how to perform than an RN who has limited experience. Again, it’s a legal anomaly that needs the RN to delegate towards the LPN. If the RN doesn’t have a good deal of experience, an LPN must understand how to approach the problem.

Communication between your RN and LPN is essential towards the proper care of the individual. An LPN who assumes that the RN knows what they’re doing can harm the patient. An LPN must be a good communicator along with a nurse who understands how to manage people. Good communication will resolve this issue and will improve the quality of the health care.

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.

 

Distance Learning System for LPN

The Distance Learning System for LPN is a type of education, usually college-level, where students study at home or anywhere away from school. They communicate with faculty and other students through the use of computer-based communication platforms like email, video, conferencing, chat rooms, instant messaging etc. People at their late twenties through early forties are inclined to enroll in the field of nursing. This people already have careers and family obligations. So they are more attracted to enroll in DLS for they opt for its affordability and flexibility.

Usually, programs like this include a computer-based training (CBT) system and communications tool to create a virtual classroom. The system will make the students feel more like they are studying in the classroom. There are only a few programs that have success in offering the Distance Learning System for LPN.  LPNs usually take the program to become an RN. The program is designed to cater working LPN’s. It will save them time and money by becoming an RN online in about 12 months. They no longer need to be in a waiting list and classroom attendance is no longer needed. DLS will allow the working LPNs to become an RN at their own pace. They no longer need to leave or be absent from their regular jobs as well as sacrifice their time with their family. Healthcare employers, usually offer tuition assistance programs for heir employees. So, this is an opportunity for them which they could grab to advance their education and have a bigger salary.

When the LPNs become an RN, they will have more career options. It will also open up additional job opportunities, or give you the chance to upgrade your education. They can choose the option to go to an RN-BSN bridge program or a nurse practitioner. Picking DLS as your road to advancement in your nursing career might be an affordable and practical choice.