Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) has extensive practical patient care training. LPN’s are also licensed by the State of Florida to provide a high level of care. The LPN can manage the medical plan created by the RN and can also provide the services of a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) or companion.
What is a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)?
A Licensed Practical Nurse is a member of the medical profession. Their duties are to take care of patients while under the management of registered nurses or doctors.
The LPN does what is considered to be essential patient care. This means they help patients to eat and dress. It also means patients are helped to walk, take a bath, and to comb their hair. LPN,s may also give them their meds, take their temperature or other vital signs, and do other similar duties.
They can not do things like assist in surgery or help with anesthesia. They are however, vital in doing many of the common medical and personal things patients require. While also assisting doctors and nurses with other functions. LPNs can work in places like hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities or private homes.
What Do LPNs Do?
LPNs take care of a variety of duties depending on their work setting and location, and on your agreement with the LPN. Typically, they are qualified to do the following:
- Keep detailed, accurate records on patients’ health
- Monitor the health of patients by taking their blood pressure, and checking other vital signs
- Report the status of patients to doctors and registered nurses
- Help patients with basic care and personal hygiene activities, like dressing or bathing
- Administer basic nursing care, such as inserting catheters, changing bandages or administering intravenous medications
- Discuss health care with patients, explain procedures and listen to their concerns
- Teaching families and caregivers how to care for injured or sick relatives
Where do LPNs work?
LPNs work in a variety of settings. In 2010, 29 percent of LPNS worked in nursing care facilities. 15 percent worked in hospitals offering general medical and surgical care. While 12 percent worked in physicians’ offices. The remaining LPNs worked in community care facilities for elderly patients or provided home health care services.
How do LPNs become licensed?
All LPNs must complete an accredited program, commonly taught in community colleges and technical schools. Some high schools and hospitals also offer nursing programs. During school, future LPNs learn about subjects like pharmacology, nursing and biology and complete supervised clinical training.
What qualities do successful LPNs have?
- Compassion – LPNs must be caring and empathetic toward their patients.
- Stamina – Many LPNs work long hours and perform physical tasks.
- Detail Oriented – To ensure that patients receive the right care when they need it, LPNs must have a keen attention to detail.
- Speaking Skills – Communication is an important skill for LPNs. They must communicate well with both patients and others in the medical field.
- Interpersonal Skills – Interacting with healthcare specialists and patients is a large part of an LPN’s job.
- Patients – LPNs with this characteristic are more successful because they can cope with sick and injured people better.
In short, LPNs are a vital component of the healthcare system. They provide basic care and assistance to injured, sick and disabled patients in a variety of settings. But also offering support for other medical professionals and caregivers.
