Career Decisions: Licensed Practical Nurses
By: Mohit Chawla
Tags: Money, Dreams, Life, Self, Love

Photo by Evangeline Shaw on Unsplash

Title:

Career Decisions: Licensed Practical Nurses

Summary:

Licensed Practical Nurses provide the most amount of direct patient care within the nursing category of healthcare. If you’re interested in a healthcare career dealing directly with patients, becoming an LPN is a rewarding opportunity.

Article Body:

Licensed Practical Nurses provide the most amount of direct patient care within the nursing category of healthcare. If you’re interested in a healthcare career dealing directly with patients, becoming an LPN is a rewarding opportunity.

Licensed Practical Nurses are mainly responsible for direct patient care. Nurses’ aides and others assist LPNs in some of the duties they perform. LPNs take their direction from doctors and registered nurses (RNs) and nurse managers. Typically, an LPN is responsible for taking vitals signs, administering injections, application of bandages and dressings, and the monitoring of patients. Work duties can also include feeding patients, collecting samples and providing patient hygiene. LPNs work in a variety of settings like hospitals, outpatient facilities, long-term care facilities, clinics and home care. LPNs with many years of experience may supervise nursing aides and assistants.

Nursing jobs are generally in high demand across the country, but LPN positions in hospitals are declining. LPN positions in long term care facilities however, are in as much demand as other nursing categories. Home healthcare is also another area were LPN’s are in great demand. According to the U.S. Department of Labor ( http://www.bls.gov/ ) the median income for LPNs as $31,440 in 2002. The range was $22,860 to $44,040 based on geographic setting and job knowledge. Contract LPNs made the most money, while doctor’s office nurses made the least on average at $28,710. Nursing jobs offer not only good pay, but also flexible schedules. Nurses often work only three 12-hour shifts, which allow them four days off. Nursing candidates are also offered tuition reimbursement and signing bonuses.

How to become a nurse? You will need education and a nursing license. Graduates must complete a state approved practical nursing program and pass a licensing examination. An LPN certificate can be accomplished in less than a year. Some RN students become LPNs after finishing their first year of study. Course work in the LPN program includes physiology, chemistry, obstetrics, pediatrics nutrition, biology, anatomy, first aid and nursing classes. Becoming an LPN is the fastest path to a nursing career. If you have the qualities required to be a nurse and want a well paying job, getting an LPN degree in nursing is a great way to secure your professional future.

Title:

Career Development Takes Work

Summary:

Do you currently have the career of your dreams? If so, congratulations on all your hard work, because I’m quite sure that your success and accomplishment didn’t happen over night. If you do not have the career you have always dreamed of, do not worry, you can get there. Career development isn’t easy, but it is definitely worth it.

Career development can mean a lot of things. Here, for my purposes, I simply mean doing the things you have to do to get the career you really …

Article Body:

Do you currently have the career of your dreams? If so, congratulations on all your hard work, because I’m quite sure that your success and accomplishment didn’t happen over night. If you do not have the career you have always dreamed of, do not worry, you can get there. Career development isn’t easy, but it is definitely worth it.

Career development can mean a lot of things. Here, for my purposes, I simply mean doing the things you have to do to get the career you really want. The first step in the process of career development is to figure out — really figure out — the career you want to have. This may be harder than it seems. You really need to know yourself, know what you’re good at, and know what excites you. Not many people last long in a career that they hate. Career development begins with taking a close look at yourself. See a career counselor for even more help or to take tests that will help you to determine your personality and jobs that will fit it well.

Once you have determined a career or two that seems like it will fit you and your dreams, continue with your career development by discovering what needs to happen for you to be qualified for the career you want. Career development does not happen in an instant or even in a year, it may take years of hard work to get to where you want to be. It is important to be realistic about your goals and about the process. Does more education need to take place for your career development? Or perhaps you just need some special training courses in your field but you do not need another degree? Find these things out and then begin pursuing it.

Career development is important because I am convinced that it is important that people spend their lives on things they care about and feel like they can do well at. There is nothing worse than spending years of your life in an unsatisfying career. Fortunately, you do not have to let that be the story of your life. Take proactive steps that put you in control of your career development.

I guess what I’m simply trying to say is this: life is hard. Work is hard. Work is much easier and life is much better when it is doing a career that you love. Believe that it is possible for you to have a career that you love and then commit to whatever career development is necessary for you. It will be worth it for years to come.