Licensed practical nurses perform basic nursing duties in hospitals, private homes, physician's offices, extended care facilities and nursing homes. During a regular workday, licensed practical nurses might insert catheters, change bandages, complete patient health records, and dress or bathe patients.
Skillset: Licensed practical nurses must be highly compassionate, have problem solving skills, and be able to take direction from doctors and registered nurses within their organization. Strong analytical skills ensure that licensed practical nurses efficiently notice declining patient health status changes, and report those changes to doctors or registered nurses for immediate emergency care, if necessary.
Education: Licensed practical nurses must successfully complete an accredited educational program. They must also pass National Council Licensure Examination, or NCLEX-PN, to be able to legally work as an LPN in any state in the U.S.
Career Path: Licensed practical nurses must have a strong ability to effectively deal with the stress that accompanies working with extremely injured or sick people. They must also be able to lift patients out of bed, and stand on their feet for eight or more hours a day. Pursue an LPN certificate only when the mental and physical challenges of the job have been taken into consideration.
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