What to Consider Before Pursuing an LPN Career
As one of the oldest professions, nursing is one of the most important but unsung
jobs in today's medical institutions. Both registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) must have
patience, compassion, and personal strength – along with steady hands and the stamina to work long hours. If you
posess these traits, you should consider an LPN
career.
When thinking about pursing an LPN
career, it’s important to understand the personal characteristics and
qualities you'll need to have to succeed in this fast-paced, demanding, and rewarding field.
Nursing Qualifications
To ensure that patients receive the best care from every RN and LPN, aspiring
nurses must meet certain degree requirements to obtain a license
to work. These prerequisites usually include:
- A minimum age requirement (which may be lower for an LPN than for an
RN);
-
An education requirement, usually completion of high school and a
training program (one to two years for an LPN; four years for an RN) at a certified school of nursing;
-
In some cases, additional schooling and/or training programs pertaining
to health care issues in a particular state or region; and
-
A "moral" or personality requirement.
Personal Qualities Characteristics
Although the personality requirement is perhaps the most important qualification
for a nurse, it’s also the most difficult to define. Like any job, an LPN career has its rewards and its challenges,
and anyone interested in pursuing the profession should be prepared for both.
First and foremost, an LPN must be patient and caring. On a daily basis, nurses
are faced with caring for irritable patients, dying children, and hurried doctors, all of which can cause an
inordinate amount of stress and despair. Nurses must be strong enough to face difficult scenarios with compassion
and equanimity. Good nurses can make the difference between a good and bad hospital experience for patients and
their families.
Nursing requires not only a warm heart and pleasant demeanor, but a cool head.
LPNs are often required to help doctors and patients with paperwork, scheduling, and organization, in addition to
keeping track of each patient's needs, hygiene, feedings, and medications. Nurses must be able to measure vital
signs accurately and respond to doctors' requests quickly and competently, taking orders and working as part of an
efficient team.
Finally, it's important for nurses to take care of themselves in order to better
withstand the emotional and physical toll of patients who may be angry, ungrateful, or terminally ill. Death,
illness, and aging are faced everyday in the nursing profession. It's important that nurses get plenty of rest,
exercise, and mental diversion in order to perform at their best at work.
Do You Have What it Takes?
In addition to its emotional and mental demands, the nursing profession also
requires hard physical work. A typical week may include four or more twelve-hour shifts spend standing on your
feet, walking, and providing ongoing patient care. LPNs may be required to lift patients out of their beds, off the
toilet, or into proper positions for medical scans.
There is some accommodation for nurses who are disabled, but most fit, able-bodied
LPNs are put to the test every day. An LPN
career, in most cases,consists long hours and physically demanding
tasks. Nursing is not a career for everyone, but if you’re up to the challenge, it's also one that can provide
invaluable life experiences and a chance to improve the quality of patients’ lives.
Return to the home page for general information on the duties of an LPN.
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