Is LPN a Nurse?: Education, License, Career, and Future Outlook
Nurses play a vital role in healthcare and are respected by everyone. There are numerous ways to become a nurse, and we’re presenting you with the fastest one: the Licensed Practical Nurse.
But what is it, how do you become one, and what kind of career can you have? Let’s read and find out.
What Does LPN Stand For?
The noble nursing profession has many titles and acronyms, and you’ve surely heard of LPN. But what does it stand for? LPN, or Licensed Practical Nurse, is a nurse who provides primary nursing care and works under the supervision of more advanced nurses, like RNs.
It’s similar to LVN (Licensed Vocational Nurse) as they have similarities in their work settings. The only difference is that California and Texas refer to this position as LVN, in contrast to the rest of the country who calls it an LPN.
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What Is a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)?
A Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) is a nurse in charge of primary patient care like checking blood pressure, helping patients get dressed, and more. Usually, LPNs work under the supervision of registered nurses (RNs) in various settings such as doctors’ facilities, hospitals, or long-term care facilities.
Because LPNs are in charge of basic patient care—care that is needed at all times in healthcare facilities—they may work long hours and be at work night shifts or holidays.
What does an LPN do?
Licensed Practical Nurses are qualified to deal with numerous necessary tasks that help keep patients comfortable at hospitals or other medical settings. LPNs duties and responsibilities consist of, but aren’t limited to:
Recording patients’ vitals (pulse, temperature, and blood pressure).
Reporting patients’ status to doctors and adding it to charts.
Giving medications.
Giving patients food
Following healthcare plans that RN or doctors develop.
Cleaning, sterilizing and ordering medical equipment.
Collecting blood samples for laboratory tests.
What Education Do I Need to Become an LPN?
To become an LPN, you have to follow a one or two-year training program, which includes a combination of courses on supervised clinical experience, biology, and pharmacology. These programs are usually available in community colleges; however, you can also find them in hospitals and high schools in some areas.
LPN Course curriculum
During the completion of their LPN program, students pursue classroom study courses and supervise clinical practice. The curriculum of an LPN course typically includes:
Fundamentals of nursing
Introduction to Pharmacology
Pediatric Nursing
Medical/Surgical patient needs
Anatomy and Physiology,
Patient Safety,
Medication Administration,
Basic Patient Needs,
and more.
These programs may also teach future nurses how to deal with delicate situations. Most patients and their family members experience grief and loss at some point, and students are taught how to behave in such circumstances. Moreover, LPN nursing programs offer labs and real-world nursing, where students test their classroom knowledge in real-life situations.
LPN Education duration
Two things that you should have to become an LPN are the right educational background and a license. This path usually lasts one to two years but can last up to two years if you take the part-time program. You can follow three paths depending on your needs, and sometimes, the place you live.
The first path is the standard one, and it simply requires certification by completing a practical nursing program and getting the license by passing the NCLEX-PN.
The second method you can follow is the accelerated path. True to its name, this path allows you to complete all the required courses in seven months instead of a year.
Last but not least, you can follow the no-certification path. Some states allow students who aren’t NCLEX-PN certified to work as LPNs as long as they’ve completed the equivalent coursework to a practical nursing program.
LPN Admission requirements
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the main requirement to be admitted in an LPN program is a high school diploma or General Educational Development Test (GED); however, different schools may ask for additional education requirements. Some programs may also require a minimum high school GPA or minimum GED scores.
LPN admission requirements don’t usually include college-level courses since they only have basic science classes in the curriculum. However, some programs are more strict and may require you to take advanced science classes if you want to be accepted into their program.
LPN License
The LPN licensing process is straightforward and requires that you complete an LPN program and apply for licensure. In most states, nurses are licensed by the Board of Nursing (BON).
The first step is to enroll and complete an LPN program. After successfully completing it, you’ll need to get permission from your state’s licensing board. This means that you’ll have to turn in a licensing application together with documentation that proves you’ve met the necessary academic requirements. Finally, you can take the NCLEX-PN exam and start working once you pass it.
Usually, it’s necessary to complete all these steps before getting a work permit; however, some states allow their nurses to start working while they’re waiting to take the licensing exam.
LPN Career Outlook
LPNs provide primary care in numerous healthcare settings, including long-term care facilities and hospitals; however, their responsibilities aren’t limited to direct patient involvement. They may also work in laboratories and maintain equipment so that they’re clean and ready for use.
The role of LPNs is in high demand, as the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicted a 9% job growth rate for LPNs in the 2019-2029 period. Moreover, money doesn’t seem to be bad since across the country, the average annual salary for LPNs in 2020 was $50,090.
Alaska is the highest paying state for LPNs with an average yearly salary of $67,620, followed by California with $64,000.
Skills
Besides their professional skills, which is a must, LPNs are also expected to have good interpersonal skills, precisely communication skills, since the information they provide to patients, their family members, and doctors is vital. Moreover, LPNs should have decent skills in time management, critical thinking, and decision-making.
Other essential skills that LPNs must have to reach high performance in their workplace are technological skills, ethics, knowledge of medical terminology, and the ability to work under pressure.
Work environment
Working as an LPN is not as easy as it may sound; however, it’s noble and will give you an incredible feeling of accomplishment. LPNs are highly valuable as they are often exposed to different diseases or infections while interacting with their patients. Moreover, they are often exposed to contaminants and loud sounds that may come from medical or cleaning equipment.
Furthermore, since they work close to others and are in close contact with the patients, LPNs may often be required to wear safety attire like gloves or masks.
In addition, LPNs may sometimes be needed to work night shifts, weekends, and holidays.
Salary
The average annual salary for an LPN may vary depending on the state and the industry they’re working in. According to BLS, in 2020, the mean yearly wage for LPNs was $50,090.
The industries with the highest number of employed LPNs are Nursing Care Facilities, Physicians Offices, and Home Health Care Services; however, none of these industries is the highest paying industry for LPNs.
In fact, Junior Colleges are the highest-paying industry for LPNs, offering an annual mean wage of $60,570.
How to Advance Beyond an LPN
LPN is a respectable job position in the nursing field, and considering that it only requires a one-year certificate, you’ll see yourself in the job market pretty fast. However, you can consistently achieve more in career tracks like Registered Nurse, Nurse Midwife, Recreational Therapist, or Diagnostic Medical Sonographer.
You’ll need a Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s Degree for these careers; however, many universities offer fast-track programs for LPNs who currently work and want to earn a more advanced degree.
Bottom Line: Should I Become an LPN?
While there isn’t a yes or no answer to this question, you can weigh the pros and cons to help with your decision. LPNs are respected and valuable in the nursing field, and all the numbers indicate that the need for LPNs keeps getting bigger.
Moreover, it doesn’t take more than two years to get your LPN license, which is great since not many professions make it possible for you to get into the job market this fast. Furthermore, the best thing about it is that you won’t have to stay an LPN forever since you have endless opportunities to advance your career.
In a nutshell, if you’ve already decided to work in the nursing profession and want to get in the job market as fast as possible, you should highly consider starting your career as an LPN.