Licensed Vocational Nurse Program

What is involved in a licensed vocational nurse program?

An LVN administers routine treatment and health care to patients who are sick or disabled. Most training programs take a year to complete and require students to pass a licensing examination on completion of an accredited study program. Essentally, an LVN is the same as an LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse), and so a Licensed Vocational Nurse program is the same as an LPN program.

Usually this training marks the beginning of a nurse’s quest to achieve RN (Registered Nurse) certification.  Therefore, this would be the first serious step to take towards a nursing career.   LVNs work under the supervision of an RN or a doctor and their main duty is to observe patients and monitor their response to treatments and medications. They are also responsible for taking vital signs like pulse, blood pressure, respiration, and temperature.

Other Licensed Vocational Nursing duties include dressing, bathing, and seeing to the personal hygiene of patients, and ensuring that they physically comfortable while taking care of their emotional needs as well. Filing records and collecting samples for laboratory testing also form part of an LVN’s day. Cleaning medical equipment and even helping with the delivery of babies are tasks often given to a Licensed Vocational Nurse who works in a hospital.

What are the career prospects for an LVN?

An LVN can work in a nursing home where patients require constant, long-term care. Patients at such a facility are usually elderly people or younger adults who have mental or physical disabilities.

Many doctors employ LVNs in their offices because an increasing number of medical procedures are now being done by doctors in their offices. In the past, these had to be performed in a hospital.  This change has come about due to technological advancements and the simplification of minor surgical procedures. The LVN helps the doctor in many ways and his or her duties range from administering tests, assisting during surgery, as well as admin duties like completing insurance forms and maintaining patient records. As such, there are good job prospects in this environment.

LVNs can work for a private health care provider such as a hospice. This is a non-profit making organization that assists terminally ill patients in the final days or months of their lives. The aim is to make the patient as comfortable and as pain-free as possible while giving emotional support to the family and friends. An LVN plays a big part in this process because he or she is often the direct link to the family and has to prepare them for the inevitability of their loved one’s death.

For the person who is passionate about caring for others, working with a Licensed Vocational Nurse program offers endless chances to care for people and gain personal satisfaction. The job market for nurses in the USA is full of opportunities because there is a dire shortage of people who are ready to dedicate themselves to those in need of care. As at May 2009, the average annual Licensed Vocational Nurse salary ranged from $33,920 to $47,220.