| If the largest job occupation in health care is the | | | | and vocational schools or community, junior and online |
| Registered Nurse (RN), a fast second has to be the | | | | colleges. Year-long practical nursing programs include |
| rank right under them, the Licensed Practical Nurse | | | | both classroom study and supervised clinical practice. |
| (LPN). Sometimes referred to as Licensed Vocational | | | | Classroom study covers basic nursing concepts and |
| Nurse (LVN), as of 2008 the Bureau of Labor | | | | subjects related to patient care. Clinical practice usually |
| Statistics states there are over 750,000 LPNs in the | | | | is in a hospital but sometimes includes other settings. |
| U.S. It projects the need will top 900,000 by 2018. | | | | The National Council Licensure Examination, or |
| In many ways, if the RN is the field officer at a medical | | | | NCLEX-PN, is required in order to obtain a licensure as |
| facility, the LPN is the primary soldier. LPNs care for | | | | an LPN. The exam is developed and administered by |
| patients in many ways. They provide basic bedside | | | | the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. |
| care, measure and record patients' vital signs, prepare | | | | The BLS estimated the annual wages of licensed |
| and give injections and other therapeutic activities. To | | | | practical averaged $39,030 in May 2008. The middle |
| help keep patients comfortable, they assist with | | | | 50 percent earned between $33,360 and $46,710. The |
| bathing and personal hygiene, moving in bed, standing, | | | | lowest 10 percent earned less than $28,260, and the |
| and walking. | | | | highest 10 percent earned more than $53,580. Other |
| They might also feed patients who need help eating. | | | | perks of the job include flexible work schedules, |
| Experienced LPNs may supervise nursing assistants | | | | excellent health benefits and the ability to further one's |
| and aides. In some sates, LPNs are permitted to | | | | education and advance to RN and beyond, with the |
| administer prescribed medicines, start intravenous fluids, | | | | employer often paying tuition and fees. |
| and provide care to ventilator-dependent patients. | | | | Demand for LPNs will be driven by the increased |
| This doesn't mean an LPN doesn't have to go through | | | | growth of the older population. With better medical |
| his or her own rigorous form of training. LPNs must | | | | technology, people are living longer, increasing the |
| complete a State-approved training program in | | | | demand for long-term health care. Job growth will |
| practical nursing to be eligible for licensure. Contact | | | | occur over all health care settings but especially those |
| your State's board of nursing for a list of approved | | | | that service the geriatric population like nursing care |
| programs. | | | | facilities, community care facilities, and home health |
| Most training programs are available from technical | | | | care services. |