Recruitment into Nursing Resource Manual
LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE
There are three starting points into a nursing career. The
Licensed Practical Nurse, the Registered Nurse with an Associates
Degree and a Registered Nurse with a Bachelor of Science in
Nursing Degree. Each offers different career opportunities,
so you should consider carefully which will be the best for
you. As in most professions, the greater your investment of
time and education, the greater your rewards will be.
Practical nursing programs (one year) lead to a certificate
in practical nursing (LPN). These schools provide graduates
with the knowledge and skill to carry out nursing care for groups
of patients under the direction of a registered nurse or physician.
They are prepared to work in a variety of settings including
hospitals and long-term care facilities.
Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) perform a variety of patient
care activities under the supervision of a registered nurse
or a physician. LPNs deliver nursing care to all types of patients
including those in acute, long-term and ambulatory care facilities.
The role of the practical nurse includes using high tech equipment,
with an emphasis on patient care.
Personal Qualifications:
An LPN must possess a sincere desire to help others. Good reading
and math skills, good judgment, adaptability and good interpersonal
skills are important characteristics.
Opportunities:
Employment opportunities for LPNs should remain favorable into
the 21st century, as the elderly population increases and new
programs are developed to meet their health care needs. While
employment in the acute care hospital setting has continues
as an option for LPNs, there are numerous other options including
ambulatory care centers, physician offices, long-term care facilities
and home care.
Wages in the southeastern Michigan region in 1991 ranged from
approximately $20,000 to $27,000 per year for LPNs.
Education:
LPN educational programs are generally 12 to 18 months in duration
and are offered through community colleges and vocational technical
centers. Admission requirements generally include a high school
diploma or GED and written and verbal assessments conducted
by the program.
Some programs allow career laddering which allows students
the opportunity to apply some of their credits towards an associates
degree program, but gives the student the option of writing
the NCLEX-PN (practical nursing licensure exam) after successfully
completing the first year of study. This allows the student
to begin working as a licensed practical nurse while completing
their Associates degree to become a registered nurse.
Information on practical nurse programs and career ladder programs
in Michigan may be obtained via the website for the Michigan
League for Nursing at http://eonline.eonline.com/mln/
or by writing for information to:
Michigan League for Nursing
33150 Schoolcraft Road, Suite 104
Livonia, Michigan 48150-1646
(734) 427-1900
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