Are you interested in becoming a licensed practical nurse (LPN)? Would you like to know what you can do with a nursing certificate that leads to a full state license upon passing the NCLEX exam (National Council Licensure Examination)? Helping people and a passion for caring are hallmarks of nursing. You can become a licensed practical nurse to help others in their time of need.
What Does a Licensed Practical Nurse Do?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, licensed practical nurses (LPNs) provide basic medical care. They work under the direction of registered nurses and doctors. Licensed practical and vocational nurses typically
- Monitor patients’ health and administer treatment
- Administer basic patient care
- Provide for the basic comfort of patients
- Discuss the care they are providing with patients and listen to their concerns
- Report patient status and concerns to registered nurses and doctors
- Compile records on patients’ health
Jobs Available for Nursing Certificate Graduates
Triage Out-Patient Nurse – provides direct care to patients within a specific specialty, including pediatrics and geriatrics. The triage out-patient nurse observes patients, facilitates medical tests, and follows up with the doctor on results. The triage out-patient nurse may also assist in treatment of diseases, injuries, and disabilities.
Office Nurse – from a private doctor’s office, provides a wide range of primary and preventative health care services and assists the doctor in the treatment of common minor illnesses and injuries. The office nurse also educates patients and families about proper health care for preventative reasons and may refer them to community resources.
Charge Nurse – supervises and supports a nursing staff with limited patient duties. The charge nurse is responsible for maintaining a high level of patient care by evaluating and educating the nursing staff.
NCLEX-PN Exam
After graduating from a nursing certificate program, the nursing student will need to pass the NCLEX-PN exam (National Council Licensure Examination). The NCLEX-PN exam comes from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. The NCLEX-PN exam has a minimum of 85 questions and a maximum of 205 questions.
The purpose of the NCLEX-PN exam is to determine competency for a graduate to begin practice as an entry-level practical or vocational nurse. There are different sections of the exam that include safe and effective care environment, health promotion and maintenance, psychosocial integrity, and physiological integrity.
Benefits of Becoming a Nurse
There are many different benefits to becoming a nurse. Nurses get to help others, work in a challenging environment, have a short path to graduation, enjoy job growth, and work in a flexible environment.
Helping Others – As a nurse, you will be helping others in their time of need, offering comfort to patients who may be in physical or mental distress. A nurse also works with patients, educating them and preventing illness before it happens.
Challenging Environment – A nurse is always challenged in figuring out how to help patients and what ailments they may have. The nurse is a detective who needs to evaluate symptoms and find solutions to patient problems.
Short Path to Graduation – Registered nurses typically go to school for up to four years, whereas licensed practical nurses can finish a technical school program in 12 months, pass the NCLEX-PN exam, and then start working.
Job Growth – According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of licensed practical nurses is projected to grow 16 percent from 2014 to 2024.
Flexibility – A licensed practical nurse can work during the day or night depending on personal responsibilities. Some nurses can work part-time and per diem. A nurse can also work in a variety of settings, including doctor’s offices, hospitals, and clinics.
Does job flexibility and benefits interest you in obtaining a practical nursing certificate? The Practical Nursing program at Hunter Business School provides graduates with the knowledge and skills needed to function as a licensed practical nurse, or LPN.
Fifty percent of the training curriculum is devoted to theory and the other half to hands-on laboratory skills, practice, and off-site clinical externship rotations. Upon successful completion of the NCLEX-PN exam, the National Council Licensure Examination, which is a nationwide examination for the licensing of nurses in the United States, the licensed practical nurse (LPN) will work under the direction of a registered nurse or licensed physician in a variety of health care settings.
Contact us today to find out more about how to become an LPN on Long Island.