| Probably the fastest path to a nursing career is | | | | while LPNs and LVNs in home health care services |
| becoming a licensed practical nurse (LPN), also called a | | | | and nursing care facilities have the next highest median |
| licensed vocational nurse (LVN). In most states, you will | | | | salaries, respectively at $38,320 and $37,880. LPNs |
| only have to train to become an LPN for a year and | | | | and LVNs in hospitals can earn an average of $35,000 |
| you're on your way to wearing your first discount | | | | a year while LPNs and LVNs working in physician's |
| landau scrubs. For those who want to work and earn | | | | offices earn a median annual salary of $32,710. |
| money sooner or for those who are considering taking | | | | The future of licensed practical nursing |
| nursing as a second career, becoming an LPN offers | | | | According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, jobs |
| distinct advantages. LPNs and LVNs are in high | | | | of LPNs and LVNs will increase by 14% over a |
| demand not only in hospitals but outside of hospitals as | | | | 10-year span. Hospitals will consistently employ more |
| well such as in home health care services, outpatient | | | | LPNs every year but more opportunities abound |
| facilities, nursing care facilities, and long term care | | | | outside hospitals. The greatest number of new nursing |
| facilities. | | | | jobs can be found in nursing care facilities and home |
| What does an LPN do? | | | | health care services. This can be expected and almost |
| Licensed practical nurses give direct patient care under | | | | guaranteed primarily because of the ageing baby |
| the supervision and direction of registered nurses and | | | | boomer population who demand more health care |
| doctors. They attend to patients as the circumstances | | | | services in the coming years come their retirement. In |
| prescribe and responsibilities may include taking vital | | | | addition to this, advanced medical technologies have |
| signs, gathering patient health information, treating | | | | made it possible for patients to get procedures done in |
| bedsores, watching catheters, applying dressings and | | | | outpatient care facilities, where before, these |
| bandages, preparing and administering injections, | | | | procedures could only be done in hospitals by licensed |
| feeding patients, collecting lab samples for testing, | | | | physicians or surgeons. Licensed practical nurses play |
| performing routine lab tests, assisting patients with their | | | | an important role in caring for patients who undergo |
| personal hygiene, providing massages or rubs, | | | | these advanced technology procedures, offering |
| monitoring food and liquid input and output, and teaching | | | | assistance in the outpatient care facility as well as in |
| patients and their family members about good nutrition | | | | the patient's home. |
| and health habits among other things. Tenured and | | | | Starting now |
| experience LPNs may supervise nursing assistants | | | | If you have decided that you want to be a licensed |
| and aids. | | | | practical nurse or a licensed volunteer nurse, you |
| What is the salary range of LPNs? | | | | should start by earning an LPN degree through LPN |
| According to the Bureau Labor of Statistics, licensed | | | | nursing schools and educational programs. This can be |
| practical nurses earn an average salary of $31,080 to | | | | completed within a year's time, training in a hospital, |
| $46,640 a year. LPNs and LVNs in employment | | | | technical vocational school or community college. |
| services earn the highest median salary at $42,110 | | | | |