| Licensed Vocational Nurses usually work under the | | | | where they don’t start IVs most LVNs can take |
| direct supervision of doctors and RNs (Registered | | | | blood and administer injections. |
| Nurses). Primary responsibilities are include, but are | | | | There are a lot of opportunities for LVNs and RNs… |
| not limited to caring for the ill, injured, convalescent | | | | Nursing is the largest health-care occupation and one |
| and disabled patients. LVNs are employed not only by | | | | of 10 occupations projected to have the largest |
| the hospitals, surgical centers, doctor’s office or | | | | numbers of new jobs annually. Some states report |
| convalescent homes, but even in medical beauty spas | | | | current and projected shortages of nurses, primarily |
| and educational institutions. | | | | due to an aging workforce and recent declines in |
| LVN’s day to day schedule includes giving the | | | | nursing school enrollments. Faster than average |
| bedside care to the patients with the responsibilities | | | | growth also will be driven by technological advances |
| of checking blood pressure, measuring temperature, | | | | in patient care, which permit nurses to treat more |
| polls and respiration, give injections and monitor | | | | medical problems, and an increasing emphasis on |
| patients. There is a high demand for nurses not only | | | | preventive care. In addition, the number of older |
| in the United States but also everywhere across the | | | | people, who are much more likely than younger |
| globe. Statistics reveal that there is a shortage of | | | | people to need nursing care, is projected to grow |
| well-trained vocational nurses in the current job | | | | rapidly. |
| market which might even double or triple in the | | | | A great thing about becoming an LVN is the fact that |
| coming years. | | | | this career is a great stepping stone into the |
| In order to become a Licensed Vocational Nurse, one | | | | professional healthcare career…you can then take a |
| needs to graduate from an approved educational | | | | course (so called Bridge program ) after you become |
| institution, receive certain number of internship hours, | | | | an LVN and in less than 2 years become and RN |
| as well as pass national certification exam. Most of | | | | – registered nurse…which is the career one |
| the vocational schools offer an LVN Program and | | | | step less than MD. Some RNs start their careers as |
| prepare graduates for the NCPLEX exam. Some | | | | licensed practical nurses or nursing aides, and then go |
| schools offer shorter courses than others. It takes | | | | back to school to receive their RN degree. |
| about 15-18 months and up to 2 years of training and | | | | In management, nurses can advance from assistant |
| internship to be able to become an LVN. | | | | unit manger or head nurse to more senior-level |
| The type of work they do is challenging and fun, | | | | administrative roles of assistant director, director, vice |
| beneficial emotionally, mentally and financially, holds | | | | president, or chief nurse. Some nurses move into the |
| strong during recession, not only permits a person to | | | | business side of health care. Their nursing expertise |
| self-actualize, but also is meaningful and significant for | | | | and experience on a health care team equip them to |
| oneself and for others. Job roles of LVNs include and | | | | manage ambulatory, acute, home-based, and chronic |
| are not limited to the care of the sick and recovering | | | | care. Employers—including hospitals, insurance |
| patients. LVNs take care of the patient’s health | | | | companies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and |
| by administering injections, collecting the samples for | | | | managed care organizations, among others—need |
| analysis, dressing applications and in some cases also | | | | RNs for health planning and development, marketing, |
| performing laboratory testing and other lab work. In | | | | consulting, policy development, and quality assurance. |
| some states an LVN never starts and intravenous | | | | Other nurses work as college and university faculty |
| line, while in others they may be able to obtain IV | | | | or conduct research. |
| certifications to perform this procedure. In areas | | | | |