What is a LPN?

A LPN which stands for Licensed Practical Nurse are also known as Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) in the states of California and Texas.  LPNs work in many health care settings and are found working under the supervision of physicians in hospitals and clinics, or in home health care. In long term care facilities, they sometimes supervise CNAs (also called nursing assistants) and orderlies.

Here are some of the common tasks that LPN’s perform

  • LPN’s provide bedside care for patients.
  • LPNs take the vital signs of the patients, updating doctors on the patients status and enabling the doctors to make their diagnoses.
  • For any preliminary diagnostic tests, the LPNs have to get the patient ready for the test, get their samples, send the samples to the different labs and then collect the reports for the doctors.
  • When patients have minor wounds and injuries, LPNs perform the first aid tasks such as treating the wounds, applying dressings and bandages, etc. They then assist doctors in providing sutures to the wound or injury.
  • In most cases it falls on the LPN to give the different injections to patients.
  • LPNs have to get patients ready who are to have surgeries. They are responsible for getting them into attire fit for the surgery and monitor their food and water consumption during the period. After the surgery, LPN’s monitor the patients recovery to make sure that no complications arise and continue to do so until the patient is discharged.

These are just some of the common tasks that Licensed Practical Nurses are responsible for.  To become a LPN you need to have your GED and then become certified, to do so you can go to any school or hospital that offers a LPN program or get your LPN degree online.