LPN PA
LPN PA or license practical nurses in Pennsylvania work under the jurisdiction of registered nurses and physicians. LPNs are in the forefront of health care. More than anyone else in the medical team, they are the ones who spend most of their time with patients. They assist sick, disabled, and recovering patients with their physical, emotional and socioeconomic needs. LPNs are assigned in different kinds of medical facilities such as nursing homes, clinics, hospitals, psychiatric institutions and private homes.
Those who would like to make a career as an LPN PA should get formal training from an approved vocational and technical school, community college or university that is authorized to award certificates or diplomas. The coursework is usually completed in a one year period. Those who would like to apply for the program are required to take an LPN entrance examination before admission is approved.
The coursework usually varies per academic institution. In the state of Pennsylvania, most schools cover the following lessons in the curriculum:
• Observing and reporting patient condition
• Administering prescribed medication
• Measuring and recording vital signs including blood pressure, weight, height, respiration, temperature, and pulse rate
• Working with a health care team
• Nursing Ethics
• Plan and modified care
• Implementing interventions
All graduates of LPN PA programs are still required to take the NLEX-PN licensure exam. The license derived from other states may or may not apply in Pennsylvania.
LPN PA employment rate is expected to grow in the following years. It is projected that the demand for LPNs will rise above the other health care professions as the medical community expands beyond the traditional hospital setting.
In the state of Pennsylvania, Pittsburg and Philadelphia are the cities with high demands for LPN. Most nursing care facilities need LPN PA due to the increasing number of aged and disabled patients in need for long term care. Aside from that, there are several openings for private care services. Families would rather choose that their functionally disabled elderly obtain health care at home. This option is made possible by the newest technological advancements in the medical field.
LPN PA practitioners are encouraged by medical institutions to pursue a continuing education course. The state of Pennsylvania requires licensed practical nurses to satisfy a certain number of units to renew their license. The courses and hours that are necessary to complete the renewal vary per state.
LPN PA practitioners are required to continue their studies to maintain their skills and to hone their understanding of the field. Others take this opportunity as a stepping stone for a career advancement. Most LPNs decide to pursue a more specialized nursing field or even higher. They can choose from several courses such as mental and physical health maintenance; injury, illness or infirmity prevention; management, teaching and counseling; nursing treatment regimen; case finding and management; and administration of medications and treatments.
There are LPN PA practitioners who take LPN to RN bridge programs to pursue a 4-year nursing degree to become a registered nurse. Some employers provide scholarship and grants to eligible LPNs whom they will eventually absorb in their medical facility.