Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses care for ill, injured, or convalescing patients or persons with disabilities in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, private homes, group homes, and similar institutions. They may work under the supervision of a registered nurse and licensing is required.
The licensed practical nurse's job description is to assist physicians and registered nurses and perform a critical role in caring for the sick, injured, convalescent and disabled at hospitals, nursing homes, and in varied long-term health care facilities, ensuring patient comfort.
Besides basic bed care, practical nurses provide vital signs such as temperature, blood pressure, pulse and respiration, treat bedsores, prepare and give injections and enemas, apply dressings, give alcohol rubs and massages, and apply ice packs and hot water bottles and monitor catheters. They observe patients and report adverse reactions to medications or treatments, collect samples for testing, perform routine laboratory tests, feed and bathe patients and record food and fluid intake and output.
After obtaining a high school diploma or equivalent, one can enrol in an approved practical nursing program at a hospital or local college to become a licensed practical nurse. On completion of training, they qualify to work at a hospital. They are required to be good at communication and listening skills and show empathy towards all individuals.
Successful licensed vocational nurse duties entail working in hospitals and nursing homes round-the-clock, at night, and on weekends and holidays as per the needs of the patient. They often stand for long periods and help patients move in bed, stand or walk.
Qualifications
Every career requires an element of study and academic qualification, and there can be several study routes and pathways you can take. In following any academic pathway you will study subjects that contribute to the specialised knowledge required to achieve your career goals. These qualifications provide a future employer with the evidence that you have the desired knowledge, understanding and experience of their industry, so it’s important to consider the various types of qualifications available to you and to understand how they can boost your career and create opportunities for you.
- Diploma Auxiliary Nurse and Midwife
- Certificate Medical Nursing Assistant
Tasks
- Observe patients, charting and reporting changes in patients' conditions, such as adverse reactions to medication or treatment, and taking any necessary action.
- Administer prescribed medications or start intravenous fluids, noting times and amounts on patients' charts.
- Answer patients' calls and determine how to assist them.
- Measure and record patients' vital signs, such as height, weight, temperature, blood pressure, pulse, or respiration.
- Provide basic patient care or treatments, such as taking temperatures or blood pressures, dressing wounds, treating bedsores, giving enemas or douches, rubbing with alcohol, massaging, or performing catheterizations.
- Help patients with bathing, dressing, maintaining personal hygiene, moving in bed, or standing and walking.
- Supervise nurses' aides or assistants.
- Work as part of a healthcare team to assess patient needs, plan and modify care, and implement interventions.
- Record food and fluid intake and output.
- Evaluate nursing intervention outcomes, conferring with other healthcare team members as necessary.
Progression Routes
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