Nursing Employment - Fundamental Steps on Your Path to Success As a Nurse

1Nursing Employment - Fundamental Steps on Your Path to Success As a Nurse So you have decided to become a nurse--or maybe you have had exposure, but you want to expand your horizons in the field. It is an undeniable fact that the 21st-century is the best time in history to become a nurse. Nurses have been in very high demand for years, and the trend will continue indefinitely. Think of it this way: the law of supply and demand dictates that the more demand there is, and the lower supply that exists-the higher that the price will be. Simply said, nurses receive top pay in the healthcare field as well as the overall U.S. job market. Not a believer? Check out the Bureau of Labor's web site and compare numbers.If you are a newcomer to the field, getting your college/vocational education is paramount. Usually, students apply for and receive jobs such as nursing assistants-which generally only require about a year of college and a certification. The certification is on that comes from a school specializing in nursing and/or general healthcare and that has been certified by either the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).Once you are graduated and acclimated to the medical assistant's job, continue your career with the LPN, or Licensed Practical Nurse. Before you are awarded with a LPN, or LVN in some states, you must complete from one to two years of a community, junior or vocational college that is state-approved. From there, complete the NCLEX-PN exam and you have a LPN license under your belt and as gold on your resume.To the Top, Good SirFor those individuals who would like to become fully-fledged Registered-Nurses (RN), even more lucrative opportunities await you. Obtain Bachelor's degree from an accredited college (usually, for nurses, is a Bachelor of Science) and continue studying for your next license. The NCLEX-RN is a nationally required license for all U.S. nurses. This test will examine your core competencies and knowledge of all aspects of patients' healthcare.As you browse online for nursing jobs, you will immediately notice that there are no shortages of nursing jobs available-not by the farthest stretch of the imagination! Many of them require all the licensing, in addition to a set number of years of experience; however, if you are a bright, motivated individual who knows his or her field, much of the experienced is required is sometimes waived. It all comes back to the supply and demand scenario.Incomparable BenefitsBenefits for registered nurses (usually LPN's as well) generally include 401K accounts with full-employer matching, full health coverage as well as dental and tuition reimbursement. Salaries are very competitive with LPN's starting around 30K a year and topping out at an average of almost 50-thousand dollars-it varies widely from state to state. RN's can expect to earn a minimum of 45-thousand. As for the maximum, consider this: the national average for registered nurses (2010) is $74,000. That alone should be a very good indicator of the possibilities with nursing.

LPN Travel Nursing Employment in Five Easy Steps

1LPN Travel Nursing Employment in Five Easy Steps You always wanted to travel the country as a nurse but you don't think that you can do it because you are only an LPN. Wrong! Many people will say there is not jobs out there for LPN travelers. That is not true. Here are some five easy steps that you can do as an LPN to get started correctly with your travel nurse employment!* Ask: Know what you want. It sound pretty basic and silly to most but it is true. If you know why you want to go in the career of LPN travel nursing then it will be easier to find your assignment. So, list all the reasons why you want to go. Really spend a day or two on this one. See yourself already in your new travel assignment. Where are you? What are doing? What does it look like? Are you driving an RV? Get specific. Do you want to meet new people? Discover new things? This is a crucial step. The more specific you are the better chances you will have finding travel nursing employment.* Analyze: Now you that you are specific on what you want it is time to check your resume and analyze what you already have. How done LPN work? What are your specialties? Are you I.V. certified? Make a list of what you have done. NG tubes? Foleys ? Get specific. Grab a skills check list and go over it to see what you are proficient in. Do you work in a Long Term Care Facility, or a hospital? Are you organized? Being organized is essential for a successful LPN travel career. Ask your self questions objectively such as can I handle going away from my home for three months? What about my house my family? List all your to do lists. Utilities costs while you are gone. Plants everything for three months.* Prepare: Now that you have researched what you want, how are you are going to do it, now it is time to prepare. The best way to prepare for a successful LPN travel career is to get your resume typed up with references in order. If you can, get two letters of recommendations and any thing you would normally prepare for as you would for a job interview. TIP: Use a cell phone number or a message number like found at k7.net for recruiters to call you back. Generally after you start submitting applications you will get calls from EVERYONE! You want to weed those out. Some great companies to work with are Medical Staffing Solutions, Right Solutions, and Qshift . They are all LPN friendly and seemed to have better jobs. Start looking online job boards to the area you want to go sometimes companies that need travel nurses will advertise on Craigslist or Indeed locally to save on travel costs. That doesn't mean you can't apply.Generally that AD will state that they are an agency and travel nurses accepted as well. Look on the job boards like Medical Mingle, All Nurses, or Indeed. Talk to LPN travel nurses out there. There is a fantastic website called AbsolutelyHealthcare that is easy to manage and finds great LPN travel jobs too. While your getting the word out or marketing yourself this is a good time to get forward address cards, luggage ready start packing. Pack about 14 sets of scrubs for now. Be flexible when recruiters talk to you . Fill out the paperwork and be as open as you can on where you will go. More specific you the less likely you will get a travel job now. Laid back and open will always get the job. With that said, do not take the job if it doesn't fit!* Signing Up: When you are offered the job, before you go you MUST look over your contract thoroughly. Unfortunately, there are some shady companies out there that take advantage to LPN's and there have been many stories about LPN's getting poorly treated. Remember the contract is the gate to all good travel experiences. Take it to a lawyer or accountant for finally review. Then sign. Majority of your correspondence with companies will be from the phone and fax. Make sure you keep a copy with you.* The Assignment: If you are flying or driving you must carry near you a bag full of at least one pair of scrubs and all your important documents. Take your time getting there and enjoy the experience do not rush. While working be pleasant and enjoy the newness. Do your job and stay out of the politics. The assignment is the reward of all your hard work! Get to know the culture and try new things! Enjoy the experience and take care of yourself. This is what you worked for all your life.LPN travel nursing employment is wonderful career opportunity for LPN's. If you ask yourself why you want to go and analyze your credentials and current living situations it's time to prepare for the adventure! Get signed up and take that assignment!

LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) Job Description - They Perform a Much Needed Service

1LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) Job Description - They Perform a Much Needed Service If it weren't for licensed practical nurses (LPNs), an already overworked staff of registered nurses and nurse practitioners, would find their days even more stressful. LPNs, called LVNs (licensed vocational nurses) in Texas and California can be thought of as those who provide a very personal level of care to the patient.While they normally work under the supervision of physicians and RNs, their responsibilities increase as they become more proficient. You'll find LPNs taking vitals, monitoring in and out volumes, turning patients to prevent bedsores, treating and/or dressing wounds, providing enemas and much more.You'll also see LPNs recording vitals, taking measurements of height, weight, temperature, blood pressure, pulse and respiration, giving alcohol rubs, helping patients deal with personal hygiene and providing a friendly face and caring heart as each patient journeys toward recovery.In the old-time war movies, you'd see wounded soldiers speak of an angel of mercy (meaning a nurse), and while LPNs did not exist in those days; today's LPNs are the ones helping patients on a day-to-day basis, providing the personal care a registered nurse or nurse practitioner might be too busy to provide.Because state laws vary, you'll find some LPNs administering prescribed medicines, starting IVs, while in other states this may not be part of their job description. Because many patients will finish their convalescence at home, it's often necessary for LPNs to spend time with family members, instructing them in the intricacies of home care for a loved one, providing instructions to family who otherwise might seem overwhelmed.LPNs and Babies: Because policies often vary from state to state, or in a particular hospital, it's difficult to provide a definitive answer LPN's job description, some LPNs would be involved with assisting in the delivery, care and feeding of a newborn.While most LPNs will find they are generalists, meaning their work is in various areas of medicine and healthcare, certain LPNs will spend their time in nursing homes, a doctor's office, or home health care. Certainly LPNs have a place in assisted living facilities or nursing homes where they will assist in the evaluating of residents, develop plans of care, and of supervise nurses' aides.You might find an LPN in a doctor's office or clinic, being responsible for appointments, scheduling flu shots, filing medical charts, etc. LPNs are vital to the smooth flow of the health care profession and without them; RN and NP would certainly find their jobs more difficult. While we've sought to give a general feeling of an LPN's job description, the particulars may be unique to their place of employment.Remember this as you consider your career as an LPN. Doctors and administrators may be at the top of the ladder, but nurses and LPNs are the heart and soul of the healthcare industry.