A Day At Work With An LPN

There are few other positions in the health care industry as versatile as the LPN, or Licensed Practical Nurse. Their ability to smoothly transition from one role to another while supporting doctors, Registered Nurses, therapists and a number of other technicians makes them invaluable. Versatility is only one of the key characteristics of a successful LPN, however.

Because they interact more with their patients throughout the day than anyone else, it is also critical that a practical nurse have great attention to detail, superior social skills, and a terrific sense of priorities and organization. It is direct focus on the patient that makes LPNs so valuable to every facility that employs them, as well as the source of so much of their job satisfaction.

What Do LPNs Do?

If the position of LPN sounds interesting to you at this point, you should probably take advantage of this opportunity to find out more about what they do on a daily basis. After all, what better way is there to get an accurate LPN job description than by hearing exactly what their typical workday is like.

At The Start Of The Start

The first thing that an LPN must do before he or she can begin their shift is to meet with the nurse previously on duty to discuss that day's patients. The nurses will go over patient statuses, issues that may require attention, and treatment priorities in order to ensure that the shift goes smoothly.

Going Out And Making The Rounds

Once the practical nurse is up to speed on patient needs, he or she will go around and visit each of them to let them know who the new nurse on duty is. This process is called "making the rounds", and is important to establish trust and communication between the nurse and those she or he will be caring for. During these rounds, the LPN will also check for any changes in patient moods or condition.

Normal Daily Responsibilities

The majority of the LPN's shift is spent performing support functions for their colleagues and providing direct care to the patients. A typical day will include changing patients' clothes and bedding, bathing them if necessary, providing meals, monitoring vital signs or simply keeping an eye out for changes in behavior.

Further Duties

Of course, if an LPN has been certified as a specialist in a particular area, he or she can expect to spend time performing duties related to that field during a shift. These may include caring for wounds or collecting samples for the lab.

Finishing Off A Shift

The end of a shift usually mirrors the beginning. The LPN meets with the next nurse on duty to bring him or her up to speed with priorities and patient statuses. Any notes or other documentation relevant to that shift's responsibilities are handed over at this time as well.

The Importance Of The LPN Position

The biggest reason why health care professionals place such a high value on LPNs is because practical nurses are the primary link between patients and doctors. The practical nurse is closer to the patient than anyone else on the medical staff, and is more in-tune with their status. This requires the LPN to be particularly adept socially, be good communicators, and to be extremely perceptive. The combination of these factors makes practical nurses indispensable, and usually gives them a relatively high level of job satisfaction.