Pets Care

LVN stands for licensed vocational nurse. If you're interested in a nursing career, an LVN school may be your first step in a new career that boasts rewarding and excellent employment opportunities. LVNs are responsible for direct patient care including maintaining detailed and accurate medical records, collecting blood and urine samples, taking care of a patient's basic daily needs as well as taking vital signs, providing wound care and emotional and physical support.

In order to become a licensed LVN, prospective students should look for accredited vocational nursing school programs in your area. Individuals living in extremely rural or small communities may also access LVN schools online, after careful research. Most individuals are fully capable of earning a license in one year, offering both financial and career security within a relatively short time.

LVN schools offer both academic and clinical education plus experience, based on the fundamentals and essentials of nursing. The practical clinical instruction portion of the LVN school's certification usually takes one semester and can be practiced in a hospital, clinic, long-term care facility or all of the above. After graduating from an LVN program, students are required to pass the NCLEX-PN exam administered by their state board before receiving their license.

In order to attend an LVN school, students are required to have at least a high school diploma or equivalent. There are some schools that require a specific grade point average, as well as completion of prerequisite courses that may include, but are not limited to mathematics, physical sciences, social sciences and English.

Students taking the NCLEX-PN exam should be prepared to pass courses and topics in:

· Pharmacology

· Mental health nursing

· Pediatrics nursing

· Medical surgical nursing

· Nutrition

· Medication administration

LVN school programs prepare students to work in a variety of healthcare environments, from in-home health care to acute care, to nursing home care. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, an LVN may work 40 hours or more a week and earn approximately $40,000 a year. Students must complete their LVN school certificate program from accredited nursing facilities and programs to meet minimum requirements for entry level positions in such facilities.