Scope of LPN - Licensed Practical Nurse Profession:

The licensed practical nurse (LPN) is a professional nurse who is able to perform a wide range of tasks under the direction or a registered nurse (RN) or physician. LPNs are also known as licensed professional nurses (LVNs) in some regions. These members of the medical community can provide a wide range of valuable services in various settings, including hospitals, shelters and private homes. In order to become an LPN, a nurse should take from one to two years of training. He or she can also pursue certification in specialties such as oncology and obstetrics to provide nursing in particular subsets of the field of medicine. Vocational and technical colleges and kindergartens offer LPN programs, as well as practical experience for students. Most candidates try to get a good grounding in biology in high school, and some of them may also be learning a foreign language so they can work in areas with mixed populations. After he or she is certified, an LPN can provide care for patients at various levels. Routine nursing tasks as assisting patients with bathing, going on in the bathroom, and going to physical therapy is often part of the work in the LPN, along with the monitoring of patients, charting the changes in their condition, as well as collect samples for testing. LPNs may also start intravenous runs, perform minor procedures for changing dressings, as well as to participate in such tasks under the supervision of a physician or RN.