The healthcare system cannot function effectively without its core component, the hands-on work carried out by licensed practical nurses (LPNs), who operate under the direction of registered nurses (RNs) and doctors. The LPN role is diverse, so there are different work settings to match different career aspirations and individual strengths. LPNs have a wide range of employment opportunities that can include traditional hospitals to more focused or even non-clinical areas, which can perfectly fit their way of life, personal preferences, and future endeavors.
Hospitals
Although LPNs are more likely to be concentrated in certain departments or moved towards outpatient care, there are still many departments in the hospitals where LPNs are required such as:
Emergency room (ER): ER LPNs are members of emergency care teams and may help with the triage and basic care of the patients in the unit.
Surgical Units: In these units, LPNs help care for the patients before and after surgical procedures.
Maternity & pediatrics: LPNs can also work in areas like labor and delivery or pediatrics, taking care of mothers and infants, respectively.
Medical-surgical floors: LPN patients are mostly those who need to be monitored, drugs administered, and other recurrent care done by RNs.
Hospitals have a lot of patients with different needs, and this creates a lot of pressure within, which is great for LPNs who like working in an environment full of activities and learning.
Long-term facilities and nursing home
LPNs are more commonly found in long-term care centers like nursing homes or rehabilitation centers that cater to and support patients suffering from chronic diseases, disabilities, or age-related problems.
The usual duties involve:
- Helping the patient with daily living activities such as bathing and getting dressed
- Checking and recording vital signs and symptoms
- Giving patients and clients medication
- Engaging with clients and patients for their physical and mental well-being
For an LPN who appreciates connecting with patients and providing care for an extended period of time, this is the perfect workplace.
Assisted living facilities
LPNs work with older patients in care facilities who can do most of the activities of daily living, but not all of them, and do not require medical care at high levels. Tasks commonly include:
- Helping residents move about the facility and perform daily living activities
- Providing medication
- Communicating with other medical personnel
- Checking residents for the status of their health
Unlike nursing homes, assisted living encourages independence and provides less intensive levels of care for patients.
Home healthcare
With home healthcare, LPNs can provide care to patients on a personal level, right in their homes. This environment is perfect for people who love to work away from the rest of the team while providing individualized services. Responsibilities may include the following:
- Assisting in Activities of Daily living, such as bathing & dressing
- Performing medication administration and wound management
- Observing and reporting patients’ status and progress
- Teaching family and patient about the diagnosis, how it affects their lives, and treatment options
Rehabilitation centers
Rehabilitation centers employ LPNs who attend to patients who are recovering from surgery, injury, or illness. Such rehabs may include physical therapy rehabilitation centers, alcohol and drug treatment rehabs, and occupational therapy centers. Amongst standard LPN responsibilities are the following:
- Assisting exercises and other mobility training activities
- Observation of patients with regard to progress and vital body signs
- Assisting in the implementation of pain relief strategies
- Guiding patients on self-care
For those LPNs who derive satisfaction in witnessing patients improving and becoming self-sufficient once again, working at a rehabilitation center can be very fulfilling.
Hospice and palliative care
Hospice and palliative care settings are designed to ensure the comfort and care of terminally ill patients and their families. Duties of LPNs in a hospice setting include:
- Controlling pain and other discomforts
- Providing psychological support to patients and their relatives
- Helping in preparing for end-of-life care
- Providing company and compassionate care.
Correctional facilities
In a correctional facility LPNs provide healthcare services to the inmates. This includes the following responsibilities:
- Administering medication and monitoring chronic diseases
- Providing wound care and health evaluation
- Teaching the patients about health and cleanliness.
Private practice nursing
A few LPNs prefer to work in private practices where they can manage care centered on one patient or a few patients. In these positions, LPNs spend time attending to patients and tackling such issues as:
- Helping patients suffering from chronic or complicated illnesses
- Facilitating recovery and therapy
- Offering companionship and customized medical care
Public health departments
LPNs are also recruited by public health departments for different community activities such as vaccination campaigns and health monitoring. Such duties include:
- Vaccinations and screenings
- Health promotion among the population
- Engagement in disease control programs
Urgent care clinics
Clinics that focus on urgent care provide LPNs with a fast-paced outpatient environment. They help with:
- Taking patient histories as well as vital signs
- Giving injections and performing simple procedures
- Prioritizing patients for treatment based on need and severity
Conclusion
LPNs are offered a wide variety of employment options within several healthcare facilities, giving them the freedom to work with different patient groups, psychosocial and physical involvement, and schedules. LPNs will always find jobs that are in line with their interests and career goals, regardless of whether they work in a typical healthcare facility such as a family nursing care home or a rehabilitation center or perform their tasks in nontraditional ways in schools, prisons, the public health sector, and many other places.