A Career as a Vocational Nurse
Date: March 3, 2017
Nursing can be a meaningful vocation with no lack of opportunities within the profession. Some reasons for this are the ever-expanding need for healthcare services and growing advancements in medicine. Additionally, doctors have less time to spend with patients with growing caseloads, causing more duties to fall to nurses. Nurses now have more advanced roles to play as health educators and as key personnel for patients.
There is an estimated shortage of 300,000 nurses worldwide, with shortages expected to triple in the next 15 years. Vocational nursing (VN) is an entryway into the profession. The term vocational nurse (VN) is used in Texas and California. In all other U.S. states, these professionals are called licensed practical nurses (PN).
They are typically employed by hospitals, physicians’ offices, skilled nursing facilities, clinics, schools, home health care agencies, and correctional facilities. Vocational nurses work under the supervision of registered nurses (RNs) and physicians.
A vocational nurse’s scope of practice assists patients with daily living activities such as range of motion exercises, dressing changes, inserting catheters, checking patients’ vitals, and administering medications. VN education also includes knowledge and practice in administering IVs and performing venipuncture for lab draws in some states. The responsibilities of a VN`s role can vary from state to state. Generally, VN training aims to provide individuals with practical knowledge and experience related to bedside nursing care. The first step toward becoming a VN is to enroll in an accredited VN program. Such a program offers initial training and helps one learn nursing fundamentals. It should also prepare one for the NCLEX-PN examination. The test one must pass to obtain licensure.
Additionally, a qualified VN program will provide would-be nurses with insight and training in the technical areas needed to administer care, identifying symptoms, utilizing diagnoses, and providing appropriate treatment methods. The integumentary, musculoskeletal, respiratory, and reproductive systems are also covered.
Nursing programs can take different lengths to complete. At Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts, coursework can be accomplished in 12 months/52 weeks.*
The good news for the next generation of graduates is, salaries have increased substantially. Further, because of need, medical facilities may offer different bonuses, such as sign-on bonuses, childcare assistance, housing assistance, elder care assistance, and even transportation stipends.
Becoming a vocational nurse is common for those who wish to support themselves while pursuing more advanced education, such as a registered nursing license. Some RN schools allow VNs to challenge courses through testing. Additionally, some VN coursework may transfer into other programs, allowing the VN program to serve as a bridge program. The typical LVN school offers one (1) year course of study.
A good VN training course aims to help you go where you want to go and then give back to the community you serve.
