Na LPN RN Information
Nursing Assistant
Being a nursing assistant is a rewarding and satisfying job. Nursing assistants work with all ages of people and their families. Nursing Assistants provide care to people in a variety of places such as hospitals, long-term agencies or within their home. To be a nursing assistant, you will have to have at least 75 hours of training. The training includes class work and learning and practicing skills in the laboratory and clinical settings. Examples of the types of skills learned are changing beds; bathing and assisting patients; assisting patients with meals; walking and exercise; and supporting patients while getting out of bed. Nursing assistants work under direction and supervision of a registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN). Once the training has been completed, most individuals take the certification examination. To be certified, the individual has to pass both theory and skill exams.
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
A career as a licensed practical nurse is also a rewarding career. LPNs usually care for patients that are stable in all types of acute care and long term care settings. The majority of jobs are located in the care of the elderly or working in a physician’s office. LPNs provide direct care by observing, recording and reporting their observations; administering treatments and medications; and assisting in rehabilitation treatments. LPNs also perform all of the care and skills that nursing assistants perform. LPNs usually do not care for unstable patients and work under direction and supervision of a registered nurse (RN). LPNs differ from RNs on two aspects: educational preparation and scope of practice (what the law allows LPNs to do).
To become a licensed practical nurse, you would have to complete training that usually takes one year to complete. The classroom experiences correlate with clinical practice so that as you learn a topic, you can practice what you learned in the clinical setting.
Florida-based LPN training programs are composed of theoretical instruction and clinical experience in medical, surgical, obstetric, pediatric and geriatric nursing. LPN programs emphasize clinical experiences in acute and long-term care settings. The classroom experience focuses on knowledge of basic nursing care and biological and behavioral sciences. Clinical experiences are at least half of the program hours and should be a minimum of least 675 hours.
Once the training is completed, you will have to pass the LPN licensing exam (NCLEX-PN) prior to obtaining a job. LPNs must keep their license current, which includes taking additional continuing education every two years as outlined by Florida law.
Registered Nurse (RN)
Registered nurses are responsible and accountable for all care provided to patients in the acute care and long-term care settings. The RN’s scope of practice is greater than the LPN’s. RNs plan and provide direct patient care, manage the care for all assigned patients, and participate with other members of the health care team. RNs can perform all patient care skills including administering intravenous therapy and blood products. Unlike LPNs or nursing assistants, RNs can be in administrative positions within the health care organizations.
To become a registered nurse, you would have to complete training that involves completing either an associate degree or bachelorette college-based nursing program. Associate degree programs take two years to complete, while bachelorette programs take four years to complete. Both programs incorporate classroom and clinical practice experiences in all types of settings.
Registered nurse programs combines nursing courses with basic natural and social sciences courses with general education courses, such as English and mathematics. Basic natural and social sciences courses include anatomy & physiology, microbiology, chemistry, and psychology. Nurses are expected to be proficient communicating orally and in writing, and have good basic mathematic skills.
Florida-based RN training programs are composed of theoretical instruction and clinical experience in medical, surgical, obstetric, pediatric, geriatric and community health nursing. All clinical experiences are supervised by a registered nurse instructor. Clinical experiences selected to correspond to classroom learning. Pre-and post-clinical conferences reinforce the relationship between classroom and clinical experiences.
Once the training is completed, you will have to pass the RN licensing exam (NCLEX-RN) prior to obtaining a job. RNs must keep their license current, which includes taking additional continuing education every two years as outlined by Florida law.