subject: Staying Abreast the Demands of LPNs, LVNs, RNs and CNAs in the Bay Area, CA [print this page] Staying Abreast the Demands of LPNs, LVNs, RNs and CNAs in the Bay Area, CA
Health care reform means shifting career paths for LPNs as well as RNs. Whether you're an LPN or an RN, you need to understand where LPNs practice to stay within the demands for Vocational Nursing. Here are answers to some crucial questions.
One might ask: How have the roles of the LPN, LVN, RN and Vocational Nursing in general changed over the last few years?
LPN roles differ from state to state and from facility to facility. Most LPNs are still employed as they always were, as health care team members working with the RN and physician in long term care facilities. Some LPNs are now getting advanced preparation and taking positions in such areas as intravenous (I.V.) therapy, and dialysis.
LVNs also practice in such settings as intensive care, coronary care, and operating room. In these settings, they have to understand electrocardiograms, emergency drugs, cardiac medications, advanced assessment, and so forth.
Because of the reduction of LVN positions in hospitals, more LPNs are working in home health care, neighborhood health clinics, and insurance firms, where they investigate injuries and arrange for care and coverage. In nursing homes, many LPNs are now in leadership or charge positions, with the certified nursing assistant giving direct patient care. This will actually help expand the skill requirements and many options for those who are prepared to deal with the new paradigm shift of demands. Continuing education is required for LVNs and Bay Area Nursing programs such as American College of Nursing provide courses to increase nursing expertise. Nursing colleges and private vocational nursing programs have geared their education into these areas.
State boards of nursing are sometimes known for lagging in certifying schools and some of the regular committee bottlenecks and constant regulatory requirements but they also re-evaluate the modern vocation nursing students' course of study. LPNs' scope of practice changes the LPNs' curriculum changes to keep pace. For example, in some regions, the education program for LPNs is still only 8 months. In others, it's a year, and in at least one, it's 2 years.
LVNs are very excited to join many of the Bay Area Nursing Programs. Nursing Colleges in general have waiting lists and now with the demands for Nursing Professionals ranging from RNs, LVNs, CNAs, and LPNs, private Nursing Colleges are filling up fast since the salary for completing a 12 month program is very attractive.
