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Nurse or Nursing Training Information
Become a California Licensed Vocational Nurse
A licensed vocational nurse (LVN) cares for the injured, sick, disabled, and convalescent under the direct supervision of registered nurses or physicians. The nature of work of a licensed vocational nurse mostly focuses on providing basic bedside care. Among the responsibilities of a LVN, we can enumerate taking vital signs, like pulse, respiration, blood pressure, temperature, preparing and giving enemas and injections, applying dressings, monitoring catheters, giving alcohol rubs and massages, and treating bedsores. A licensed vocational nurse may also be responsible for performing routine laboratory tests, collecting test samples, or keeping a record of the fluid and food intake and output. LVNs also help patients with their personal hygiene, dressing, and bathing, in order to keep them comfortable. In some states, the law allows LVNs to start intravenous fluids and administer prescribed medication. Helping deliver, caring for and feeding infants may also be among a licensed vocational nurse’s tasks. Although the work under the direction of registered nurses or physicians, LVNs may supervise too, if they have the necessary experience. Aides and nursing assistants may be under the supervision of LVNs.
The typical institutions that hire licensed vocational nurses are hospitals and nursing care facilities. An LVN usually works forty hours per week, but at times they may be required to work overtime, and even weekends, holidays and nights, due to the patients’ need for round-the-clock care. Radiation, caustic chemicals, or infectious diseases may cause the hazards that a licensed vocational nurse can face performing her tasks. LVNs must be prepared to deal with stress cause by heavy workloads, as well as with uncooperative, irrational, confused, or agitated patients.
In order to become LVN, one needs to pass a licensure examination upon completion of a vocational nursing program approved by the state. All who wish to enter such a training program and become LVN are required to have a high school diploma or its equivalent. There may be training programs in which candidates are accepted without a high school diploma, but these are not numerous. Vocational nursing training is widely available from technical colleges, vocational schools, community and junior colleges, or even hospitals and colleges. The typical program lasts for about one year, and students will go through both supervised clinical practice and classroom study. During the classroom study, students will become familiar with concepts and subjects related to basic nursing and patient care, including physiology, anatomy, obstetrics, pediatrics, medical-surgical nursing, psychiatric nursing, first aid, nutrition, and the administration of drugs. Once you have completed such a training program, passed the licensing examination and become LVN, you can enter any of the numerous state-approved LVN to RN training programs and become a registered nurse.
If you want to become a licensed vocational nurse in the state of California, the requirements are the same, a high school diploma or its equivalent and being at least seventeen years of age. When taking the examination that grants you licensure and allows you to become a CA LVN, you can choose any of the methods of examination available in California that is most appropriate of your situation. Becoming CA LVN requires the same successful completion of a training program approved by the State of California and passing the licensing exam.
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