Choosing Between Becoming a Registered Nurse RN or LPN

Choosing Between Becoming a Registered Nurse RN or LPN

Becoming a Registered Nurse (RN)

Registered Nurses (RNs) formed the largest segment of healthcare professionals. Registered Nurses is an abbreviation for registered nurse in the US. It is a status given to a professional nurse who has earned either an on-campus or online nursing degree and has cleared the NCLEX-RN.

Becoming a Registered Nurse (RN) in the states is not only a highly profitable career, but one that is an in-demand profession. Nursing salaries are very lucrative because of the increasing demand.

Before ever becoming a registered nurse, you will need to receive an associate nursing degree by finishing a two year associate degree. Alternatively, you may also register for four year baccalaureate program in a university so as to achieve your BSN. Never the less, for those who are employed as LPN or LVN, there often are chances for them to work as a RN. BSN programs have both nursing and general education courses while shorter programs only have nursing courses.

Are you choosing between becoming a registered nurse or an LPN? If so, you probably want to know about the different degrees available to you. Graduating from a basic nursing degree is key to becoming a licensed practical nurse (LPN). If you are interested in becoming a registered nurse, then you will have to graduate from an RN program and also complete licensing requirements.

A licensed practical nurse can also be called a licensed vocational nurse (LVN). LPNs are nurses who work under physicians and registered nurses. RNs on the other hand are able to directly work with patients and are tasked with supervising LPNs.

The duty of a RN is usually to educate people about different diseases and treat individuals suffering from them. They also see to the needs of patients in different settings such as in clinics, intensive care units, physician offices etc. The general duty of every RN regardless of the place where they work includes:
  • Offering emotional support to patients along with consultancy.
  • Keeping track of patients medical history and also observing growing symptoms
  • Observing and assigning tasks to LPN's and nurse assistants.
  • Organizing a patient care plan.

The needed educational credentials to become a RN can be acquired through the completions of any of these programs which then qualify you to appear for the NCLEX-RN test:
  • Nursing Diploma
  • Associate Degree in Nursing
  • Bachelors Degree in Nursing

Nursing is One of The Most Popular Careers - How to Find The Best Nursing School


Nursing is One of The Most Popular Careers - How to Find The Best Nursing School

Finding the best career is never easy. Every job seeker looks for a career with security and stability. Nursing is one of the in-demand careers in the market and many people are pursing it on daily basis. There are many job opportunities for nurses regardless of the stage you have reached, but with the increasing number of nursing students, it is a great idea to choose the best nursing programs, for you to stand a better chance in the market. The demand for undergraduate or graduate degrees is high and it is a wise decision to visit the best institution and enroll for one.

Nursing is one of the fastest-growing health care professions today, and there are hundreds of good schools across the US and Canada where you can learn to be a CNA, LPN or RN. Would you like to learn to be a good health care provider?

Finding the best nursing programs is not any easy task, it can be challenging. There are many programs waiting for students to choose among the best. You always need to pick more than one and also try to apply to several. There a few tips that you should always put into considerations when evaluating the many degree programs available for and your dreams. Choosing nursing programs requires one to have an individualized approach and to choose the best.

When looking for good nursing schools there are a number of traits that you should examine. You should look to see what kind of financing they have available for students (does this include scholarships). The location of the school and the clinical rotation. What are their pass rates in relation to the NCLEX examination? Also what sorts of programs do they offer their students (will you be able to train in a specific area of nursing are do they only just do RN training).

This is very important because nursing programs offered by an institution will determine the kind of education you or your loved one get. To ensure that you get the best, you need to consider the following:
  • Specialties: You need to consider the specialty you want to choose. Find out if this specialty is available in the institution, you enroll in for your studies. This field of professionalism is more than just a profession. It requires people with passion for helping and caring for the sick. As such, you need to get a specialty that you are comfortable with. A field that you will not have any problem helping the sick.
  • You also need to ensure that the institution you enroll in for your studies is accredited. This is very important since no institution can be accredited if it is offering poor quality education. As such, you need to do some research on the institution before enrolling for your studies.
  • You also need to find out about the fee. Studying for this profession may be expensive for some people. As such, you need to ensure that you will afford the fee. If you cannot, find out if the institution has any means of helping needy students.
  • Make sure that you also meet the required conditions for admission. Some institutions will have pre-admission exams or tests. This is very important as it will help you know if you qualify for the nursing programs that you or your loved one want to pursue.
  • It is also important that you find out about clinical rotation. These are very important when completing your coursework. A school that provide enough time for clinical rotation is the best to enroll for your studies. Placement for these clinicals should also be varied properly and offer quality hands-on experience. Getting such information before enrolling for your studies is very important.
  • Knowing the pass rate of exams offered by an institution is also very important. This will enable you find out what to expect when you enroll for the nursing programs offered by an institution.
Finding out about courses offered by an institution and the overall students performance is very important. This is because it lets you find out if you or your loved one will get the education needed from the institution.

Useful Tips to Help You Find a Suitable Nursing Home for the Elderly

Finding the right nursing home facility is a daunting task. It is one of the most important decisions older adults and their families have to make. Families have to make sure they will choose the right facility that will continue to make improvements in the lives of their elderly. One that will make them feel "at home".

Finding a good nursing home is not easy, and often people are under a lot of pressure to react quickly due to a recent relatives hospitalisation or deterioration in a loved ones condition. The more information you can get, the greater chance you will have in finding a suitable nursing home.

Before you go to the facilities, write down all the questions in your mind. Make sure these queries are based on your concerns. You need to ensure your parent gets the kind of attention and care he or she needs.

Useful Tips to Help You Find a Suitable Nursing Home for the Elderly


To ensure that your loved one is getting the best possible care, consider these initial steps:
  • Get an attorney for medical care. This will help you review medical records and make health care decisions for your loved one.
  • Request for a complete list of facility profiles from your local state health department.
  • After choosing potential centers, visit them one by one. Pay attention to staffing levels and the various recreational activities they have to keep the residents mentally and physically engaged.
  • Review their admission agreement.
  • Be involved in care conferences. Know the plans the facility has for your loved one. Take seriously any complaints of mistreatment and do not be intimidated by threats from the facility. Report them immediately to your state licensing office.
  • Find out what the employees like and don't like about their working environment and employer. The attitude and contentment of the staff will have a direct affect on the care and attention your loved one will receive.
A good nursing home should provide its residents with stimulating activities that would meet the various needs of the people in their care. These can be done individually or in groups. Consider some of these:
  • Social Activities. These activities are designed to keep residents engaged, entertained and at the same time, offer physical and mental benefits. It ranges from birthday parties, ice cream socials, tail gate parties, story time, and musical events to holiday programs and food-centered activities.
  • Physical Activities. These types of activities are designed to promote physical and mental health of the elderly. It includes morning exercises, resistance training, sensory stimulation, pet therapy and gardening.
  • Crafts. Crafts provide entertainment and artistry. It can also contribute to the resident's sense of accomplishment and purpose that can be very beneficial to their state of mind. These activities include sewing, rug hooking, finger painting, knitting and crocheting, leather crafts, and holiday ornaments.

Considering a nursing home for your loved one is a serious decision -- one that must be made with as much information as possible. Knowing what to look for in a facility, the questions to ask, and what residents are entitled to are all necessary.