Licensed practical nurses (LPN 's) fill an important role in modern health care practices. Their primary job duty is to provide routine care, observe patients’ health, assist doctors and registered nurses, and communicate instructions to patients regarding medication, home-based care, and preventative lifestyle changes (Hill). A Licensed Practical Nurse has various of roles that they have to manage on a day to day basis, such as being an advocate for their patients, an educator, being a counselor, a consultant, researcher, collaborator, and even a manager depending on what kind of work exactly that you do and where. It is the nursing process and critical thinking that separate the LPN from the unlicensed assistive personnel. Judgments are based …show more content…
It is important to evaluate which learning style your patients prefer in order for them to best understand what needs to be done for the maximum appropriate outcome. Licensed practical nurses are advocates and that’s someone who supports and supplies information to their patients. Advocacy often involves standing up in support of a patient and their rights. This is especially true when patients are not able to protect their own rights. When filling the role of counselor, Licensed Practical Nurses can help patients and families explore ideas and feelings towards healthcare and illness (8 Roles of the LPN). Some patients have a difficult time accepting a disease or its treatment options. As a practical nurse you consult with RN supervisors regarding patient care and assessments. In some settings LPN 's communicate directly to physicians. Communicating information to the proper people assists in increasing the effectiveness of care plans (Role). As practical nurses we are only one part of a patient care team. Other important members include RN 's, CNA 's, physicians, physical/occupational/speech therapists, dietitians, volunteers, and more (8 Roles of the LPN). With such a large team, every member has their own scope of
Some of the best LPNs are compassionate toward their patients and patient with them because of their state of health, both of which are necessary. Also, a LPN should be detail oriented and have a good measure of stamina to work long hours and perform some physical-demanding tasks. Due to the constant contact with patients and fellow medical workers, a LPN should also have good speaking skills and interpersonal skills. After reviewing this skills and giving some thought to the matter, I chose to purse a career in nursing
According to the American Nurses Association, nursing is defined as “the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, facilitation of healing, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations” (American Nurses Association, 2016). Nurses have many jobs and responsibilities and wear many different hats. Nurses can perform at many different levels depending on their scope of practice which is defined by the board of nursing in one’s state of residence. It is important as nurses to understand and follow
Nurse practitioners have not necessarily more but different responsibilities than those that are held by registered nurses. NPs have more freedom to make and oversee the carrying out of health care plans for patients. NPs are also able to follow guide lines more closely to those of a physician. Registered nurses (RNs) are able to advise and aide less skilled medical personnel. They are also able to order, examine, and explain different diagnostic tests as directed by a physician. All nurses have the responsibility to monitor and chart the conditions treatments and reactions of the patients. Nurse Practitioners are able to perform all these responsibilities along with many others not granted to less trained
When I am older I would love to be a Nurse Practitioner, I enjoy helping people when they are sick and taking care of them. Another reason I want to be a Nurse Practitioner is because my sister is also a Nurse Practitioner.
Nurse practitioners do more than you’d actually think. They diagnose and treat acute, episodic, or chronic illness, independently or as part of a health care team. They may focus on health promotion and disease prevention. May order, perform, or interpret diagnostics tests such as lab work and x-rays and provide services such as health and wellness counseling, screening and referrals, and physical exams. They also may prescribe medication dosages, routes, and frequencies based on patient characteristics such as age and gender. They analyze and interpret patients, histories, symptoms, physical findings, or diagnostics information to develop appropriate diagnoses. As well as provide primary and some acute care and are qualified to meet the majority of patient’s health care needs.
The career of a registered nurse is one of the most interesting professions in the medical field, because not only do they help to improve the health of their patients, they also help their patients to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Registered nurses work to promote health, prevent disease, and help patients cope with illness. Their job is to help patients get their health back on track, and prevent increased visits to the physician. When providing care directly to the patient, they observe, assess, and record symptoms, reactions, and progress. They do this to see where the patient’s health stands and prevent further illness or health problems if such occurs. Registered Nurses help to develop and manage nursing plans, and instruct the patient and their
Their skill, knowledge, and love of their occupation help them to exceed in everything they do. Moving towards a required doctorate degree will open up many doors for nurse practitioners, as they will be seen as a more professional occupation. The role of every health care member is essential for a patient, and nurse practitioners are able to play a huge role in each case by providing assistance in diagnosing and treating patients, as well as researching different ways to help them. Having a nurse practitioner to help educate the patient’s family is so important because it allows the family to feel more involved with their loved one’s care. The way nurses and nurse practitioner’s follow the code of ethics and standards of practice give them the characteristics of honesty and loyalty, and without both of them, key parts of the patient’s care would be
In Nursing, there will always be instances where the patient's nurse needs to advocate for their patient. There are numerous reasons why a nurse would advocate for their patient ranging from getting the doctor to change the patient’s orders, helping the patient’s treatment team understand what it is the patient is requiring for the day, to expressing the patient’s last wishes before death. In every situation, the nurse should do what is in the patient’s best interest. Tomajan (2012), “Advocacy skills are the ability to successfully support a cause or interest on one’s own behalf or that of another. Advocacy requires a set of skills that include problem solving, communication, influence, and collaboration”(p. 2). With those skills, the nursing staff will be able to work together to advocate for their patients. Along with those skills, nurses need to keep in mind the three core attributes that are: safeguarding patients’ autonomy; acting on behalf of patients; and championing social justice in the provision of health care. (Bu & Jezewski, 2006)
Once upon a time, my best friend, Bryan Martinez, often heard his mother’s medical conversations with friends. One day at school, our teacher confronted Mrs. Martinez and told her that she was able tell that Bryan was a son from a nurse. Apparently there was an incident at school where a little boy was acting out and Bryan told our teacher that the little boy was agitated, and to give him some medication to calm him down. As demonstrated by Bryan, nursing is ongoing profession that promotes the health and well-being of individuals.
“Nurse practitioners assess, diagnose, treat, and manage acute episodic and chronic illnesses. NPs are experts in health promotion and disease prevention. They order, conduct, supervise, and interpret diagnostic and laboratory tests, prescribe pharmacological agents and non-pharmacologic therapies, as well as teach and counsel patients, among other services. As licensed, independent clinicians,
The following essay is a reflective paper on an event that I encountered as a student nurse during my first clinical placement in my first year of study. The event took place in a long term facility. This reflection is about the patient whom I will call Mrs. D. to protect her confidentiality. Throughout this essay I will be using LEARN model of reflection. I have decided to reflect on the event described in this essay since I believe that it highlights the need for nurses to have effective vital signs ‘assessment skills especially when treating older patients with complex medical diagnoses.
Nursing is a knowledge-based profession within the health care sector that focuses on the overall care of individuals. According to The American College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP), “defines nurse practitioners as registered nursed who have received graduate-leveling nursing education and clinical training, which enables them to provide a wide range of preventative and acute health care services to individuals of all ages. They deliver high-quality, cost effective care, often performing physical examinations, ordering tests, making diagnoses, and prescribing and managing medication and therapies”. Nurse Practitioners are able to specialize in a particular area, such as family and adult practice, pediatrics, and women’s health; and refer patients to other specialist when necessary. Some Nurse practitioners work under the supervision of a physician; while others run their own practices.
There are two kinds of nurses LPN and RN. RNs are responsible for the patient’s health and needs. RNs also record medical records and analyze conditions. They perform diagnostic testing on patients to come to a conclusion of their condition. Patients get their care plans created by registered nurses.
“The ultimate value of life depends upon awareness and the power of contemplation rather than upon mere survival” (Aristotle, n.d.)
I plan to observe a small group of LPN nurses. I want to observe them because this may or not be my future I am very interested in the way they act and how they came to do what they do. The girls I'll be observing mean a lot to me and with 1 in particular I have become extremely close. Brittany, Sam, and Jen all LPN nurses and all I'll get to see and observe weekly. I am interested in their home life as well as how they act in the workplace I plan to observe them in a variety of settings with different patients. The main one being Allison Rose, Allison is a student at mead high school with Rett's syndrome and she has some of the most beautiful eyes you will ever see. These nurses have truly inspired me and I am going to enjoy observing