Practical nurses are a crucial part of the healthcare industry, especially in medical and clinical settings. These healthcare professionals are often tasked with helping patients and providers with daily responsibilities, such as preparing for medical procedures, monitoring vital signs, and reporting health status to physicians. At Prism Career Institute, our Practical Nursing program helps students prepare for a long-term career as a nurse. Here, we discuss what practical nursing is and how to become one.
What Does a Practical Nurse Do?
Practical nurses (PNs) perform a variety of essential tasks to ensure patient comfort and coordinate their care. They carry many responsibilities, such as:
- Monitoring vital signs: Practical nurses check and record blood pressure, temperature, pulse, height, and weight.
- Administering medications: Another PN duty is giving prescribed medications and injections after receiving orders from attending physicians.
- Performing wound care: Changing dressings and caring for wounds after surgeries or procedures is also part of practical nursing duties.
- Assisting with daily living activities: PNs often help patients with bathing, dressing, eating, and moving about to promote their health and comfort.
- Collecting samples: Practical nurses may take blood, urine, and other samples for lab testing.
- Giving patient education: Teaching patients about their care plans, medications, and management for their conditions is another essential PN duty for continuation of care.
- Reporting: PNs communicate with physicians and care teams regarding patient status.
PNs also provide personalized care and engage with patients to help them achieve better health outcomes. Some practical nurses may do administrative duties, such as admitting patients and updating health records, depending on the facility.
Where Do Practical Nurses Work?
Practical nurses are the backbone of patient care and coordination in many different healthcare settings. Although PNs often perform similar duties at different locations, they may have specific tasks in certain workplaces. These include:
Hospitals
In hospitals, practical nurses perform patient intake in emergency care, testing, and procedures. Some may even perform administrative duties, such as entering data into computer systems and recording Patient Health Information (PHI) into databases. The main focus of PNs in hospital settings is to ensure smooth short-term care coordination between emergency care departments and physicians.
Nursing Homes
In nursing homes, practical nurses focus on long-term care for seniors. PNs may help residents with daily living tasks, such as bathing, dressing and eating, as well as changing bandages or assisting with hygiene. They may also provide emotional support for residents, especially seniors with cognitive impairments and physical ailments.
Home Health Care
PNs can also provide in-home care for patients in the comfort of their homes. They can help with medication management, administer IVs at home, and perform wound care. PNs may also help with patients moving about to keep them mobile.
Skills and Qualities of a Successful Practical Nurse
To be a successful practical nurse, you must have certain skills and qualities. It requires a willingness to grow and a desire to hone your skill set. Some essential skills of a PN include:
Strong Communication
Strong communication skills are needed in practical nurses for several reasons. Advocating for patients and updating doctors helps them achieve successful treatment outcomes. Medication errors and inaccuracies in patient data often result from poor communication, so it’s essential to be an active listener. Successful practical nurses should also practice understanding body language.
Adaptability
Adaptability is another good quality for a PN to possess. They must be able to adapt quickly to different responsibilities, as each day and hour may bring about new tasks. Practical nurses should also pursue continuous training on patient privacy, duties, and streamlining care. This helps them stay updated on ongoing information regarding treatment and care coordination.
Empathy and Compassion
Empathy and compassion are another important part of being a practical nurse. Empathy is demonstrated by nurses to patients by understanding their discomfort, feelings, and anxieties about their health conditions and procedures. A highly successful nurse connects with their patient’s thoughts, feelings, and points of view. Being compassionate helps make patients feel comfortable and helps nurses establish connections. Building trust with patients is critical to ensure open communication about their health conditions and treatments.
Attention to Detail
Attention to detail is another quality that practical nurses should have. This precision ensures the right medications and treatments are provided to patients. PNs also need to take vitals, update records, and communicate with other healthcare workers, and they must ensure the information is correct every time.
Training to Become a Practical Nurse
To become a practical nurse, students must have a high school diploma or an equivalent recognized by U.S. Department of Education. They must also complete an accredited training program, like the one offered at Prism Career Institute. Students also have to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN) before employment. This is a nationally standardized test to ensure that nursing candidates have the appropriate skills and ethics necessary to take care of patients.
At Prism Career Institute, our Practical Nursing program requirements include proof of a high school diploma or an equivalent certificate, as well as an interview with a representative. Students must also pass the Practical Nursing Assessment Institute of Technologies Test of Essential Academic Skills (ATI TEAS) exam. Our training program includes lessons on subjects like anatomy, medical terminology, nutrition, psychology, human growth, and nursing care. Students also get hands-on learning experiences in a clinical setting.
Employment Opportunities for Practical Nurses and Job Outlook for Practical Nurses
Becoming a practical nurse offers versatility and advancement opportunities. PNs are adaptable, allowing them to work in various healthcare settings throughout their careers. Other possible employment opportunities for PNs include healthcare support fields, such as medical coding and transcription. PNs can also choose to further their careers with advanced roles by obtaining specialty certifications.
The job outlook for practical nurses is also steady. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), about 54,000 openings for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Due to nursing shortages, more healthcare workers are needed to fill empty roles, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, many healthcare facilities have an increased need for PNs and LPNs. This demand helps aspiring PNs find and keep jobs in the healthcare industry.
Getting Started with Your Practical Nursing Journey
If you’re interested in becoming a practical nurse, turn to Prism Career Institute. Our high-quality practical nursing program provides hands-on, focused learning and preparation for future career opportunities. Courses are taught by experienced and dedicated instructors with years of experience in the healthcare field. The PN program is available at our locations in Cherry Hill, NJ, and Philadelphia, PA.
At Prism Career Institute, we offer various financial aid options for students who qualify. We also help prepare students for the job market by offering career services and support. We connect nursing students with our affiliate healthcare employers and sites after graduation to ensure a smooth transition between school and work. Contact us at Prism Career Institute for more information on what practical nursing is and our PN program.