Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Training
LPN Training in Georgia
LPN training programs in Georgia consist of classroom courses combined with clinical practice. It is only natural to wonder how much hands on training a licensed practical nurse will obtain. As a prospective LPN student one needs to know that proper training will be provided to feel comfortable practicing in the profession. According to most LPN program curriculums, most full time LPN programs in Georgia offer clinical training two days a week for about eight hours each day. This training is augmented by lab training which takes place within school laboratories.
The time spent in clinical training is approximately 300 hours while the time spent in lab training is around 160 hours. The total hands-on LPN training amounts to approximately 460 hours during the entire LPN program. As an LPN student you will be guided and supervised in your training at all times by instructors and other qualified health care personnel at the facilities where training is performed. The majority of LPN programs in Georgia conduct LPN training in various settings to give LPN students a wide, comprehensive training experience. The settings include long term care, acute care, child development, ambulatory care, and home health care facilities.
According to the Georgia Board of Nursing, there are a specific set of skills an LPN will acquire during training such as the following: collect data with the RN to develop a nursing care plan; demonstrate aseptic technique; administer medications and IV therapy under the supervision of the registered nurse; locate all pulses and demonstrate use of Doppler; collect a sputum specimen; calculate intake and output for complex conditions; perform chest percussion, postural drainage and coughing; demonstrate tracheostomy care and suctioning. There are additional skills a licensed practical nurse will learn during training and the list mentioned above is by no means comprehensive. As a new graduate from an LPN program you will receive additional training at the specific employer you select.
Most LPN training programs are available from technical and practical schools, and from community or junior colleges. Other LPN programs are available through high schools, hospitals, colleges and universities. A high school diploma or its equivalent is usually required for entry into a practical nurse training program, although some LPN training programs accept candidates without a diploma, and some are designed as part of a high school curriculum. Prospective nursing students need to have proof of High School Diploma or GED and complete an application stating their intent to enroll in the practical nurse training program. No prior college course credits are required to enroll in a practical nursing program.
Most practical nursing training programs last one year and include both classroom study and supervised clinical practice (patient care). Classroom study covers basic nursing concepts and patient care related subjects, including anatomy, physiology, medical-surgical nursing, pediatrics, obstetrics, psychiatric nursing, the administration of drugs, nutrition, and first aid.
The concepts studied in class are applied in various healthcare settings including hospitals, long term care facilities and rehabilitation centers. Clinical practice usually takes place in a hospital, but sometimes includes other settings such as nursing homes or clinics. Nursing students have a solid base of knowledge and skills upon completion of an LPN training program. All course work, clinical instruction and practice must be completed before one can qualify to take the licensing examination.
All States and the District of Columbia require licensed practical nurses to pass a licensing examination known as the NCLEX-PN, after completing an approved practical nursing program. Upon passing the NCLEX examination the graduate practical nurse will receive a license and be able to practice as a licensed practical nurse in Georgia.
The need for qualified licensed practical nurses is increasing as the U.S. population is aging. LPN jobs are constantly created in the communities due to the growing trend in home health care and the clients desire to remain in their homes for as long as possible. As a result of the current nurse shortage and the growing need to replace nurses leaving the profession, licensed practical nurses (LPN) will find increasing opportunities to select the work environment best suited for them.
In some employment settings, such as nursing homes, licensed practical nurses can advance to become charge nurses who oversee the work of other licensed practical nurses and of nursing aides. Some LPN choose to become registered nurses through numerous LPN-to-RN training programs.
Licensed practical nurses should have a caring, sympathetic nature. LPN should be emotionally stable because working with the sick and injured can be stressful. They also should have keen observational, decision-making, and communication skills. As part of a health care team, licensed practical nurses must be able to follow orders and work under close supervision.