What is an LPN?

Healthcare careers tend to be a sound investment. At the end of the day, they require highly marketable skills that are always in high demand. No matter where in the state or the country you live, people will always need healthcare professionals. But with so many different options, how do you know which one would be best for you? Specifically, what does being a licensed practical nurse (LPN) entail? What are the requirements to become one? What are the responsibilities? And, if you’re already an LPN, what are some of the benefits of working for our team at Sonas?

What is a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)?

A Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) is one of the most popular types of nursing — the other one being registered nurses (RN). However, being an LPN is very different than being an RN. An LPN provides nursing care under the supervision of a registered nurse or another healthcare professional. These responsibilities may include:

• Medication administration per physician orders
• Dressing changes
• Feeding tubes
• Inserting and irrigating NG tubes and Foley catheters
• Wound care
• Ventilation and tracheostomy care and suctioning endotracheally
• Patient education
• One-on-one nursing care in a home environment

These types of jobs can be performed by LPNs in any setting where healthcare services are provided. The most common settings include hospitals, nursing homes, medical offices, schools, universities, and home healthcare.

How to Become an LPN

Becoming an LPN requires completing an accredited practical nursing program at a community college or technical school. Courses include nursing and science courses, as well as supervised clinical experience, and it takes about a year to earn your certification.

Once you receive your certification, you have to take an examination known as the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX-PN). When you pass it, you obtain your license to work as an LPN. Since it takes a shorter amount of time to become an LPN, it’s a practical career choice for people who want to start working in healthcare sooner.

LPN Careers at Sonas

At Sonas Home Health, you can choose to work with adult or pediatric patients — and work as part of a team. We also strive to make the experience as positive as possible by matching our caregivers with clients’ specific needs and personalities. In addition, we offer employee benefits — based on certain measurement periods and available to eligible/qualifying employees. They are also provided to assist in managing the health of you and your family. These include:

• Competitive pay
• Flexible work schedules
• Available shifts in counties across the state of Florida
• Paid time off
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401K retirement plan with company match
• Other voluntary products
• Nurse Referral Bonus Program
• Weekly pay
• 24/7 on-call support
• CEU credits

If You’re Looking for A Career as an LPN, Contact Sonas for Home Health Care

If you’re a Licensed Practical Nurse licensed in the state of Florida, and you’re looking for career opportunities in a home health care setting, we’d love to hear from you. Visit our jobs page or contact us at (888) 592-5855 for more information.

Janelle Thomas MSN, RN

Director of Clinical Education at Sonas Home Health Care

Janelle Thomas MSN, RN — Director of Clinical Education for Sonas Home Health Care — reviewed this content for clinical accuracy. Janelle Thomas has been a nurse for 8 years — working primarily in pediatrics. She believes that nothing is more rewarding in home health care than creating a connection with a patient and their families that will last a lifetime.