What is an LVN?
An LVN is a Licensed Vocational Nurse which is a nurse that is licensed by the state to provide routine patient care. Some states use the term LPN or Licensed Practical Nurse rather than LVN. An LVN can work in a hospital, long-term care facility, convalescent home, doctor’s office or surgical center, providing many of the same services also performed by Registered Nurses (RNs).
The LVN, however, must be supervised by RNs or doctors, and cannot do everything an RN does. In some states, an LVN never starts an intravenous line (IV), while in others, they may be able to obtain IV certification to perform this procedure. In areas where they do not start IVs, most LVNs can take blood or administer injections. The LVN may have to do a lot of the clean up in hospital settings. Preparing rooms for new patients, bathing patients, or cleaning up a patient who has vomited are typical LVN jobs. These jobs are important, yet some LVNs feel that their supervisors abuse their authority by assigning them the dirtiest jobs.
The LVN is usually trained for a year to two years in anatomy, physiology, and patient care, differing from the RN, who has several more years of advanced science and frequently a four-year education. Once education is completed, the LVN must also do supervised work prior to applying for licensure. Many would argue that the LVN is one of the hardest of workers, though most receive about half the salary of an RN, approximately 24-48,000 US dollars (USD) per year. Many LVNs decided to achieve their RN after a few years of work, to take on more challenging work or to have the salary to which they are richly entitled.
Some LVNs are happy with their title, pay and positions, and LVNs can specialize in a field of medicine that is most interesting to them. LVNs are in very high demand in long-term care facilities or nursing homes, and frequently are paid more for taking these positions. So those who specialize in geriatrics find employment easily.
The supervision laws regarding the LVN are now such, that many hospitals are hiring fewer LVNs. Since the RN can perform more duties, and does not require the same supervision, it often makes sense to simply hire the RN. An RN can only supervise a specific number of LVNs. Thus hiring an LVN may also mean hiring an RN, which is not cost-effective. It is predicted that the position of LVN may gradually be phased out in most hospitals because of the need for supervision.
Many doctors’ offices prefer hiring an LVN to an RN, because of the cost difference in salary. An LVN can undertake almost all tasks performed by an RN in a doctor’s office. An LVN can take temperatures, measure blood pressure, take a medical history, give injections and also perform CPR in case of emergency. Supervision is under the practicing doctors and does not engender the same issues as supervision required in a hospital setting.
Many training programs exist for LVNs. Community colleges and trade or medical schools offer LVN programs. These programs greatly vary in price. Trade schools are likely to be most expensive, and community colleges are usually least expensive. Like all licensed medical professionals, the LVN must maintain his or her license through continuing education. Requirements vary from state to state in the US.
Because of the current high rate of competition for getting into RN programs, many LVN programs are now more available than previously. The LVN also has an advantage should he or she wish to obtain an RN. Many of the training programs offered for RNs will give preference to those with experience in the field.
Written by Tricia Ellis-Christensen
