Fusion Medical Staffing provided this article.
Licensed practical nurses (LPNs), also known in California and Texas as licensed vocational nurses (LVNs), are instrumental members of a healthcare team. Working under the supervision of a registered nurse (RN) on the frontlines of patient care, LPNs, and LVNs take vital signs, administer medication, offer comfort, and educate patients and families on health conditions, ensuring that every patient receives the attention and care they deserve.
Want to make a positive impact in the lives of others? Here’s how to get your travel nursing career started as a licensed practical nurse.
How To Start Your Travel Nurse Career as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
1. Complete an accredited nursing program
Unlike most nursing professions, you don’t need a college degree to become a licensed practical nurse or licensed vocational nurse. Instead, you’ll need certification from a state-approved and accredited practical nursing program. Oftentimes, these training programs include a blend of classroom learning and hands-on clinical practice and take between one and two years to complete.
Graduating from an accredited nursing program is a critical step on the path to becoming a licensed practical nurse. Not only does it ensure you meet the rigorous standards set by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, but it also prepares you for the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses, otherwise known as the NCLEX-PN, and the next step in the process of becoming an LPN.
2. Pass the NCLEX-PN and get licensed
Once you’ve completed your nursing program, it’s time to take the NCLEX-PN. This standardized exam assesses your readiness to handle different patient scenarios in a real-world setting with up to 205 questions about patient care, health promotion and maintenance, safety and infection control, pharmacological therapies, and physiological adaptation.
Passing the NCLEX-PN is a regulatory requirement across all states and sets a standard of competency for those pursuing LPN licensure. And when the National Council Licensure Examination is in your rearview mirror (and licensure is in hand), you can officially start practicing as a licensed practical nurse.
3. Gain clinical experience
You’ve completed your nursing program and passed the NCLEX-PN. Now’s your time to shine and gain one to two years of real-life experience as a licensed practical nurse or licensed vocational nurse!
Collecting clinical experience as a licensed practical nurse will only set you up for success in your travel nursing career. Gaining experience gives you the practice you need to adapt to new settings, teams, and patient needs while allowing you to build a strong foundational skill set and a deep understanding of nursing practices to help you be successful as a travel nurse.
Plus, gaining experience as a licensed practical nurse provides a unique opportunity for you to discover your specialty areas and strengths, which can guide you in choosing the right travel nursing assignments in the future. Licensed practical nurses and licensed vocational nurses can expect the following responsibilities in the field:
- Provide basic patient care, including bathing, dressing, and feeding patients
- Monitor patients’ health by checking vital signs and noting any significant changes for the registered nurse or physician.
- Administer prescribed medication on time and in the correct dosage
- Assist in diagnostic tests and procedures to help collect samples for testing, assist in exams, and monitor patients during and after procedures
- Document patient health status and update patient records
- Provide emotional support and comfort to patients and families
Before you hit the road as a travel nurse, gather first-hand exposure to various patient conditions, learn about diverse medical procedures, and understand how to interact effectively with patients and other healthcare professionals. With this experience under your belt, your problem-solving skills, decision-making abilities, and confidence will be enhanced.
4. Start travel nursing
Now that you have one to two years of nursing experience, you’re ready to start traveling as a licensed practical nurse. As a travel nurse, you’re able to explore new places, meet diverse individuals, and gain a breadth of experience in the nursing field.
With a high demand for nurses in the U.S., travel nurses can leverage their skills to travel to locations where they’re needed the most. This allows you to work in a variety of healthcare settings, from bustling city hospitals to remote rural clinics. Not only does this broaden your professional abilities, but travel nursing also enriches your personal life through new experiences and perspectives. Committed to making a positive impact in the lives of others, traveling licensed practical nurses are essential to the world of healthcare.
Whether you’ve always known you belong in healthcare or it’s a newfound love of yours, there are many advantages to travel nursing. With the chance to check out places unexplored by you, meet new people, and gain invaluable professional experience, there’s nothing quite like a career as a traveling licensed practical nurse. And there are many LPN jobs available to you that span the country. Start searching for LPN jobs now, and get your travel adventure started!
The Gypsy Nurse’s job board has many travel LPN jobs. Click here to get started on your first travel LPN job! We have you covered with our housing page if housing is an issue. You can search for what you are looking for.
