The career I have chosen is known as the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) position in the federal bureau. I chose this career due to my interest in providing services to the community around me. In particular, being an LPN in the federal bureau would help me implement the skills and capabilities that I have to improve my community. Apart from the financial benefits associated with being an LPN in the federal bureau, this career exposes an individual to greater opportunities. This career creates an amazing platform for one’s professional development by facilitating interacts and networking with individuals of other capabilities in the same industry. To become a practising LPN, an individual requires a high school diploma or a GED from an accredited LPN program (Krushke, 2018). These programs usually involve twelve months of coursework and practical application in a hospital, vocational-technical school or community college.
As an LPN, important skills that one should possess include communication skills and decision-making skills. Due to their close work with patients and families and other health care professionals as well, communication skills are critical for the dissemination of information. Furthermore, decision-making skills are needed for the performance of the required procedures in a quick and effective way. I am already a good communicator as I am able to effectively relay the information that I have to others around me. However, to be effective in my career, I will need to further structure my decision-making capabilities. The typical federal government LPN salary is 49,995 dollars and can grow up to 54,120 dollars depending on the federal bureau institution that the LPN works in. The least salary for LPNs in the federal bureau is about 47,000 dollars. As the education requirements for an LPN in the federal bureau are pretty limited, the level of an individual’s education does not make a significant difference concerning the salary. Typically, an LPN works under the supervision of doctors and registered nurses conducting duties such as taking vital signs, the collection of samples, administration of medications, and ensuring that patients are comfortable (Prentice et al., 2020). LPNs are also responsible for making reports of the status of the patients to the nurses.
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LPNs can find work in any city that has a federal bureau office. Based on one’s posting, the services provided are considerably conducted indoors. However, in special circumstances such as emergencies, some duties have to be conducted outdoors. Most LPNs work an 8 to 12-hour shift which usually starts with consultations with the nurses on duty for the discussion of the status of patients (Krushke, 2018). Medical rounds are then completed, along with the administration of medication. An LPNs day is usually completed by a report to the registered nurses on the status of the patients.
One of the main drawbacks of being an LPN in the federal bureau is the existence of tough working conditions as there are expectations of working nights, weekends and holidays. However, one of the main benefits of being an LPN is the existence of growth opportunities. This career provides an individual with room to adjust their course or make advancements to the next level. One can also advance to a registered nurse position which has greater salaries and opportunities (Prentice et al., 2020). Technologies within the medical field have considerably increased the ease in which LPNs are able to conduct their duties.
Conclusion
As a career, LPN presents significant growth opportunities for the individual involved as one can advance to a registered nurse position. I was not aware of how essential decision-making skills were, which is something I plan to work on. Based on my assessment, I believe that this is the best career for me.
References
Kruschke, C. (2018). Licensed practical nurse practice acts across the country. In Leadership Skills for Licensed Practical Nurses Working with the Aging Population (pp. 141-185). Springer, Cham.
Prentice, D., Moore, J., Crawford, J., Lankshear, S., & Limoges, J. (2020). Collaboration among Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses: A Scoping Review of Practice Guidelines. Nursing Research and Practice , 2020 .
