Imagine that you suddenly become ill and are admitted to a hospital. The doctor comes, examines you, prescribes medicine, and leaves. But then, who is there most of the day to be with you, checking on everything about you, giving you the medicine on time, and talking to you and making you feel better? Yes, that is the nursing staff. But did you know that there are people with different levels and different responsibilities in this nursing service? Today we are talking about such a special nursing role.
Who is this LPN?
LPN is an abbreviation for "Licensed Practical Nurse." This is a nursing degree commonly used in countries like the United States and Canada. Simply put, an LPN is a properly licensed nurse who provides basic patient care.
In our country, that is, in Sri Lanka, although there is no position by this name, there are nursing officers who perform a similar role. For example, the responsibilities of the auxiliary nursing staff working under the Registered Nurses (RN) in our country are very similar to the responsibilities of an LPN. Therefore, as we talk about LPNs throughout this article, let us also keep in mind those who perform a similar role in the health system of our country.
An LPN is a vital bridge between the patient, the patient's family, and other medical staff, including doctors. They provide basic medical care to the patient, as well as explaining, educating, and comforting the patient's family.
What are the main responsibilities of an LPN (or similar nurse)?
The things an LPN does can vary slightly depending on the laws of the country and hospital they work in. But in general, they have a few main duties. Let's take a look at what they do.
| Duty/Responsibility | Simply put... |
|---|---|
| Monitoring the patient's health status | Regularly measure and record your vital signs, such as your temperature, blood pressure, and pulse rate. |
| Providing basic medical care | Things like applying medicine to wounds and bandaging them, inserting a catheter if necessary, and injecting some simple medications prescribed by the doctor. |
| Making the patient comfortable | Things that bring physical and mental comfort to a bedridden patient, such as bathing them, helping them change their clothes, and helping them eat. |
| Record keeping | Accurately recording everything about the patient's condition, the medications given, and the care provided is essential for the patient's future treatment. |
| Information reporting and communication | If you notice a change in the patient's condition, immediately inform the registered nurse (RN) or doctor in charge. Also, listen carefully to what the patient says and their questions. |
Simply put, an LPN is someone who stays close to a patient and helps them throughout their stay in the hospital, taking care of all their basic needs.
The main differences between a registered nurse (RN) and an LPN
You may be thinking, "So, are these different from the other nurses we see?" Yes, there is a slight difference. In most countries around the world, there are two main levels of nursing. They are RN and LPN. Let's look at the main differences between the two.
| Characteristic | LPN (or equivalent position in Sri Lanka) | Registered Nurse (RN) |
|---|---|---|
| Education and training | Usually, they pursue a 1-2 year diploma or certificate course. | Complete a 3-year diploma or a 4-year nursing degree. |
| Role | Providing basic and direct patient care . Paying close attention to patient comfort. | Performs more complex medical tasks . Collaborates with the doctor to develop a patient care plan, administers medications, and supervises LPNs. |
| Monitoring | They often work under the supervision of an RN or doctor. | Responsible for supervising LPNs and other support staff. |
Think of it like building a big building. The RN is like the engineer. He creates the plan and supervises the complex work. The LPN is like a skilled technician who works according to that plan and does the basic work of the building. Without the services of both of them, the building cannot be built properly.
What are the skills needed to be suitable for this profession?
Nursing is not just a job, it is a great commitment and service. Someone who wants to enter this profession must have several special skills and qualities.
- Compassion and kindness: You need to be able to understand the feelings of someone who is sick and in pain. Treating them with love and kindness is number one.
- Excellent communication skills: Must be able to communicate clearly with doctors, other nurses, the patient, and the patient's family. This also includes listening carefully to what the patient has to say.
- Patience: Some patients may become agitated or angry due to pain or the nature of the illness. You need to be able to work with patience during such times.
- Strong mental and physical fitness: This is a very demanding profession. You need to be able to stand for hours, lift patients, and be able to handle stress.
- Good observation skills: You must be able to quickly recognize even the slightest change in the patient's condition.
- Organization: You must be able to look after several patients at the same time, be punctual, and keep everything recorded and organized.
- Ability to tolerate bodily fluids: Although this may seem a bit difficult, when you actually help a patient, you have to work with things like blood, pus, and vomit. You need to have the mental strength to accept it as part of the job without getting upset about it.
How can someone in Sri Lanka enter the nursing profession?
Although there are exams and licensing procedures to become an LPN in foreign countries, the procedure for entering the nursing service in our country is quite different. If you are also interested in joining this noble service, here are the main ways to do so.
1. Government Nursing Training Schools (NTS): This is the main and most popular way to become a Registered Nurse (RN) in our country.
- Qualification: Must have passed the Advanced Level examination in the Bio-Science stream with a specific Z-score.
- Course: A 3-year full-time diploma course is offered at government expense. During this period, you will receive both theoretical knowledge and practical training in hospitals.
- Career: After successfully completing the course, you can join a government hospital as a registered nurse (RN).
2. Nursing Degree Programs: You can also obtain a nursing degree through the university system.
- Qualifications: Must have obtained a high Z-score in Advanced Level Biology and gain university admission.
- Course: You can study a 4-year special degree course (BSc in Nursing).
- Career: After graduation, there is a high chance of moving to higher positions in the government or private sector.
3. Auxiliary Nursing Training Courses: In both the public and private sectors, there are short-term courses for auxiliary nursing positions that provide basic care similar to the role of an LPN. These usually last from 6 months to a year.
Although nursing is challenging, the satisfaction you get from helping to save someone's life and reduce their pain is priceless.
Take-Home Message
- LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) is a licensed nurse who provides basic patient care. Although there is no position by this name in Sri Lanka, there are auxiliary nursing staff who perform similar roles.
- An LPN mainly focuses on the patient's comfort, basic medical needs, and daily care.
- A registered nurse (RN) is someone who has received more extensive education and training, and who has more complex medical tasks and supervisory responsibilities.
- Nursing is a very important part of the coordination between the patient, family, and doctors.
- This profession requires compassion, patience, good communication, and a strong mindset.
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