There are currently more than 1,362,705 licensed vocational nurses in the US. Not all jobs are as rewarding as others, and if this is something you want out of a career, being a vocational nurse is a great option.
A licensed vocational nurse provides professional medical care to people who are sick or need long-term assistance. This can be in a range of environments, such as doctor’s clinics, sports rehabilitation centers, and nursing homes.
In this guide, we’ll go over a typical day in the life of a vocational nurse. Keep reading for more.
Starting a Shift
The day can start early, so a lot of nurses like to begin with a coffee to get them going. You’ll have a handover with your colleagues who are coming to the end of their shifts, so communication skills are essential. This will help you determine what specific tasks you’ll have for that day.
When it comes to health care, every shift is different, and a changeover will bring you up to speed with any unexpected incidents from the night before. You’ll also get a rundown of any patients that are being discharged, or new ones coming in. Review your patient charts, then you’ll be ready to get started.
Busy in the Morning
One of the first things you’re likely to do is a walkaround to greet various patients. After a brief interaction with them, you’ll move on to taking their basic vitals. This can include things like a patient’s:
- Heart rate
- Blood pressure
- Oxygen saturation
- Respiratory rate
- Temperature
Many patients will be taking regular medication, so you’ll administer this as needed. Patients may require various treatments such as oral medication, injections, or topical treatments. These will have previously been prescribed by a registered nurse or physician.
Most of the rest of the morning will consist of assisting patients with daily activities such as eating, bathing, and dressing. LVNs who work in surgical environments might have other tasks such as prepping patients for surgery later in the day.
A Rewarding Afternoon
After lunch, one of the first tasks is to help patients get to appointments that they have. This is typically for things like physiotherapy or surgery.
After this, comes one of the most rewarding parts of the job—discharging patients that have recovered. You just need to check their vital signs and run a final diagnostic, and if everything checks out, you can give them the ‘all clear’.
One of your last tasks is to talk to patients and their families about continued care. Depending on what the patient is in for, this can include disease management, administering medication, or wound care. After this, you just need to conduct a handover for those coming in to start their shift, and then you can head home.
Why Choose a Career as a Vocational Nurse?
Health care is one of the most rewarding fields you can work in. For those interested in medical careers, becoming a vocational nurse is a great choice.
Healthcare Career College provides hands-on healthcare training in South Los Angeles, CA. Take a look at our Vocational Nursing page to see more about our LVN training today.