Ever wondered about what a vocational nurse is? Or what their typical day looks like? Vocational Nurses, also called Licensed Vocational Nurses, have the duties of good patient care working in a wide range of healthcare settings.
Their day-to-day role is not limited to one section but more than you can imagine. From offering bedside care to recording patient histories and working in challenging healthcare sessions, a lot goes behind the scenes for a vocational nurse.
So, let’s take you through what a day in the life of vocational nurses looks like. What are their daily roles and responsibilities, and how can you work towards becoming one?
What is a Vocational Nurse?
A Vocational Nurse or a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) provides primary bedside care to patients who are ill, injured, or disabled. These nurses work under the direction of physicians or registered nurses and assist them daily while keeping an update on patients’ healthcare details.
These nurses can also work in a physician’s office, privately owned clinics, nursing homes, and even educational centers like schools. While their role may not be as widely recognized as that of doctors or registered nurses, vocational nurses play a crucial role in patient care.
Read: Registered Vs Vocational Nurse
Responsibilities of a Vocational Nurse
Let’s take a glance at the basic day-to-day roles and responsibilities of a vocational nurse:
- Perform routine patient assessments, including monitoring vital signs.
- Administer medications and document medication oversight accurately.
- Provide wound care and dressing changes, ensuring proper hygiene and infection control.
- Keep detailed documentation of patient assessments, treatments, and changes in condition.
- Ensure patient safety by identifying and addressing potential hazards and implementing prevention measures.
- Follow infection control protocols and maintain a clean and safe patient care environment.
- Help with patient transfers and mobility, ensuring patient comfort and safety.
- Support patients in activities of daily living, including feeding, bathing, and toileting.
- Educate patients and their families on healthcare procedures, treatments, and post-care instructions.
- Continuously update knowledge and skills through professional development and training opportunities.
The Different Shifts in Day of A Vocational Nurse
In this section, we will explore the responsibilities, challenges, and contributions and the invaluable role vocational nurses play in the healthcare setting:
Morning Routine: Starting the Day
A vocational nurse’s first and foremost task is arriving early, taking a handover of the previously ended shift, and taking notes on preparing for the day. As LVN(Licensed Vocational Nurse), you must have great interpersonal communication skills to communicate with colleagues and determine your upcoming duties.
They review patient charts, noting vital signs, medications, or treatment changes. They ensure they have the necessary supplies, medications, and equipment as they prepare for their day.
Once the morning preparations are complete, vocational nurses commence their rounds, assessing patients’ conditions and vital signs.
They are skilled in measuring blood pressure, temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate.
After reviewing everything thoroughly with all the patient’s requirements, the nurse begins their day of work.
Mornings with Medication Administration and Treatment
As the nurse starts their day, the initial responsibility is to meet and greet the patients, walk around, and see if they need anything. Post-checking on the patients, with a keen eye for detail and adherence to protocols, ensures patients get proper medication.
This includes administering oral medications, injections, and IV medications, while carefully watching patients for any adverse reactions or side effects.
In addition to this, vocational nurses assist with various treatments and procedures. They may dress wounds, perform catheterisations, provide wound care, and assist with respiratory treatments.
These tasks require precision and attention to detail, as they work closely with physicians and registered nurses to ensure patients receive the necessary care. And this is how the day flew by, working around and taking care of all the necessary patient care arrangements.
Afternoon Routine
As the morning routine comes to an end, afternoons come with helping transport patients to their scheduled appointments.
The ultimate reward as a vocational nurse is to complete all her duties and discharge the patient once they are fully recovered. However, one must take a final check with diagnosis and other tests to have a clear report before the final discharge.
Providing Emotional Support
A vocational nurse’s job goes beyond their final shift. Beyond the medical aspects of care, vocational nurses excel in providing emotional support to patients.
They develop close relationships with patients and their families, offering comfort and educating patients’ families on how to continue their healthcare at home. It includes educating them on medications, wound care, and health management.
Finally, before the shift ends for a vocational nurse, their final job is to hand over all the crucial details to the next team of medical colleagues about to start their shift. It is to keep the upcoming teams aware of today’s events and ensure the patients’ records are up-to-date.
Collaboration and Documentation
An important part of a vocational nurse’s job is to create a summary and work collaboratively with the healthcare team, including physicians, registered nurses, and other support staff.
They actively participate in team discussions, sharing vital patient information and contributing their insights. This collaboration ensures comprehensive care plans and facilitates effective communication among all involved.
Furthermore, vocational nurses are responsible for accurate and timely documentation. They meticulously record patient observations, medication administrations, treatments, and patient condition changes.
Want To Become a Vocational Nurse?
If you think you are ready and interested in undertaking all the above responsibilities, you can become a certified vocational Nurse. With proper training, certification, and examination for a license, you can become a great lVN.
Becoming a vocational nurse requires dedication, compassion, and a genuine desire to impact patients’ lives positively. It is a rewarding profession that allows individuals to contribute to the well-being of others and be an essential part of the healthcare team.
Join our LVN program now and reach your career goal of becoming a Registered Nurse soon by starting in a rewarding, high-growth career as a Vocational Nurse.