Is LPN Nursing School Right for You? Review This Carefully
For anyone who wants rewarding work and long-term job security, LPN nursing school is a good choice. Keep in mind, though, that hospitals can be hectic and high-pressure working environments. Nurses often work long hours and unorthodox shifts, and while the pay for LPNs is good, it’s not as much as RNs make. If these issues aren’t enough to discourage you from going to LPN nursing school, then you just might be a perfect candidate for this work.
Before moving forward with your schooling, ask yourself if these things apply to you:
1. Detail-oriented: The term “detail-oriented” gets thrown around a lot, and anyone can claim to have this quality, but nursing is one area where you truly can’t float by without it. As a nurse, you’ll be working with people who are sick or injured, and one missed detail can have serious consequences on the health of a patient. The best nurses are good at keeping track of all the little things.
2. Scientific proficiency: LPN nursing school is not as advanced as RN school, but you might be surprised by the amount of biological and medical information that you’ll have to learn in order to receive your certification. If you’ve never been good in science and math—and if you’re unwilling to put in the time and effort to become good at them—you might want to think hard about whether this is the right path for you.
3. Good at following: One of the great things about being an LPN is that you don’t have all the responsibilities that RNs have. As an LPN, all you’ll have to do is follow your orders and you’ll be fine. And even if you have ambitions to be in a nursing management position some day, working as an LPN is a great way to get some experience before receiving a more advanced certification.
4. Good with people: You don’t necessarily have to be an outgoing person in order to be a great nurse, but it does help if you enjoy being around many different types of people and are good at making small talk. Very important also to always smile and be upbeat with patients. A positive attitude goes a long way with a patient and co-workers as well.
5. Strong work ethic: To be a good nurse, you have to be able to set your personal life aside and focus entirely on work whenever you’re on the clock. Not everyone is good at immersing themselves in a job, but this is one quality that all nurses should have. You’ll find during LPN nursing school that this is a very labor-intensive career path.
