Obtain Your First Promotion As A Practical Nurse

Posted On November 14,2017

Earning a degree as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) does not just promise a good job at the end of your education and training, it actually means a rewarding career – one that also promises further responsibility and opportunity. Of course, taking advantage of this opportunity means that you will have to continue to work in one way or another.

Here is a quick overview of the main avenues for career advancement for a dedicated and persistently striving  LPN:

• Gaining practical experience – As the name implies, a licensed practical nurse starts out by tending to many of the more mundane nursing tasks in a healthcare facility. This fact means doing a lot of cleaning but it also means a great deal of patient interaction. Developing a good bedside manner and also paying attention to what the RNs are doing provides valuable experience that will make you a more valued member of your healthcare team and more likely to be promoted.
• Furthering your formal education – No matter how much practical training you get, however, nothing can duplicate the value of the knowledge that you gain from a broad-based healthcare education. It is absolutely essential that you continue to broaden and deepen your nursing knowledge in a classroom setting. Simply put, the attainment of an RN degree is thenext step towards promotion and career advancement.
  

• Consider alternate employment opportunities – It may seem that the best LPN jobs are only available in the major healthcare facilities in your city or state. To the contrary, there are a multitude of other opportunities awaiting an LPN in senior citizen homes, hospices and other relatively minor medical facilities. It really comes down to pursuing those opportunities and moving yourself up – both professionally and financially – one step at a time.
• Investigate the private sector – Without a doubt, most LPN jobs are located in the public sector but there is also a highly lucrative one serving the needs of private citizens. Once you have established your credentials by working for a hospital or other accredited healthcare facility, you can usually make the move to serving private individuals. The pay is often better and the hours are typically more convenient but taking this route does limit further opportunities for career advancement.
• Broadening your own horizons – If the truth be told, it is actually quite easy for many individuals to become comfortable in their current situation. On the other hand, more proactive ones aim at improving themselves –  a somewhat difficult task while still maintaining a job. Still, the ultimate rewards of working towards that goal of improvement – and attaining it! – outweighs the initial effort by a significant amount. Keep your eye on the prize and always be learning and looking for other opportunities outside of your present employment.

For more detailed information on the best ways to garner your first promotion as a practical nurse or to jump start your LPN career, please visit us the Athena Career Academy. We offer a wealth of information online at Athena Career Academy or you can reach us directly with specific questions at 419.329.4075.