Are you interested in a career where you can help people and earn a good salary? A job where you get to work alongside doctors and other medical professionals? A job where you’re never bored because you work in a fast-paced environment? If so, a vocational nursing career could be a great option for you! Unlike other jobs in the medical field that require years of schooling, you can typically become a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) in under two years.
What Is Vocational Nursing?
Vocational nursing is a fulfilling career where licensed professionals provide medical care to patients. They work under the supervision of doctors and registered nurses and are key members of a patient’s healthcare team. In California and Texas, these nurses are called licensed vocational nurses (LVNs). In the other 48 states, they are known as licensed practical nurses (LPNs).
Licensed vocational nurses work in almost all healthcare settings: hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, doctors’ offices, plus some work in private homes.
As a vocational nurse, you will handle important duties for patients such as:
- Give medications, including injections
- Manage IVs and catheters
- Handle oxygen equipment
- Care for wounds, typically after surgery
- Collect specimens like drawing blood and prepping urine and stool samples for testing
- Run diagnostic tests such as electrocardiograms (ECGs)
- Measure and record vital signs like blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, weight and oxygen levels
- Fill out patient charts and electronic records
- Help patients remain comfortable and clean
- Educate patients on home care for after leaving a hospital
Why You Should Consider a Vocational Nursing Career
A vocational nursing career offers many benefits over other jobs that require a similar amount of schooling. Here are just a few advantages you can enjoy as an LVN:
Quick Entry into the Workforce
Unlike a lot of jobs in the medical field, you don’t need to go to school for years and years. Most vocational nurses can typically become licensed in under two years if you attend school full time. You can start earning a good salary in just over a year!
Affordable Education
LVN nursing programs cost far less than traditional four-year nursing programs. You save money by not having to take classes that aren’t directly related to nursing, like you would in a traditional program.
Job Security and Demand
People will always need medical care, even in economic downturns, so layoffs are rare in healthcare. Older people tend to need more medical care, and a large chunk of the population (baby boomers) is aging. (Baby boomers is a term to describe a spike in babies born between 1946 and 1964 after World War II). The job outlook for LVNs and LPNs is expected to grow at about 3%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Meaningful Work
Instead of sitting behind a desk all day, you get to interact directly with people in impactful ways! Using your medical knowledge and training, you help people who are hurting and scared feel better.
Good Wages
You get a lot of bang for your buck as an LVN, given how quickly you can earn your license and start working compared to other careers. The annual average vocational nurse salary in California is $79,750 (and $64,400 in the U.S. as a whole!
Launch Pad for More Advanced Careers
Becoming an LVN is often the first step for many, you can take classes later to specialize in specific areas or go on to become a registered nurse and earn more money.
What Skills Make a Great Vocational Nurse?
Jobs that involve directly interacting with people, including touching people and supporting them when they are feeling their most vulnerable, are not for everyone. If you enjoy helping people, you’re already on your way to becoming a great vocational nurse!
Here’s an overview of the skills that make a successful vocational nurse (for more details, see this O*NET OnLine comprehensive list):
- Clinical Skills: You’ll need to know how to perform medical procedures and duties, such as drawing blood, caring for wounds, giving IVs, measuring vital signs, administering medication and running diagnostic tests. You’ll learn these skills in your vocational nursing program.
- Observational Skills: Vocational nurses spend more time with patients than doctors and other medical professionals. You’ll need to monitor patients closely for changes in their condition or reactions to treatment.
- Attention to Detail: You’ll be logging patients’ vital signs, medication, treatments and conditions in their medical charts, and accuracy is essential. Mistakes can be deadly.
- Critical Thinking: You’ll need to know how to evaluate a patient’s situation and recognize when to act either by providing treatment or getting help from another medical professional. You’ll also want to prioritize your duties since you can’t do everything at once.
- Communication Skills: You are often the go-between for patients and their doctors, so you’ll want to communicate effectively with both. You’ll listen to patients’ concerns, explain procedures and answer questions. You’ll also need to explain patients’ conditions to doctors and other staff members.
- Empathy: Most people who need medical care are worried and in pain. Knowing how to comfort patients and make them feel valued is an essential interpersonal skill.
- Physical Stamina: You’ll be on your feet a lot, and frequently pushing gurneys, equipment and wheelchairs. You’ll also help patients in and out of bed and do other physically demanding tasks.
- Stress Tolerance: Medical environments are often chaotic and stressful, so being able to remain calm is important.
Is Vocational Nursing Right for You?
Vocational nursing can be a great fit if you thrive on helping people. When you review the list of necessary skills above, look for situations where you may have demonstrated that skill.
Maybe you’ve already cared for sick family members like grandparents or younger siblings, and it made you feel good to know you helped. Here are some other examples of how you might already have strong vocational nursing skills:
- If you can tell just by looking at a friend that they aren’t feeling well or something is wrong, you probably have good observational skills!
- Do friends and family often confide in you, seek your comfort or ask for your advice? If so, your empathy and listening skills are likely strong.
- Have you helped a family member at a doctor’s office or other setting, either by translating, asking questions or explaining things? You were using communication skills.
- If you’re already active or played sports, you can probably handle the physical aspects of nursing.
- Did you enjoy biology labs, anatomy classes or doing chemistry experiments in school? Some of the work you’ll do as a nurse may share some similarities.
- Did you successfully juggle schoolwork, a job, sports or other extracurricular activities, and family obligations? Then you know how to prioritize your responsibilities!
How to Start Your Vocational Nursing Career
First, research vocational nursing programs in your area. If you can’t attend weekday classes, look for schools that offer evening and weekend classes, like National Career College.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to becoming a vocational nurse:
- Complete a State-Approved Program: Avoid any program that isn’t state-approved or doesn’t prepare you for the state licensing exam. At a state-approved school, you may be eligible for state and federal financial aid if you need tuition help.
- Pass the NCLEX-PN Exam: This is a national exam administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Once you pass it, you’re licensed in all 50 states, so you won’t need to take more tests if you move to another state!
- Obtain State Licensure: Passing the NCLEX-PN is the first step, but it doesn’t automatically grant your license. In California, you’ll need to apply for a license, pay a fee, and clear a criminal background check.
Take the First Step Toward Your Vocational Nursing Career
Given that vocational nurse salaries are high and job demand will continue to grow, becoming a vocational nurse can set you up for a successful, rewarding future! If you’re ready to learn more and get started, check out National Career College’s Licensed Vocational Nursing Program.
In this state-approved program, you’ll take classes and get hands-on training in clinical settings with real patients. You can apply for financial aid, including grants, scholarships and loans. The program thoroughly prepares you to pass the NCLEX-PN exam in just 14 months. Why wait? Get started today!