LPN for Assisted Living Homes
How to Become a LPN for Assisted Living Homes
As the number of elderly people in the United States increase, the number of positions available as a LPN for assisted living homes increases. Overall, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates the number of positions for LPN’s to increase by 25 percent by 2015. For those who want to enter the healthcare profession, the position as a LPN for assisted living homes offers a variety of responsibilities and opportunities for career advancement.
Duties as a LPN for Assisted Living Homes
The position as a LPN for assisted living homes includes a variety of direct patient care responsibilities such as monitoring vital signs; assisting with bathing, dressing, and personal hygiene; assistance with walking; administering injections and other medications; and maintaining the clinical records of the patients. 
Additionally, an LPN working in an assisted living home assesses the needs to of the patients for whom her or she provides care, develops plans of care for the patients, and provides supervision for Certified Nursing assistants. The LPN works under the direct supervision of a Registered Nurse.
The typical LPN for assisted living homes works a 40 hour work week; although the shifts are likely to include evenings, night and weekends for those working in assisted living homes due to the need for around the clock care. While LPN’s spend the majority of their shifts involved in direct patient care activities, the LPN must dedicate a significant amount of time to documenting the care provided to patient in the client records according to the standards established by the third party payment entities. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the median salary of a LPN for assisted living homes as $39,000.
Training Required for a LPN for Assisted Living Homes
For those looking for a healthcare career which does not require years of expensive training, a career as an LPN is a viable choice as the typical training lasts one year. Most training programs are offered by vocational schools or community colleges, both having lower tuition costs compared to four year colleges. The training consists of classroom work and practical clinical training, usually in a hospital setting. After completing training, the LPN must successfully complete the nursing exam required for their state. Schools offer lpn nursing scholarships to qualified candidates too.
For LPN’s who want to advance in the profession, many choose to specialize in areas such as gerontology, pharmacology, IV therapy or long term care. An LPN for assisted living homes who specializes in one of these areas is likely to command a greater salary as compared to a LPN who is a generalist.
