Practical Nurse

Additional Information About the Licensed Practical Nurse Career Field

The US Department of Labor provides various resources for those looking to begin a new career. Each job has various tasks, tools, knowledge, etc. associated with it.

Tasks

-Administer prescribed medications or start intravenous fluids, and note times and amounts on patients' charts.

-Observe patients, charting and reporting changes in patients' conditions, such as adverse reactions to medication or treatment, and taking any necessary action.

-Provide basic patient care and treatments, such as taking temperatures or blood pressures, dressing wounds, treating bedsores, giving enemas or douches, rubbing with alcohol, massaging, or performing catheterizations.

-Sterilize equipment and supplies, using germicides, sterilizer, or autoclave.

-Answer patients' calls and determine how to assist them.

-Measure and record patients' vital signs, such as height, weight, temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and respiration.

-Work as part of a healthcare team to assess patient needs, plan and modify care, and implement interventions

-Collect samples such as blood, urine, and sputum from patients, and perform routine laboratory tests on samples.

-Prepare patients for examinations, tests, or treatments and explain procedures.

-Assemble and use equipment such as catheters, tracheotomy tubes, and oxygen suppliers.

Source: US Department of Labor, O*NET Online  TOP

Tools

-Hypodermic needles — Hollow needles; Intramuscular needles; Intravenous IV needles; Subcutaneous hypodermic needles

-Nebulizers or accessories — Electronic compressor nebulizers; Nebulizers; Portable nebulizers; Ultrasonic nebulizers

-Patient care beds or accessories for specialty care — Air fluidized beds; Circo-electric beds; Frames; Roto beds

-Patient stabilization or fall prevention devices or accessories — Ankle restraints; Gait belts; Lap belts; Restraints

-Spirometers or its accessories or its supplies — Handheld spirometers; Personal computer PC-based spirometers; Pocket spirometers; Pulmonary function testing PFT equipment.

Source: US Department of Labor, O*NET Online  TOP

Technology

-Medical software — Electronic medical record EMR software; MedicWare software; Personal digital assistants PDA medical software; Telephone triage software

-Office suite software — Microsoft Office software

-Calendar and scheduling software — Scheduling software

-Spreadsheet software

-Word processing software

Source: US Department of Labor, O*NET Online  TOP

Knowledge

-Medicine and Dentistry — Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.

-Customer and Personal Service — Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

-Psychology — Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

-English Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

-Therapy and Counseling — Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.

-Education and Training — Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

-Mathematics — Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

-Biology — Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.

-Administration and Management — Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Source: US Department of Labor, O*NET Online  TOP

Skills

-Active Listening — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

-Speaking — Talking to others to convey information effectively.

-Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

-Reading Comprehension — Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

-Coordination — Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

-Service Orientation — Actively looking for ways to help people.

-Judgment and Decision Making — Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

-Monitoring — Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

-Social Perceptiveness — Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

-Time Management — Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Source: US Department of Labor, O*NET Online  TOP

Work Activities

-Assisting and Caring for Others — Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.

-Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

-Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

-Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

-Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

-Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

-Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

-Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.

-Performing General Physical Activities — Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.

-Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Source: US Department of Labor, O*NET Online  TOP

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Practical Nurse 2011-2012 Program Integrity Disclosures

 

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