Did you know LPNs, as well as registered nurses (RNs) and certified nursing assistants (CNAs), can be found working jobs in the hospital setting? Find out how LPNs pick up per diem shifts in local hospitals or land staff positions in this care environment.
Do LPNs Work at Hospitals?
Of the over 6 million hospital employees in the United States in 2021, 93,590 were licensed practical nurses (LPNs). There is clearly no doubt that LPNs can and do work in hospitals.
Hospitals are actually the second most common setting that hires LPNs, with 15% of all LPNs on their hospital healthcare teams. However, the most common workplaces for this level of nursing are nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities, and residential care facilities employing - 35% of all LPNs.
Hospital Jobs for LPNs
The Cleveland Clinic encourages LPNs to work in large hospitals, given that they will gain a broad diversity of healthcare experience, have the opportunity to see which areas suit them, and learn from more experienced colleagues. Maternity wards, emergency wards, and surgical services departments hire LPNs more frequently than other hospital areas.
The work pace is fast and non-stop, but working on a team that saves lives daily is exciting. On the other hand, you will also face the tragedy of losing lives.
As an LPN, you assist patients in daily tasks such as grooming, eating, sitting up, and getting up and back into bed while supporting registered nurses (RNs) and other healthcare professionals. You may also perform medical tasks such as administering medications, checking vital signs, and inserting catheters and intravenous lines. However, the scope of practice for LPNs is limited, and at times, you may perform the same duties as certified nursing assistants.
LPNs are a close link between the patient and the healthcare team, often providing patient education.
Many hospitals invest in their clinical staff, offering opportunities for further education to become an RN. LPNs work collaboratively as part of an interdisciplinary team under a registered nurse's or physician's supervision and often have the advantage of receiving guidance and mentorship. Read the Nursa article on Crossing the Bridge from LPN/LVN to RN to learn about the transition from LPN to RN.
Other Healthcare Settings With LPN Jobs
The rise of telehealth services requires nurses and other medical professionals to field patient questions and pass on vital information to care teams or direct callers to emergency services. LPNs do not need to choose between nursing homes and hospitals. You can also find work in healthcare centers as diverse as rehabilitation facilities, outpatient surgery centers, immunization clinics, and even medical call centers. LPNs are valuable employees at telehealth call centers due to their experience and knowledge.
Can a New LPN Get a Hospital Job?
Yes, but it is not easy! It can take time and persistence to land your first hospital job. Most job offers require experience, and you can tackle this obstacle starting with PRN or per diem shifts using Nursa.
A Few Tips on How to Find a Hospital Job as an LPN
With the growing demand for healthcare professionals, including LPNs, hospitals constantly seek talented nurses to join their teams. Even so, it would help if you undertook some savvy job-hunting. Try some of these strategies and tips to help you navigate the job market.
- Draw on in-person networking: Actively participate in nursing association meetings in the area where you are looking for a job. You can attend local American Nurses Association (ANA) meetings as a member or guest, and some chapters have special groups for LPNs. The National Federation of Licensed Practical Nurses (NALPN) also may have a chapter near you.
- Join a nursing association.
- Attend job fairs.
- Network online to expand your connections using Linkedin, Facebook, and Twitter platforms. For more information and ideas about connecting with the nursing world, read the Nursa article on networking.
- Write a resume that gives the reader a solid first impression, and tailor it to highlight your match to the particular requirements of each job you apply for.
- Gather good referrals. Even if this is your first job, your instructor, supervisor, or mentor with where you completed your clinical training may give you a recommendation.
- Prepare for the interview. Research the hospital and the LPN role and practice answering common questions.
- Build your experience, and find per diem shifts in various hospitals using the Nursa app.
Nursa Connects LPNs to Hospitals Jobs Near Them
While networking and preparing for successful interviews, you can use the Nursa App to fast-forward right into LPN nursing shifts.
This is what Nursa does. It connects hospitals and healthcare centers that need nurses with nurses looking for jobs. It is the easiest way to find shifts, get that priceless experience, and make valuable, real-life connections. This post takes you step-by-step through signing up, adding your license or certificate, adding credentials, adding payment and tax information, completing your background check, finding and requesting shifts, and completing a digital report. Let this digital era technology search for you!
