The Issue of Career Transformation of Nurses - Term Paper Example

LPN to RN Transition: Important Issues Introduction: Before going into further details of LPN and RN transitions, it would be appropriate to describe briefly the denotations of LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) and RN (Registered Nurse). LPNs or licensed practical nurses or licensed vocational nurses (LVN) are generally recruited in a variety of healthcare settings including private clinics and hospitals under the supervision of physicians. RNs or registered nurses are healthcare professionals responsible for implementing the practice of nursing in conjunction with other healthcare professionals. In other words, LPN and RN professionals are similar in terms of their nursing practices. However, the two terms are quite distinctive from one another in the context of a number of differences such as the differences on the level of education and knowledge, responsibilities, and professional advancement. In terms of education, the difference between LPN and RN is quite evident - it is precisely described as the difference between diploma and degree in the respective manner. Now transitioning from LPN to RN definitely has better opportunities for career advancement along with added responsibilities. The latter is very significant that can be identified with the concept of nursing as a lifelong learning; because, “Nursing is a dynamic, continually evolving discipline that employs critical thinking to integrate increasingly complex knowledge, skills, and technologies and client care activities into evidence-based nursing practice.” (Harrington and Terry, 2009, p. 4) This paper briefly discusses the issue of transition from licensed practical nurses to registered nurses in conjunction with a number of aspects related to both terminologies as well as the transition phase. It also looks into significant issues relevant to LPN-RN transition including the analysis and evaluation of personal goals and expectations, educational as well as professional outlook, and the issue of career transformation with added professional and personal responsibility. Important aspects in LPN-RN transition: With regard to choosing RN programs over LPN programs, licensed practical nurses are now more focused on continuing their education and becoming RNs. Apart from educational improvement and professional enhancement in general, the decision also includes the relevance of personal choices, goals and expectations in particular. With the difference of educational curriculum and learning styles, transition from LPN to RN also involves the aspect of role development. That is to say, the transition from practical nursing education to higher level of education results in a specific growth as the individual learns new functions, expectations and behaviors for a particular role. During practical nursing education, the student is taught specific tasks and behaviors to function within that role. This also includes the development of skills necessary to perform a specific job as a result of which the student learns to grow and expand his/her knowledge and abilities accordingly. Graduating to a higher level of education definitely brings remarkable changes in skills, knowledge as well as abilities. So the role expectations and behaviors for an LPN are distinctive. In order to be an RN, there would naturally be a different set of role expectations and behaviors to learn. For a new student of RN, it will be a normal learning process, but for an already experienced LPN, the learning of new skills and behaviors will be his/her additional knowledge base, which is an expansion of the previous skills and behavior sets learned as an LPN. Apart from role development, there is another significant aspect to be termed as role transition. Harrington and Terry (2009) explains appropriately in their book, “Role transition indicates a period of change…it may involve letting go of some functions while adding others.” (p. 35) The LPN role has certain role expectations and behaviors, which will be further expanded with evident change in acquiring skills and knowledge needed for the RN role. The process of role transition is individual, but it certainly has substantial effect on the person as well as on others too. Further, this role transition makes way for adaptation of change both in educational and professional outlook of the individual. It is important to note here that this change is necessary for individuals to learn to be more comfortable outside his/her ‘comfort zone’. While discussing the educational outlook, it is important for the student first to realize that transition from LPN to RN is going back to school again. The role of education at an individual level is influenced by the person’s career expectations, goals and behaviors. The transition from LPN to RN is a significant decision on the part of the licensed practical nurse, because the decision involves further education for a longer period, in a way, it is going-back-to-school to be a student again. In this context, the individual’s educational and professional outlook are closely associated to one another. The educational outlook can be influenced by a number of reasons that are also labeled professional factors including the student’s desire to have more job opportunities, to increase his/her job satisfaction, to expand the scope of responsibilities, or on a more personal front, the desire to seek self-improvement. Talking about the change brought by LPN to RN transition, it is characterized as two types of change - change in business as well as personal experiences. Individual change occurs right from the time an employee in LPN role decides to join the role of RN. This personal change is experienced when the student returns to school for the degree program to be an RN. In terms of business or organizational change, it is experienced through behavior or function alterations, and has greater impact on an organization and its individuals. “Change within an organization involves modifying working practices and procedures, causing individuals to work in different ways.” (Harrington and Terry, 2009, p. 63) There are a number of factors responsible for motivation behind change. These are the reasons for an individual to expect a change from his/her role as an LPN to that of an RN. One of them is crisis - a turning point or a critical time in the course of an event. Be it personal, professional, situational or financial crisis, it significantly affects the transitional change from LPN to RN. Apart from that, conflict influences the process of change. This is again related to personal or professional conflict within the working group area or at home and family affairs. A more common factor is disappointment related to a sense of failure of not meeting expectations or fulfilling certain plans. All these factors play their significant roles in the decision of transition from LPN to RN. This further directs the discussion to analyze another important aspect - career transformations. Transition from LPN to RN definitely brings effective change in career advancement. With the student moving to a higher level of nursing education, a great deal of change occurs in terms of developing/improving knowledge, skills and abilities. Compared together as career choices, registered nursing is one of the most well recognized career options in nursing that promises to offer greater career prospect than LPN. LPN to RN transition programs are designed for qualified licensed practical nurses who wish to become registered nurses with little repeat of course content and credits. So an LPN can obtain advance credits for his/her RN programs through this transition program. In other words, being an RN has the benefit of expandable knowledge, more skill competencies and the development of a set of behaviors relevant for personal improvement and professional advancement. Conclusion: The career of nursing itself is a big decision for students. LPN or RN, nursing has a significant role to play in healthcare organizations. While both programs teach students to acquire a specific set of knowledge, skills and behaviors, registered nursing offers a wider career prospect to students than licensed practical nursing. Besides, RN program also offers better financial condition and benefits to students. Finally, it all depends upon the individual what career choices he or she makes on the basis of personal and professional outlook, factors motivating change while focusing on their personal goals, role expectations and behaviors. Reference: Harrington, N. and Terry, C. L. (2009). LPN to RN Transitions: Achieving Success in Your New Role. 3rd edition. Philadelphia: Lippincott-Raven Publishers. Read More