Managing time is one of the most simple yet most difficult tasks one has to possibly do. And when you work in a field like that of nursing, it becomes even harder. Everything works in correspondence to time when it comes to nursing. From maintaining records on time to giving medical attention to the patients on time, every second of the hour matters while working in the nursing arena.

If you are a new LPN who has just finished LPN courses from licensed practical nursing schools, and have now joined a job and having trouble while managing your time, check out the following tips that can help you sort out your struggle:-

Tip 1: Prioritize Your Tasks

As an LPN, you will be delegated with lots of duties. In order to tackle many things at a time, you must make a list or make a mental list of things in ascending order as to what should be done first and what should be proceeded later. Assigning priorities to your tasks will give you a clear picture regarding your work and will help you sort out efficiently.

Tip 2: Document Your Tasks

Making a list always helps. And if you are working as a nursing professional, it will be even more beneficial for you. To make the most use of your time, make a to-do-list for the day, document and list every task of yours in it, assign time individually to every task, and you will be good to go.

Tip 3: Delegate When Possible

As an LPN, you will be working under the supervision of RNs who will be delegating the duties. But at times, if you ever find yourself over-burdened, you can take assistance from your colleague LPNs. You can delegate them your duties and devote your time to the more important work.

Tip 4: Avoid Unnecessary Chats

While visiting a patient for medication, dressing, or any other work, you might sometimes end up chatting a bit with the patient or his/her family. Talking with them for a while is perfectly fine, even recommended, but when small talks lead to long conversations, it might consume a lot of your work time. Thus, do not talk unnecessarily or visit them when you are free of duties.

Tip 5: Anticipate in Advance

The medical profession is completely unpredictable. There can be an occurrence of emergencies at any time of the day. For dealing with unexpected issues, you must take care of your already assigned duties well in advance. You must complete all the work within a stipulated time so that even if an emergency occurs, you will be having time in hand. Also, if any urgent work doesn’t occur, you will have some spare time that you could use for fulfilling some other duties.

So, if you are facing some troubles in time management at work, you can adopt these practical tips. These are perfect for the LPNs and every medical professional, ensuring your time is utilized in the best manner possible.

Also, if you want to begin your career in nursing and dream to become a Licensed Practical Nurse, you must consider enrolling in Verve College. We are an accredited nursing school and among the best licensed practical nursing schools in the state of Illinois.

We provide nursing assistant programs in Illinois, operating our school from both Chicago and Oak Brook. Join us for commencing a successful LPN career.

So, conclude your search to find LPN classes near me and join Verve College for a fruitful career.

The first days of every job are full of excitement and a tad bit of anxiety. Every person feels a bit nervous as to how the first day of the job will turn out to be like. Everyone tries their ways to get prepared for the first day. But there are some generic things that they forget to consider.

Let us have a look at some of the best tips you could adapt to make most of the first day on the job as an LPN. These tips are very practical and should be used by every LPN after completing their LPN programs from licensed practical nursing schools.

Tip 1 – Get Well-Organised

The first thing that you must do is to get organized. List out all the things you will be requiring like a stethoscope, pen, small torch, a notepad, your uniform, your shoes, some tools, etc. After listing out, keep the handy things in your work bag. And keep your uniform ironed and ready to be worn on the next day. This might seem a little basic tip but can save you the precious time from the first-day hassle.

Tip 2 – Arrive Your Workplace On Time

The most important thing to consider apart from being well-organized is to be punctual and to arrive at your workplace on time. Make sure to reach your work destination at least 15-20 minutes early before the reporting time. It is better to wait than getting late, right? You can also, consider visiting the workstation a day before just to analyze how much time you would require to reach and how much traffic you might face daily. Just remember, punctuality is not only about being on time, it is basically about respecting your own commitments.

Tip 3 – Dress-Up Appropriately

As an LPN, you would be required to be on your toes for the most time of your job. Make sure to wear a comfortable and well-fitted uniform coupled with a pair of comfortable shoes. Dress up properly on your first as well as other days and do not overdo anything. Wear your nametag, and do not forget to carry the necessary medical-tools in your uniform’s pockets.

Tip 4 – Take The Benefit Of Job Orientation

Every LPN’s new job commences with job orientation. In it, the employer describes details about the work culture, the duties, the work policies, etc. Make sure to listen carefully to all the points mentioned in the orientation. Take notes of it and do not hesitate to ask your queries or doubts, if any.

Tip 5 – Observe, Learn, Adapt

This is a three-fold rule for the new LPNs. On your first day, after you have been allotted the duties, observe how your fellow LPNs are doing their job. Watch them, learn from them, ask questions to them, and get to learn how you could perform in the best way. You could adapt a lot from other LPNs, just do not hesitate to inquire about your work-queries.

So, did you find these tips helpful to prepare for your first day as an LPN? Adapt these practical tips and you will be good to perform your best on your first day at the job.

Also, if you are a beginner and want to commence your nursing education from trustworthy LPN schools, enroll in the LPN courses of Verve College. We have been working in the nursing education arena since 1997 and have trained hundreds of successful LPNs with our accredited LPN classes.

Get yourself enrolled with us for beginning a prolific nursing career.

Are you an LPN student or new to the nursing domain? Looking forward to grabbing some opportunities to work in the real-life nursing field? The best way to attain experience is to enroll in some medical places providing volunteer opportunities.

By volunteering along with your studies will not only give you exposure but will also help you learn how practical medical life works in reality. Volunteering is one of the best options to get hands-on-experience that renders the opportunity to serve the people.

Check out the below-listed 5 places where you can work as an LPN volunteer along with pursuing LPN courses from a practical nurse school:-

1) Local Hospitals

Working as a volunteer nurse at a local hospital can prove to be of great use for enhancing your experience. You can work in a hospital and know how the nursing profession works in real life. You may not be given the direct responsibility to work on a patient but by providing your volunteer support you can definitely learn a lot here.

2) Nursing Homes

Another useful place to gain work experience is a nursing home. You can volunteer in a nursing home as an LPN student and provide your medical services. You will get to know how a nursing home works, how it is administered, how patients are taken care of in nursing homes along with several other such things. From the administration part to the medical part, you will get to learn a lot while volunteering in a nursing home.

3) Medical and Health Events

If you are unable to commit full time to work as a volunteer in a nursing home or a hospital, you can fulfill your desire to volunteer by enrolling in a medical event or a camp. Several annual and monthly events for medical help care takes place. Keep an eye on such events and make sure to volunteer in them. You will not only get to help the ones in need but will also get to meet a lot of medical professionals. You can communicate with them, know how they work, and add on this experience in your student life.

4) Medical Shelters

There are a lot of people who live in shelters and require medical assistance. You can help them by serving as an LPN volunteer. Medical shelters accommodate several such people who need medical aid but can’t afford the same. Such shelters help these people and make them stand on their feet. Become a part of such a noble purpose that these shelters do by volunteering and rendering your services.

5) Healthcare Organizations 

Healthcare organizations are the ones that render their medical help when a natural calamity like an earthquake, hurricane, drought, or cyclone occurs. You can assist such organizations whenever required and learn how to help people during the time of calamities. Your support will make a difference and will increase your confidence along with medical experience.

So, go ahead, join any of the medical places as per your choice, and serve the people in need. You will not only gain experience, but it will also boost your resume and practical knowledge.

Also, if you are looking forward to joining accredited LPN programs, choose to enroll in Verve College. We provide LPN courses along with A&P Class and are one of the best licensed practical nursing schools in Illinois.

So, if you desire to have a bright future in nursing, begin your career with us.

If you ever ask someone to name some of the noblest jobs in the world, nursing would definitely come in the top 5. Despite all the respect and reverence that the nursing professionals receive, some certain misconceptions and stereotypes still surround this profession.

Its time to break these typical perceptions about this honorable medical job and make people see what truly the nurses do for the people in need and the society as a whole.

Have a look at some of the most common stereotypes:-

Stereotype: Nursing Is A Woman’s Job

Truth: According to the general misconception, people feel that the profession of nursing is meant for women only. Believing in this stereotype is completely baseless. Though over the years women have dominated this sector, several studies have shown that a good number of male candidates have joined this profession and provided medical aid to the ones in need. This profession is equal for all genders and anyone can become a part of it regardless of gender.

Stereotype: Nurses Are A Doctor’s Personal Assistant

Truth: Another prevalent stereotype is considering a nurse as a doctor’s assistant. A nurse has far many more duties than just working under a doctor. Of course, a nurse works under the guidance of doctors, still, a nurse has a lot of other responsibilities & duties to fulfill. From administration to medication, to patient care, a nurse performs infinite duties. No one can sum up the duties of a nurse in a few words, but one thing is for sure that nurses do not work below doctors or medical staff, they work alongside the whole medical team.

Stereotype: Nurses Are Over-Talkative

Truth: Communication is an integral part of the nursing profession. Communicating with patients, understanding their problems, rendering them psychological support via talking, comes under the duties of a nurse. People generally take this duty’s feature in the wrong way and consider that nurses are talkative. Whereas in reality, they are just doing their duty to make a patient feel to be taken care of.

Stereotype: Nursing Education Is Very Easy

Truth: Often people conceptualize that nursing education is very easy and anybody can pull it off. But in reality, nursing education requires a lot of effort and dedication from the academic front. One must be fully devoted to attaining the skills of being a proficient nurse. The demand for the commitment required for completing a nursing program or accredited LPN programs successfully is infinite.

Stereotype: Nurses Don’t Earn Enough

Truth: One of the most common stereotypes is underestimating the earning capacity of nursing professionals. People often feel that nurses do not earn well enough. But over time, nurses have been earning quite a good sum. They have been making a well and sufficient amount for themselves to lead a graceful life.

Thus, these were some of the most common stereotypes prevailing in the mindsets of people. One must break off these myths and see how noble work and medical services the nursing professionals render. So instead of just following the stereotypes and misconceptions, one must try to acknowledge reality.

Also, if you are someone who wants to build a fulfilling career in nursing and aim to become a Licensed Practical Nurse, you must enroll in the LPN Programs of Verve College. Our nursing school is one of the best licensed practical nursing schools in Illinois.

With our excellent Illinois Nclex Pass Rates, we have been educating our nursing students and introducing them in the nursing domain over numerous years.

Thus, if you are searching for private LPN schools near me, you can conclude your search by enrolling at Verve College.

Working in night shifts is an integral and inevitable part of the nursing profession. It can be a bit challenging if not dealt properly. It requires a good balance of mental and physical efforts to carry on a night shift with ease.

Various nursing colleges and practical nurse school do teach their students as to how to handle a night shift but to implement it practically can be a bit taxing.

It is quite tough to manage a night shift in nursing if you are not habitual to it. Make use of the following tips and lead your job easily:-

Understand Your Sleep Pattern
The first and foremost thing is to understand your sleep pattern and sleep schedule. Some individuals require 7-8 hours of sleep while some require 9-10. Some might even need a little less too. Figure out how much sleep do you need in a day, stipulate a sleep-time schedule for yourself, and make sure to follow that. It might take some time but you will become habitual of the schedule soon.

Create A Comfortable Sleeping Area
If you work in a night shift, daytime will be the only time when you will be able to sleep. For attaining a peaceful sleep in the daylight, you must make sure to create a comfortable sleeping area for yourself with a soft bed, light-preventing curtains, and a soft eye mask. This will help your brain convince that its a night-time and it needs to rest. Since our mind and body determines the sleep time via light, this tip can help you tackle this phenomenon.

Hydrate Prominently
Many nurses tend to avoid this essential thing. Make sure to hydrate and drink sufficient water as much as possible. It will help you stay awake during the night time, will keep you fresh, and will provide you the necessary energy to survive the night-shifts.

Talk To Your Coworkers & Colleagues
For surviving the night shift, this is a great tip. Talk to your coworkers and begin to maintain a healthy workplace relationship with them. Conversing with your colleagues at work can help you stay awake, dodge sleep and will even assist you in focusing on your work. Plus, this will moreover help you build a peaceful environment at the workplace.

Ensure A Healthy Diet
Eating healthy and maintaining a balanced diet is advised to all. But for nurses working in night shifts, this is even more important. For enduring the night shift, and keeping up the energy levels high, having a stable diet can be of great help. So do eat well, this will help you survive the night-shift schedules efficiently.

Consume Caffeine Carefully
Generally, night-shift workers often consume high levels of caffeine for staying awake during night shifts. One must consume caffeine within a stipulated limit only and must avoid exceeding its consumption.

Adopt these tips while working in the night shifts and you will be able to deal with it with ease.

Also, if you want to Become A Licensed Practical Nurse and aim to enroll yourself in accredited LPN programs provided by top licensed practical nursing schools, you must consider joining Verve College.

Our LPN Programs can help you build and lead a successful career in nursing. Our Illinois Nclex Pass Rates throughout the numerous years has been remarkable, so do enroll with us for commencing a noble career.

Stress, burnout, and exhaustion are part of almost every profession. And nursing is no exception either. Nurses, due to their hectic and exhausting schedules do tend to get stressed and face burnout.

Nurse Burnout in simpler terms means emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and physical, mental and emotional stress caused in a nurse’s life due to pressure, overwork and fastpaced work culture around.

There are various reasons that cause stress and burnout. Some of the prominent reasons are:-

• Long and Multiple Shifts
• Stressful Work Environment
• Busy Schedule
• Neglection of Selfcare
• Emotional Strain
• Feeling Isolation
• No Proper Routine, etc.

There are even some nurse burnout symptoms that show that a nurse might be dealing with burnout. The common symptoms are:-

• Excessive Exhaustion
• Continous Irritability
• Lack of Tolerance
• Emotional Instability
• Frequent Sickness, etc.

Addressing nursing burnouts is very necessary because it can take a toll not only on the physical health of a nurse but may hamper his/her emotional health as well. Several nursing seminars and practical nurse school teach and conduct programs stating as to how to deal with nurse burnouts in the right way. But apart from that, you can adopt the below mentioned helpful and practical tips that can help in avoiding nurse burnout:-

• Take out some time from work to spend at leisure and at doing the things you love and enjoy. This will help you divert yourself from the constant stress and maintain your calm.
• Try maintaining a good balance between your work and personal life.
• Ensure to spend some time with your family and friends. Meet them in person or get in touch with them over social media. Talk to them, share your feelings with them. This will help you feel light and help you deal with the burnout.
• Although conflict of thoughts and differences of opinions at work are perfectly normal but try avoiding them whenever possible. They cause unnecessary stress and often lead to a condition of burnout.
• Take due care of yourself. Take small breaks at work, maintain a 7-8 hours sleep schedule, keep up with a balanced diet, and exercise regularly.
• Ask for help when you feel overwhelmed, helpless, and find yourself emotionally drained. With the right support and stress management techniques, you can deal with nurse burnouts very easily.
• Identify your causes and sources of stress and try to keep a distance from them.
• Try to not carry any sorts of emotional baggage. Communicate and sort things out as soon as possible.

So, these were some of the most simple yet practical tips that you can adopt while dealing with nurse burnout.
If you are facing any kind of such issues, try incorporating these tips in your life and you will feel liberated and will ultimately be able to enjoy the gift of life at peace.

Also, if you are planning to join the sector of nursing and want to enroll in accredited lpn programs, you can consider joining Verve College. It is one of the best licensed practical nursing schools in Illinois and can assist you to establish an enriching career in the noble nursing arena.

Become A Licensed Practical Nurse with our lpn programs and make yourself ready to achieve great success ahead.