Issues and Concerns Surrounding Transition For Practical/Vocational Nurse

A licensed practical or vocational nurse (LPN or LVN) is often the first step in one's career toward becoming a certified professional nurse. The role of a vocational nurse differs significantly from the role of a professional nurse. Most nurses trained at this level have one year of study experience at a vocational or community college. A vocational nurse is used to working under the supervision of a licensed RN or professional nurse or physician (Quan, 2004).

There are multiple issues and concerns surrounding the transition to the role of professional nurse, none the least of which is the shortage of qualified nurse educators to provide guidance to LPN's desiring a career a

Professional nursing requires many of the same leadership skills required of doctors or other management professionals. The primary leadership skills beneficial to the field include (1) the ability to establish, maintain and promote communication and interpersonal relationships, (2) the ability to delegate work tasks and oversee the work of others (3) the ability to make decisions based on one's knowledge, skills and expertise (4) the ability to work as members of a collaborative team and (5) the ability to help create interdependency and promote knowledge sharing among all team members (Coombs, 2004). The ability to work collaboratively is a fundamental skill required of effective leaders (Miccolo & Spanier, 1993).

A professional nurse is also more likely to be held accountable for patient's outcomes as they often supervise the care of other nurses or health care assistants involved in patient care (Shanbhag, 2002). Most are expected to exercise "independent judgment" reserving the right to direct care in certain circumstance (Shanbhag, 2002). Professional nurses are also more likely to be held accountable for patient outcomes as well as the performance of those working under their direct supervision.

Clinical Judgment in Autonomy and Accountability of Professional Nursing Practice

The best possible outcome for patients is only realized when professional nurses work as members of a multidisciplinary team, collaborating to ensure the best patient outcome. A professional nurse does not work alone but rather as a member of a comprehensive patient care team whose goals include optimizing patient outcomes. Members of this comprehensive health care team may include nursing assistants, professional nurses, primary care physicians, social workers, patients and family members (Coombs, 2004). For collab

Some common words found in the essay are:
Practice Professional, Delegation Professional, Miccolo Spanier, Patient Care, Nursing Professional, LPN LVN, , RN Quan, Science Nursing, professional nurses, health care, professional nurse, care team, health care team, Practical/Vocational Nurse, patient outcomes, patient care, vocational nurse, care environment, health care environment, coombs 2004, shanbhag 2002, role professional nurse, ability delegate tasks, concerns surrounding transition,
Approximate Word count = 1224
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)