Vocational Nurses need to undergo Clinical Training before they start practicing at any healthcare center. Caring for the sick or the convalescent requires that Vocational Nurses, also known as Licensed Vocational Nurses, be trained in all aspects of healthcare. Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVN) take care of providing bedside care under the supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN) or a Nurse Practitioner (NP).

Why is Clinical training necessary for Vocational Nurses?

• LVNs are responsible for temperature readings and recording patient blood pressure levels and pulse rates. All of these require that nurses are able to operate medical instruments. Clinical training is necessary to teach these nurses the correct process of recording data.

• An LVN is responsible for treating bedsores and also giving injections to the patient. They should also be able to apply dressings to the patient. These activities can place the LVN at high risk if performed incorrectly. Clinical training given to the LVN coaches them on how to perform these procedures on the patients.

• Bathing, dressing and maintaining the patient's personal hygiene is a major health challenge for an LVN. Clinical training provides them guidance on different health metrics to be noted before the LVN does any of these activities.

• Intravenous injections can also be delivered by an LVN to the patient, but only in some states where it is permitted by law. An LVN has to be extremely careful with the dosage of the medicines in the intravenous injections provided to the patient. A small increase in the dosage could prove fatal to the patient.

• Apart from dealing with heavy workloads, clinical training guides LVNs on how to save themselves from caustic chemicals, radiatios and infectious diseases. A small sneeze from a patient could cause severe health infections for the LVN.

Many healthcare schools provide this training to LVNs. Normally, the duration of these programs is 12-18 months. The LVN must be able to pass these training programs to be able to work as an LVN with a healthcare organization. In addition to passing the examination, the LVN should also be able to grasp all what has been taught in the training. Knowledge, only if implemented, can help the Vocational Nurses in their job.

One thing that most Clinical Training programs ignore is dealing with the patient behavior. The LVNs often have to face the confused or angry reactions from patients. This especially happens when patients do not see treatment as per their will. Some training programs have started integrating this aspect into their course curriculum. This, however, will have to be learned by the nurse on-the-job.

A nurse may be called a Licensed Vocational Nurse only if she attends the Clinical Training program and passes the examination. Remember, dealing with patient care is a risky business and Clinical Training guides these nurses on how to alleviate health hazards associated these risks.