The Role of the LPN in Community Education

About the Program

Category: Health (Best in Category)

Year: 2017

Henrico County-St. Mary’s Hospital School of Practical Nursing seeks to continually “provide a quality program of nursing education designed and committed to preparing practical nurses to provide safe, effective, and culturally competent nursing care to individuals across the lifespan in a variety of health care settings of the 21st century.” As faculty members continually reflect upon the role of the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and the shift from acute care to chronic care, the program has created a stronger emphasis on community-based efforts, targeting prevention of illness, care of patients with chronic conditions, and public education. In 2012, the practical nursing program restructured the course Leadership and Management. The changes included a focus on student-led education presentations and revising clinical experiences that more fully reflected the changing role of the LPN. The initiative began with classroom presentations on topics such as smoking cessation, oral care, hypertension, and diabetic care to students, faculty, and other building administrators. It has grown to include staff development opportunities in assisted living facilities; the current structure includes almost weekly educational experiences that involve the community and reach a wide variety of participants in age, gender, ethnicity, and lifestyles. Topics have expanded to exercise and weight loss, self-breast examination, HIV 101, preventing sexually transmitted diseases, and heart-healthy diets. The success and continued growth speak to the commitment of Henrico County Public Schools to provide continued efforts towards excellence in education and to prepare a new generation of licensed practical nurses.