Licensed Practical Nurse programs (LPN programs) provide a fast way for individuals to start working in the field of nursing. They can often complete a program in 12 – 15 months and become a working licensed nurse soon after. Licensed Practical Nurse programs give them very similar job opportunities and job responsibilities as their Registered Nurse (RN) coworkers even though their earnings reflect their shorter education program.
Job prospects for individuals who take Licensed Practical Nurse programs are excellent as the U.S. population ages and as trends towards preventative and recuperative care at home increase. To gain increases in salary and job opportunities, they should continue school and become licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN) or with a Master’s degree, as an Advanced Practice Nurse.
Licensed Practical Nurse programs are typically 12-15 month focused programs that result in a nursing diploma and eligibility to take the national LPN licensing exam. Different from degree programs in nursing, students do not have to complete general education courses and focus only on topics they will use directly in their profession.
Licensed Practical Nurse programs are offered at community colleges, career and vocational schools and special nursing schools. If you take these programs, 50 percent of the hours are spent in clinical settings. That is why; your opportunity to take these programs online is rare. To work as an LPN, one must complete an accredited program and then pass a national licensing examination which is administered by each state.
The students of Licensed Practical Nurse programs will complete significant supervised clinical practice as well courses such as medical terminology to learn to spell, use and pronounce medical terminology including abbreviations, microbiology to examine microorganisms as related to disease, and anatomy and physiology that cover the development, structure and functions of all major body systems.
In addition, the students of Licensed Practical Nurse programs should complete foundations of nursing care to learn the basics of nursing care including history taking, physical examination, health assessment and therapeutic communication, among other topics, adult health nursing to advance nursing skills in the care of adults in hospital settings, and pharmacology to educate students about the safe administration of medications.
What you should know about the Licensed Practical Nurse programs is each of them has its own admission requirements which vary considerably. In some cases, only a high-school diploma is needed whereas in other cases, a number of pre-requisite college-level courses are required. Some other typical requirements include CPR certification, criminal background check, drug screening, physical exam, entrance exam, proof of immunization and admissions interview.
The individuals that take Licensed Practical Nurse programs can work in a number of health-care settings where they will work under the supervision of Registered Nurses or physicians. They may also work in hospitals, nursing homes, community health clinics, mental health institutions and patient homes. Their responsibilities can include taking vital signs, giving injections, dressing wounds and administering medications.
Depending on a person’s short-term priorities and long-term goals, some programs offer advantages over others. To evaluate Licensed Practical Nurse programs, there are some factors to take into account. They include admission requirements, quality and reputation, and accreditation.
Related to quality and reputation, there are many Licensed Practical Nurse programs that focus on allowing students to start working in as short a time period as possible. So, if you have decided to take these programs, you should make sure they are not sacrificing quality and reputation which could then affect job opportunities and options for future nursing education.
Meanwhile, related to accreditation, among many Licensed Practical Nurse programs available out there, you should take the one that is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission (NLNAC). If it is not, you may have to retake coursework if you want to continue the nursing education.
