The Campus and Online LPN Program

What are the requirement for the LPN program? What does getting a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) degree?

Licensed Practical Nurse Degree is a very good way to get into the field of nursing. Licensed Practical Nurses or LPNs give care for ill, injured, and convalescing patients. This is usually bedside care, that is managed or directed by registered nurses or doctors. An LPN is a basic nursing degree that forms a good foundation for higher nursing courses, i.e. RN or BSN. On average, the Licensed Practical Nurse degree program is around twelve to eighteen months of course duration in theory and practice. In generally, LPN degree programs is offered in community colleges, vocational schools, and technical colleges. The degree or diploma involves classroom study as well as supervised patient care. To have a license, a graduate of an accredited LPN Degree needs to pass the licensing exam called NCLEX-PN before they are allowed to practice in the profession.

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Nursing Degrees & Programs

University of Phoenix

• RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Kaplan University

• RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Colorado Technical University Online

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Chamberlain College of Nursing

• RN to BSN Degree Completion Option
• RN to BSN to MSN Online Option
• Master Master of Science in Nursing

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN)

American Sentinel University

• RN to BS Nursing

Post University Online

• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Management for Registered Nurses
• Legal Nurse Consulting Certificate

Keiser University - Online

• Registered Nurse, RN to BSN
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN)

South University

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing
• RN to BSN Online Program

• RN to BS in Nursing

Western Governors University

• B.S. in Nursing

• Online Nursing RN-to-BSN B.S.

Nursing Programs in Canada (Diploma)

CDI College

• Nursing Assistant

Vancouver Career College

• Practical Nursing (PN) - Generic

LPN to BSN Degree Education and Training

Most courses for LPN training are about one year long. They can be taken at community colleges or vocational schools. The course must be approved by the state in order for an LPN to become licensed. The license is obtained by passing an NCLEX-PN exam after completing the LPN program. This exam must be taken and passed to become a LPN, there are no exceptions. NCLEX stands for National Council Licensing Examination and it is in four basic parts.

1. Effective and safe care environment
2. Psychological Integrity
3. Physiological Integrity
4. Health maintenance and promotion

Training courses in the LPN program will be classroom and clinical practice, or patient care. In the classroom, you will study basic concepts of nursing. There will be other subjects like anatomy, pharmacology, first aid, and nutrition. Your patient care may be in a hospital or other health care facility.

Licensing

To have a license, a graduate of a LPN program need to pass the licensing exam called NCLEX-PN. This stands for National Council of Sate Boards of Nursing. This may qualify you for a career in nursing. The exam will test your basic skills and understanding of nursing. Other licensing requirements will depend on the job that you apply for.

Careers in Nursing

Your job in patient care can cover a large variety of things. You may be taking vital signs and giving medications. You may be required to give injections and perform diagnostics on patients. You might have to dress wounds, give enemas, or install catheters. In some cases, you will provide basic assistance to patients like helping them stand, walk, or eat. This may include aiding patients with personal hygiene, too.

In nursery environments, LPNs take care of babies, by delivering and administering food. They might be required to monitor patients and take personal histories. Some may work in specialty fields like surgery or psychiatry, also.

The job can be physically demanding and require a great deal of time on the feet. Work hours may vary and you may be called upon to work nights or weekends. However, most people in this profession work a forty hour week, but there are also part-time positions available, in some areas. You may be required to assist doctors with procedures and sometimes the work can be stressful.

Expected Salary and Projected Career Growth

The median income for LPNs is a little over thirty thousand dollars per year. These wages may vary according to job and area. For example, workers in nursing care facilities may earn over $40,000 annually. An LPN in a doctor's office may earn about $35,000 per year. Home health care LPNs earn about $39,000 a year. These income guidelines are from the United States Department of Labor, 2008.

A Licensed Practical Nurse degree will be a good investment in the future, as the outlook for LPN jobs is very good for the coming years. These jobs are expected to increase as much as twenty one percent by the year 2018. Home health care and nursing care facilities are expected to see the most future job growth. This is due to the increased elderly population that is anticipated. However, there is an overall increase in health care demand expected in the future, also. The overall growth is expected to be considerably higher than average job growth for those in the health care industry, giving graduates of the LPN program more career options.