Are you looking for schools offering LPN programs?
The LPN and LVN programs are the same jobs but with different titles.
The LPN and LVN, abbreviations for Licensed Practical Nurses and Licensed Vocational Nurses, are entry-level positions that offer primary medical care with supervision from registered doctors and nurses.
LPN/LVN Programs
They are both nursing programs where the nurses are charged with caring for and providing all patients with care. This care includes assisting them in taking a bath, eating their meals, dressing them, etc.
They also help doctors and registered nurses in keeping records.
They keep communication open with the care team, and they work hand in hand with the families and friends of patients to help them better understand the health condition of their loved ones and how to support them in times like this.
COMPARE: Medical Assistant vs. Licensed Practical Nurse
These programs are similar; the only difference is the names. Licensed Vocational Nurse is used in California and Texas, while the Licensed Practical Nurse is used in other states in the US.
LPN Classes And Curriculum Outline
Students that apply for the LPN program are expected to be able to gather a lot of information and learn a lot within a specific period.
Most schools offer in-person classes; all students should be present for every practical and theoretical course.
It is perceived that physical classes will help the students learn better, especially when it is time for practice.
Anatomy and Physiology
This course is essential for all aspiring LPN because it helps learners understand the body of a human and its systems.
The course focuses on sensory functions of the body, respiratory functions, endocrine systems, motor skills, and circulatory functions.
Pathophysiology
Pathophysiology is the study of the body’s systems, how it functions, and how it gets weak.
The course is extensive because it explores the human body’s normal function, how the body contacts diseases and infections, the importance of the organ that has been affected by sickness, and how they work hand in hand to ensure the body system is healthy.
Patient Assessment
As much as an LPN works under the supervision of a Registered Nurse or Doctor, this course is crucial because it helps develop their skills.
It teaches them how to examine a patient’s condition while taking good care of them. They learn how to nurse injuries and care for patients battling an illness or old age.
Infection Control
This is more of a practical course because here, learners learn a lot more about the principles of infection control to help them apply their knowledge when they start working.
They practice hand hygiene, keep medical instruments clean, and avoid contamination while caring for patients with certain illnesses.
Nutrition and Food Safety
This course provides a topic that helps students learn about diets, how to practice food safety, how foodborne illness can negatively affect their patients, and how to best avoid it.
Requirements Needed To Get Into A LPN Program
Many would not want to pass on the opportunity to work as a Licensed Practical Nurse.
Before applying or registering, you are expected to have a considerable interest in caring for patients and attain a certain level of experience on the job.
In addition to this, you should be compassionate, responsible, and accountable as an individual.
It is of utmost importance for an LPN to have excellent communication skills and also be able to relay information to other people because, most of the time, LPNs communicate regularly with doctors, patients, and their families.
It takes a lot to be an LPN. It is not a job that should be considered because you need a job or the pay is good enough. It is a job you should do because you are interested in it.
The Nursing career is very demanding because it concerns the health and well-being of other human beings. Although most people hate to say this, their tendency to regain their health depends on how they are treated under your care.
This is why it is crucial to have strong organizational skills. Making mistakes is inevitable, but you can avoid many mistakes if you take the job seriously.
We are aware that not everybody is cut out for this job, nor is it everyone who can handle particular challenges that come with the job.
However, you must be brave and be ready for everything that the job entails, such as seeing and touching blood, bodily fluids, the smell that comes from handling the body of a human, and every other thing that takes place at your place of duty.
Are There Any Certificates Needed To Get Into The Program?
Aspiring to become an LPN is a great idea, but the only way your dream of becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse or a Vocational Nurse is by getting a high school diploma certificate or, better still, a GED certificate.
After that, you should obtain a diploma by going to college.
Although the LPN aspirants aren’t expected to have a diploma in some parts of the world, they are all required to pass the NCLEX-PN examination, an abbreviation for the National Council Licensure Examination.
This examination makes you credible enough to work in the United States of America as an LPN.
Usually, every practical nurse should be able to attain their courses for one year and must have passed the National Council Licensure Examination. They can go ahead to work anywhere around the United States.
In most places, or depending on your position, your experience level is a requirement to get the job.
Immediately an LPN begins to succeed by going higher in rank. It is often expected for them to consider going for an RN program (Registered Nurse).
We often mistake the job of an LPN for that of an independent practitioner, which is not supposed to be so.
The LPN function basically by taking orders and directions from a Registered Nurse or a doctor. Although they own their license and practice with it, every state has a unique licensed practical and vocational nursing board that monitors and specifies the LPN Practice Act.
This confirms the earlier statement about them practicing under the direction of the Registered Nurse.
This could be exciting for the LPNs, but on the part of the Registered Nurses, you cannot tell if they can take it because they are being held accountable if anything goes wrong while the LPN is caring for patients.
And this is regardless of whether the Registered Nurse was in a position to supervise.
Aside from this, Registered Nurses are also expected to consider the potential of the LPNs and make sure that every task is carried out very well and in a manner that is very safe for both the worker and the patient.
The Registered Nurses strictly watch VPNs. Whenever they suspect that a worker is not being efficient in their place of assignment, it is their duty as an obligation to take over such a task until they can find any other means to make things work out.
As an LPN, you are expected to pay close attention and, if need be, provide help to the Registered Nurse in case of any issue.
What Are The Duties Of A Licensed Practical Nurse, And Where Can They Work After The Program?
This set of workers is essential to hospitals, nursing houses, and other healthcare facilities.
Sometimes, they tend to work in the private sector to be able to care for patients accurately, whichever is more convenient for them.
If you have successfully concluded the program, you could work in several places: nursing homes, hospitals, schools, correctional facilities, etc.
Roles and Duties Of A Licensed Practical Nurse
- They are charged with the responsibility of organizing the health records of patients.
- They provide primary care for children and particular patients
- They offer personal hygiene help to patients, and this includes bathing and feeding them, as stated above
- Administration of medicine to sick patients.
How Much Does A LPN Earn?
How much an LPN earns annually depends solely on the particular state they work.
This is to say that an average LPN worker’s salary varies depending on their state, level of experience, and how long they have been working in the establishment.
According to the BLS, LPN workers earn close to $50,000 depending on their area of duty, as mentioned above.
Notably, this amount paid to them does not include other benefits like bonuses, working overtime, holiday pay, wardrobe allowances, etc.
When an LPN decides to further their education, the establishment I’m at most likely pays for the tuition and other expenses.
The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics says that most practical and vocational nurses earn an average of $41,540 annually or $19.97 per hour.
But these prices are unstable and vary depending on your position in the establishment.
LPN Program Length And Cost
We are all aware that many benefits are attached to applying for the LPN program. One of which is to increase the well-being of patients in hospitals.
When registering for this program, remember that it is time-consuming, and you may barely have enough time for yourself. Nevertheless, it is all for a good cause.
Most schools that provide this program focus on developing their students and turning them into healthcare professionals capable of working with other medical professionals in years to come.
By undergoing this program, successful and focused students will learn how to properly care for individuals, regardless of age, gender, or size.
Usually, the program takes about one year, including approximately 700 hours of clinical experience (this is dependent on the state’s requirements).
You can run the program full-time or at any time, whichever is convenient.
Although running a per time may most likely affect the time frame you have to work with, you will need to find a means to work around it.
The tuition for running this program is quite expensive, although it depends on the state you decide to attend the program. The average amount for education for the LPN program ranges from $11,000 to $15,000.
This tuition fee does not include clinical fees, nor does it have books to be read.
Acceptance Rate
It is important to note that acceptance varies depending on the institution you applied for.
Aspirants are expected to have a high school diploma with a minimum GPA of 2.5. In most cases, aspirants are asked to sit for the Essential Academic Skill Exam.
After your results have been seen, you only need to submit a recommendation letter written by a respectable person in your society and a Résumé.
Licensed Practical Nurse Certification
The three steps for earning an LPN degree involve attending an accredited training program. This would usually offer a diploma.
The program also introduces prospective students to relevant courses, including nursing care across the lifespan, psychology, philosophy, and human development.
In the end, students will get to practice in a clinical setting and then sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN).
Passing the NCLEX-PN is essential for attaining a Licensed Practical Nurse certification. Successful candidates will move on to apply for licensure in the state of their choice. They will also have to pay an acceptance fee.
LPN Nursing Schools List
There are a lot of universities in the US that provide the LPN program, and most of them provide online programs.
It will interest you that all the schools listed below have adequate facilities and equipment to educate students and ensure they come out as outstanding LPN.
Del Mar College
The LPN program is offered at Del Mar College. Although the courses are being taken online, a few students still attend classes and write tests physically.
This means you can run the program online or be in school.
The program comprises at least four semesters which is made up of 48 credits. There are specific classes that the students take, in addition to clinical hours, which are mostly spent outside the classroom environment.
Montana State University
This University also offers online classes for LPN. While the courses are online, clinical hours are conducted on the school premises.
In this school, students can conclude the program in 3 semesters, comprising 40 credits. Some courses, including community nursing, pharmacology, and gerontology, should be taken.
South Florida State College
This college offers a full-time LPN program.
Although the program lasts for just 11 months, they ensure students can finish their entire course within the stipulated time and are well-trained for their NCLEX examination ( the NCLEX-Pan pass rate for the college is 86.76%).
They also provide other optional support for students, including tutorials to help ease the workload. They also offer a transfer LPN to a Registered Nurse course if you want to pursue a Registered Nurse degree immediately after your LPN program.
The school believes its location and the weather conditions would help its students and help them when the schoolwork gets difficult.
Washington State Community College
One thing that makes the Washington State Community College stand out is that they offer per-time LPN programs to students.
This means you can have a job or care for your family while running your LPN program.
The program takes two years, more than enough time to finish all the courses you are expected to take.
Students can go to any hospital close by to improve their practice skills and act as nurses.
Lake Area Technical College
This college provides a standard LPN program for every student, and what is more interesting is that they allow their students to choose whether to run the program per time or if they prefer to do it full-time.
The only difference between the per-time and full-time learning is that the per-time takes 22 months, while full-time takes 11 months, which is way shorter.
They offer several courses with substantial materials to help prepare their students for the qualifying exams.
The main goal of this college is to ensure that they provide adequate equipment for students to enhance their learning abilities.
Also available is their newly developed anatomy lab, where students can go to practice what they have learned in class.
Florida Gateway College
Florida Gateway College provides its LPN students with access to tutorials for adequate learning and an advisor to help assist them when they have issues.
The program takes 12 months, after which the students would go ahead to write the NCLEX-PN examination.
The NCLEX-PN pass rate is 91.4%, and successful students will be qualified to become Licensed Practical Nurses.
Rasmussen College
This is a private school that provides both online and in-person LPN programs. Also available on the school campus is 24-hour technical support on standby if any student needs help.
The school has made available adequate facilities like the simulation lab to help aspiring LPNs under challenging situations and help them achieve their practical skills.
Before the end of the program, students are sent to any public healthcare facility for a real-life clinical training experience.
North Florida College
Unlike other colleges in the US, this college offers one of the most affordable LPN programs in the country, and the good part is that every student has a choice to transfer from LPN to RN if they desire better job prospects.
They also have an academic advisor and a tutor on campus to help students with academic problems or any course that may challenge them.
Fayetteville Technical Community College
This college offers a full-time LPN program of 3 semesters for 11 months. They try their best to prepare students for the NCLEX-PN exams.
A big learning center with patient simulation and a science lab with all the necessary equipment is made available on campus.
Green River College
This college provides a vast class size to help increase its students’ learning abilities for effective teaching.
Green River’s NCLEX-PN pass rate is 98% which is good enough for aspiring LPN students.
A simulation lab is also available in the school, automatically connected to computers to give students the best learning experience.
Alpena Community College
The Alpena Community College allows students to choose either online school or physical learning.
The school prides itself on owning the latest technologies like birthing manikins, anatomized tables, and patient simulators to help students be perfect in nursing.
The program takes one year, after which students can take the NCLEX- PN examination.
Wallace State Community College
Over the years, this school has created a mark amongst the most sought-after nursing schools.
The college is known for its competitive application; hence, it only accepts LPN students twice a year.
They have two campuses where the program has been conducted: Wallace Campus in Dothan and the Sparks Campus in Eufaula.
Helena College
One advantage of Helena College is that students do not have to wait for clinical training before getting hands-on experience.
Instead, the school gives patient care roles to all their LPN students in a healthcare facility to test the student’s knowledge.
The school’s NCLEX-PN pass rate is an average of 100%, and ever since the improvement in their clinical training, there has been a considerable increase in the number of students that apply for the course.
Indiana County Technology Centre
This college has a constantly high NCLEX-PN pass rate, making it the best LPN program in Pennsylvania.
Although their class size is relatively small, it helps the tutors focus more on the students and make their learning process more manageable.
The school prides itself in owning creative medical technology and providing financial assistance to students who cannot pay their fees.
HACC Central Pennsylvania Community College
The HACC Central Pennsylvania Community College trains students to be professional LPNs with their newly improved simulation facilities and their medical instrument for learning.
For their students to have real-life practical experience, they are placed in healthcare facilities after the program.
The program runs for four semesters.
It was always a full-time program, but they are currently running an online program due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Lehigh Carbon Community College
The Lehigh Carbon Community College offers affordable tuition to students, with an NCLEX average of about 94%, and still provides financial aid to students who cannot meet the tuition fee.
The school is one of the best nursing schools available because it has educational program support for students with exceptional academic needs during the program.
They run both online and in-person classes, so students are allowed to choose which they prefer.
Northland Community Technical College
This college provides students with an excellent interactive class.
They have also made available properly equipped simulation medical facilities, a group of registered nurses to help students during practical learning, and scholarship programs for merit students.
Although this college is not well known, they offer online and in-person learning.
The tuition is affordable, and there are financial aid programs for students who cannot afford to pay tuition. This depends on the student’s educational performance.
Holmes Technical College
Holmes Technical College provides affordable online learning for aspiring LPNs.
Their main goal is to help reduce the pressure of in-person learning, especially since the program runs for five semesters.
Also made available is their full-time program that lasts for just three semesters.
Although most people prefer online learning because of its affordable rate, many prefer in-person learning.
The college has a qualified medical faculty that helps aspiring LPNs in courses they find pretty tricky with their patient simulation and other healthcare equipment they have in their school.
Utah State University
If you wouldn’t mind spending a lot more money on good LPN education in a school, this University is the best for you.
Their expensive fees might also mean they provide quality education for their students.
As expected, the school has many staff, teachers, and nurses to assist the students with all the courses they would be taking throughout the program.
The school also provides an Association of Applied Science Degree in Nursing.
This association would assist students in becoming registered nurses after finishing their LPN program.
North Central Texas College
Imagine what Havard Business School is to Havard.
The North Central Texas College’s nursing school is because the school is one of the most advanced and extensive educational facilities in Gainesville College.
The program takes 12 months to complete, and depending on your location, you can take the online class or the in-person learning.
The school’s nursing school does a great job. However, the school still insists on sending students to community health facilities, nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities to learn about real-life practical nursing.
Western Wyoming Community College
This school seems to have created a good learning environment for its students, posing as its selling point.
They offer students both online and on-campus learning, meaning that students are responsible for picking their learning modes.
Like Utah University, they also have an Association of Applied Science Degree in Nursing for their students, so they could become registered nurses if they choose to.
Their LPN exams are computer-based to prepare students for the NCLEX-PN exams. They also made available simulation mannequins and other medical facilities to help give the students a better and safer healthcare setting to practice.
Texas State Technical College
Texas State Technical College’s LPN program is an online and in-person learning mode.
Students can choose which they prefer to ensure that the timing is convenient enough for them.
They send their students to healthcare facilities to practice what they are taught in the classroom. Aside from that, they provide an online communication session, simulation labs for learning, and virtual nursing practice.
Also, the program lasts for 16 months.
Centennial College
The Licensed Practical Nursing at this college gives aspiring students the knowledge needed for the healthcare environment in today’s world.
The college has made available comprehensive clinical training and a classroom learning experience.
They have laid down classroom instructions enhanced by multimedia support, clinical training, and independent study.
Most of their courses are given in a blended form, both online and in classroom education.
Students can engage in nursing through healthcare providers and other agencies.
This can help them meet the abilities that will showcase the ever-changing and improving roles of the LPNs as made available by the Nursing Act and Regulated Health Professions Act.
Davenport University
Davenport University offers an LPN program accepted by the Michigan Board of Nursing, and the Accreditation Commission has accredited the program for Education in Nursing.
Professional nurses are teaching their students. They give their students an option of starting a career as an LPN or continuing with their bachelor of science in nursing education and concluding in about three years.
They train their aspiring LPNs for the outside world and help them gain specific skills in essential aspects of healthcare, like communicating with patients and other nurses, caring for patients, and managing.
The University promises its students a job placement after they might have completed their courses and passed the qualifying exams required before they can be referred to as Licenced Practical Nurses.
Work Expectations
As per data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, LPNs earned an average annual salary of $47,020. What makes the practice somewhat lucrative is the short time and relatively lower cost of getting a degree.
Based on available data, it could take as little as 12 months to complete a full-fledged LPN training program. Also, this would often cost between $15,000 and $30,000.
Licensed Practical Nurses sometimes work in the company of Registered Nurses. However, while RNs prescribe treatments and procedures, LPNs would assist in carrying out duties relating to this.
This means they must pay attention, possess a basic understanding of the healthcare practice to carry out instructions, and have good communication skills to relate with their supervisors and patients.
Conclusion
LPN stands for Licensed Practical Nurse. These professionals are known as Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) in certain areas.
They take care of essential nursing duties, including personal patient care, temperature, and blood pressure monitoring, tending to wounds, inserting catheters, communicating with patients, and more.
The scope of function of a licensed practical nurse largely depends on the state where they are certified and where they work. However, they cannot perform duties such as making intravenous insertions as a Registered Nurse (RN) would.
Have you always dreamed of becoming a Nurse but don’t have the resources to chase those dreams and become what you’ve wanted for the longest time?
Worry no more because the LPN program is a flexible and easy program that you can do within one year, giving you everything you’ve wished for.
Imagine becoming an LPN without spending a whole lot of money.
This is not just a job but a career path worth walking in. This is because it has been predicted that there will be massive growth in years to come.
As a result, there would be a very high demand for LPNs, and when there is a high demand in societies, you should know that the wages will go up.
