Prerequisites for Earning an LPN

A student who wishes to work as an LPN must earn a high school diploma or GED and graduate from an accredited LPN program. LPN programs usually include one year of training at a hospital, vocational technical school or community college. LPNs are licensed by each state, so requirements vary by location.

How to Get an LPN

Students interested in obtaining their LPN degree can do so through community colleges, high schools, hospitals or vocational technical schools and through online courses. The latter option is a good solution for students who are attending high school or who are working, as online courses can provide flexible hours. Students study the same courses as those who attend campus options, but online students may need to coordinate with local hospitals or medical facilities to obtain practical training required by the LPN degree. Before you take any online course, however, be sure to check the school’s accreditation by your state’s Board of Nursing and make inquiries about clinical and practical experience options. Coursework in all LPN programs usually covers biology, chemistry, anatomy, psychology, emergency medical technology, first aid, physical education, foods and nutrition, child growth and development, in addition to supervised clinical practice in patient care.

Finally, to earn an LPN license, students must pass a state administered nursing examination, called the NCLEX-PN. To qualify to sit for the NCLEX-PN exam, students first must complete an LPN/LVN education program that is approved by a given state’s Board of Nursing.

Careers Available After Obtaining an LPN

LPNs work in various health care facilities including hospitals, nursing homes, mental health institutions, private homes, community health clinics, and public health departments. Many hospitals and medical institutions offer nurses a variety of schedules, from part-time work to daytime, evening, or weekend hours in order to fill their needs. This flexible scheduling can be a benefit to LPNs with other commitments such as family or continuing education courses. This degree is a stepping stone to becoming an RN through further education.

A nurse with an LPN degree can provide basic bedside care for the sick, injured and convalescent patient under the direction of physicians and registered nurses. LPNs and LVNs observe patients and report adverse reactions to treatments or medications. Some LPNs help to deliver, to care for, and to feed infants. Experienced LPNs may supervise nursing assistants and aides. LPNs work directly with patients and are responsible for a wide range of duties that include performing injections, vital signs, basic diagnostic tests, wound dressing and the administration of medications. Specializations such as pediatrics, surgery, obstetrics, and psychiatry also are available for LPNs.

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Top 10 Online Nursing Schools

LPN to BSN RN to BSN	Indiana State University — LPN to BSN and RN to BSN. Indiana State offers concentrations in the areas of family nurse practitioner, nursing administration, and nursing education.
BS in Nursing MSN - Acute Care	Liberty University — RN to BSN Degree and MSN Degree. The Department of Nursing at Liberty prepares students for baccalaureate level nursing, putting strong emphasis on Christian ethical standards and viewing nursing as a ministry of caring.
RN to BSN RN to MSN MSN - Nurse Administration More...	Kaplan University — Bachelor's, and Master's Nursing Degrees. Kaplan's School of Nursing offers specializations for nurse administrators and nurse educators.
RN to BSN MSN - Nurse Education MSN - Nurse Leadership More...	Grand Canyon University — BS in Nursing (BSN) and MBA/MS in Nursing. Grand Canyon University offers a unique MBA/MS in nursing degree program that teaches students about the business aspect of healthcare, specifically nursing healthcare. Current nurses who want more business experience will find this may be an ideal fit.
RN to BSN MS in Nursing Nursing Healthcare Certificate More...	University of Phoenix — BSN, MSN, and Certificate. The University of Phoenix is the nation's largest online university and currently offers several nursing programs at three different degree levels, based on previous nursing education and experience.
RN to BSN MSN - Nurse Educator PhD - Nurse Educator More...	Capella University — BSN, MSN, and PhD in Nursing Education. Capella prides itself on being an accredited online college. With its nurse education programs, Capella offers two levels, master's and PhD. Either is optimal for the working nurse who wants to enter a role as educator in the field.
BS in Nursing RN to MSN BSN to MSN More...	Walden University — M.S. in Nursing (RN Track), M.S in Nursing (BSN Track). Walden offers a wide variety of nursing degrees and certificates that are all accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
MSN - Adult Nursing MSN - CNS/Educator MSN - Nurse Administrator More...	University of Cincinnati — Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN). The University of Cincinnati College of Nursing prepares its nursing students for working with 21st century healthcare technologies to improve patient quality and administer healthcare procedures.
RN to BSN MS in Nursing MSN - Nurse Education More...	South University — RN to BSN and MS in Nursing. The nursing programs at South University prepares its student for professions in a wide variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, and school health clinics.
RN to BSN MS in Nursing	Chamberlain College of Nursing — MSN and BSN. Because of the Web-based education that Chamberlain provides, students are able to earn their nursing degree at their own pace. From Chamberlain, students can choose from either a bachelor's degree level or master's degree level, depending on previous experience.
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