Become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

The licensed practical nurse (LPN) also is known as a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) in some states and a registered practical nurse (RPN) in Canada. When a graduate nurse enters the health care field as a licensed practical or vocational nurse, that nurse will have distinct advantages to advancing a nursing career. This license is for those students who want to enter the nursing field as quickly as possible, yet leave room for further education and advancement later.

Prerequisites for Becoming an LPN

The student who attempts to enter an LPN course will need a high school diploma or GED. Once enrolled, students who enter an LPN course can expect to earn their practical nurse training within one to two years.

How to become an LPN

In addition to a high school diploma or GED, the nursing student who wants to become an LPN will need to graduate from an accredited LPN program and pass the National Council Licensure Examination, or NCLEX-PN. The LPN coursework covers biology, chemistry, anatomy, psychology, emergency medical technology, first aid, physical education, foods and nutrition, child growth and development, so it may seem that the nurse could obtain a full education online. The drawback to this assumption is that the LPN is expected to learn clinical practice under supervision. This requires classes in a local hospital, and some LPN programs will help students obtain this education through local health care institutions. Before you sign up for an LPN program, make sure that it is approved by your state’s Board of Nursing. Otherwise, you may not qualify to sit for the NCLEX-PN exam.

Careers Available After Becoming an LPN

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, LPNs and LVNs held 749,000 jobs in 2006. This number is predicted to grow to 854,000 by 2016, indicating a 14 percent increase in employment over a 10-year span. While employment opportunities for LPNs are strong in hospitals, a growing trend toward finding a greater number of jobs in home health care and in nursing care facilities is expanding.

Depending on work environment and work experience, licensed practical nurses can earn salaries of $31,208 to $41,617 annually. The LPN can work directly with patients under the supervision of an RN and/or a physician. LPNs are responsible for a wide range of duties including injections, vital signs, basic diagnostic tests, wound dressing and administering medication. Some LPNs can specialize in a specific unit or department, depending upon the health care employer environment. A specialization can enable the LPN to be fit for duties such as patient and family education and office careers. Jobs for LPNs are available in hospitals, nursing care facilities, doctor’s offices, public health offices and other health care agencies.

LPNs often take the leap into registered nursing after earning an associate’s degree. This degree, along with other appropriately accredited programs such as a hospital diploma or a BSN, qualifies a nurse to take the NCLEX exam in any given state. If you want to earn that BSN, some colleges offer special programs that will allow credits for work experience and prior courses. These LPN/LVN-to-BSN programs may take up to three years to complete, depending upon whether the nurse can attend online or on campus courses on a full- or part-time basis.

Find a Nursing Degree

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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