With the United States, and the world as a whole, facing a critical shortage of nurses there is no better time to consider a career in this exciting medical career field. Many may believe that becoming a nurse requires the completion of a difficult and time-consuming educational program. This is not always true however. While it may take as many as six years to complete the education necessary to land a position such as Registered Nurse (RN) or Advanced Practice Nurse (APN), individuals can break into the nursing career field with as little as one year of education thanks to LPN training programs.
LPNs, or licensed practical nurses, are a vital member of any medical team. LPNs often have the most frequent and direct contact with patients in any medical setting. As a member of the medical team, LPNs work with RNs and medical doctors to provide care to patients who are sick, injured, convalescent, or disabled. LPNs take direction from RNs, who in turn often take orders from or work in concert with the doctor. LPN training provides individuals with all the basic nursing skills necessary to perform their daily responsibilities in the healthcare field.
LPN training programs are offered in a variety of settings, both onsite at schools and online. Onsite training programs are offered at any of the following institutions:
- High schools
- Vocational schools
- Technical schools
- Nursing schools
- Community colleges
Community colleges and vocational/technical schools are the most common places for individuals to complete their LPN training. In some areas high schools will offer LPN training to students as part of an advanced education, but many programs require students to have completed a high school diploma before beginning their LPN training.
The first step in the search for an LPN training program is to find a program that has been accredited. Accreditation is important because it shows potential employers that individuals have completed a training program that has had its content certified by professionals. The easiest way to search for accredited LPN training programs in your area is to check with your state’s Board of Nursing.
After narrowing down a few LPN training program choices, it is time to prepare for the coursework that will be offered. LPN training prepares future nurses for the challenges they will face on a daily basis in hospitals and clinics across the country. LPN training is designed to help students not only learn how to cure individuals of their ailments, but also how to spot illnesses and effectively communicate with patients and doctors so that the best treatment is provided to the patient.
Typical LPN training coursework includes but is not limited to the following:
- Anatomy
- Psychology
- First Aid
- Obstetrics
- Medical surgery
- Computer education
Once the coursework component of LPN training has been completed students must then complete a clinical practice rotation. During this period nursing students are offered the chance to work side by side with certified nurses in a hospital, clinic, or other medical setting to see how they skills they have been taught are applied in everyday scenarios.
After roughly a year of study, individuals can graduate from LPN training programs and head for the final hurdle before beginning their nursing career. All graduates must earn their nursing license by passing a national exam. This computer based exam is a requirement in every state and is known as the National Council Licensure Examination-Practical Nurse (NCLEX-PN). The test is offered nationally by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
Those who have successfully completed all of the LPN training requirements will find a number of exciting careers opportunities awaiting them. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects LPN positions to grow by 21% through 2018, and with the average LPN earning a yearly wage of $39,030.