| Becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or | | | | National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN). |
| Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) is one of the fastest | | | | You can find out more information about taking this |
| and easiest ways to begin working in the medical field. | | | | examination from your states Board of Nursing, such |
| LPN Training programs can be completed in as little as | | | | as fees, requirements and scheduling the exam. |
| 6 or 7 months to a year if you are only going to get | | | | Another bonus is that you can apply the course work |
| your hospital certificate or up to 2 years if you decide | | | | you complete in your LPN training towards becoming a |
| to get an LPN associates degree from an online, | | | | Registered Nurse if you chose to do that some day. |
| community or trade school. | | | | There are many specialized LPN-to-RN programs |
| What do LPNs do? | | | | available that are designed specifically for getting you |
| As a certified LPN, or LVN you work under the | | | | to that next level of nursing. Having prior nursing |
| direction of doctors and registered nurses (RNs). Your | | | | experience as an LPN can help you complete a RN |
| job would be do things such as: | | | | program a little faster. You should be able to test out |
| · Take vital signs | | | | of some classes based on your experience. |
| · Gather and record patient information | | | | Where do I find LPN Schools? |
| · Give injections/shots | | | | There are many websites online that list various |
| · Collect lab samples and/or perform lab tests | | | | schools with LPN programs. I generally break them |
| · Help and care for patients | | | | down into two categories, online schools or community |
| How much can LPNs earn? | | | | vocational colleges. Either option is fine and the choice |
| The salary for LPNs varies between approximately | | | | to attend one over another should be based on your |
| $32,000 and $42,000 per year. Factors that affect the | | | | own personal circumstances. Online colleges are very |
| amount you make primarily are where you work. As | | | | convenient and flexible. You should also consider the |
| an example, and LPN working at a nursing care facility | | | | cost of one schools program over another. |
| start somewhere between $37,880 and $38,320 | | | | It is worth your time to first gather the information |
| compared to an LPN working in a hospital who would | | | | about the programs offered in your area, then take a |
| start closer to $35,000 per year. | | | | little bit of time to examine the pros and cons of the |
| Even with a slow economy right now, one industry that | | | | various programs. |
| is very strong is the medical industry. People with LPN | | | | One final piece of advice, I would recommend finding |
| LVN certification are in demand more than ever. | | | | two to three quality programs in your area (either local |
| How can you get certified? | | | | or online). The reason for this is because due to the |
| You would want to check with your local school or | | | | demand for LPN training you may find that your fist |
| online school for the specifics of their program. | | | | choice school may have a waiting list. This may not be |
| Typically LPN training involves one year of training at a | | | | a big deal for you, but if you are wanting to get started |
| hospital, community college or trade school. Where | | | | as soon as possible then having a back-up plan is not |
| ever you chose to study, just make sure that your | | | | a bad idea, in other words, if one school has a six |
| school is approved by your state's Board of Nursing. | | | | month waiting list, then you may want to go with your |
| You can check with your school to find this out. | | | | second choice school assuming they will still provide |
| Once you complete your training you must pass the | | | | you with all the training you need. |