How to Become an LPN – Education, Training & Licensure Requirements
When asked why they do what they do, nurses and nursing students overwhelmingly say it’s because they want to help others. Are you like them? If you want a rewarding career in a thriving sector of the economy, becoming a licensed practical nurse (LPN) may be the best decision you ever make. As an LPN, you’re on the frontlines of the healthcare industry, helping doctors, medical staff, specialists, and other nurses do what they do best: help patients heal and live healthy lives. To become an LPN, you need specialized training, skills, knowledge, and licensure.
Understand the Role of a Licensed Practical Nurse
As an LPN, you work under the supervision of a physician or registered nurse. You’re responsible for basic patient care and communication between the staff and patients and their families. It’s up to you to pay attention to a patient’s health and condition and let others know what you observe. Some of your responsibilities include:
- Monitor patients' vital signs
- Record patient information and update medical records
- Ensure patient comfort and safety
- Prepare and administer IVs and catheters under supervision
- Administer medications and injections
- Dress and care for wounds
- Collect samples for lab tests
- Assist doctors and RNs with procedures
- Assist patients with personal hygiene tasks like bathing and dressing
- Educate patients and families on care plans
Are you ready to become an LPN?
To be successful as a licensed practical nurse, you need solid medical skills, a good bedside manner, and great communication skills. You need to be detail-oriented, well-organized, and compassionate. Being adaptable and proactive in addressing patient needs, while adhering to ethical standards, can ensure excellence in care delivery and your success in the role. You also need to be an empathetic listener and able to put your patients and their families at ease during difficult times. Also, you need to follow specific steps to get the training and licensure required to work in a healthcare facility.
Get LPN Education and Training
You can acquire and hone the soft and technical skills you need to be a nurse through a Practical Nursing training program. Your nursing program will introduce you to the healthcare industry and provide you with the hands-on experience you need to start a career as an LPN. In the classroom, you learn from instructors who have nursing backgrounds. They teach you the fundamentals of nursing, the basics of human anatomy and science, and how nursing best practices are applied across various specialties.
In the medical and nursing labs, which simulate real-life healthcare facilities, you practice taking vital signs, administering medication, and preventing infection and cross contamination. You learn how to collect and record patient data and master your communication skills when dealing with patients and their families. Throughout your training program, you’ll participate in clinical courses at local healthcare facilities. There, you put your newly acquired skills to the test, working under the supervision of an RN. Your clinical rotations can help you hone your nursing abilities while you gain practical experience that you can add to your resume.
Pass LPN Licensing and Certification Requirements
To become an LPN, you must pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses(NCLEX- PN). Passing the NCLEX-PN certifies that you have the knowledge and skills to work as an LPN in any healthcare facility in the country. Your training program should provide you with the foundational knowledge you need to pass the exam. It should also build NCLEX prep into the curriculum, so you have a clear understanding of what to expect on test day. Once you pass the test, you earn a certification that is recognized across the industry.
The NCLEX-PN exam is also required for state licensure and employment. Specific requirements and fees may vary by state. In Pennsylvania, for example, you need to earn a high school diploma or GED, complete a PN nursing program, and pass the NCLEX-PN exam. The fee for state licensure is $95 for those who passed the test in-state and $115 for those who passed out of state1. By comparison, the requirements are similar in Connecticut, but the fees for state licensure are $150 no matter where you passed the exam2. In New Jersey and other states, you can apply for a nursing compact license once you have earned your LPN license3. This allows you to practice nursing in other states that are part of the compact.
Seek Employment as an LPN
As an LPN, you can find work in a range of healthcare facilities. You could work in a hospital or doctor’s office, or you could find a job at an extended care facility or nursing home. If you prefer to work one-on-one with patients, you could find a job that allows you to provide home healthcare.
Among the specializations you might choose are:
- Pediatrics: Pediatric clinics and hospitals
- Geriatrics: Nursing homes and long-term care facilities
- Maternity: Assisting in obstetrics and postpartum care
- Outpatient Clinics: Working in specialty and general clinics
- Mental Health: Psychiatric hospitals and clinics
- Surgical Centers: Pre- and post-operative care
- Rehabilitation: Working in rehab centers and facilities
- Hospice: End-of-life care in hospice settings
- Home Health Care: Providing care in patients' homes
- School Nursing: Health care within educational institutions
LPN Salary and Job Outlook
Employment of LPNs is projected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through the next decade4. With current LPNs retiring and the Baby Boomer generation requiring additional medical services and care as they age, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that there will be more than 54,000 LPN job openings each year throughout the decade4.
Salaries for LPNs vary depending on where you live and work. The median salary for LPNs as of May 2023 was more than $59,0005. Although the majority of LPNs work in residential facilities or nursing homes, followed by hospitals and in home-care services, LPNs at government-run facilities, nursing homes, and long-term care facilities, earn above the median salary6.
States with the highest employment of LPNs include New Jersey and Pennsylvania7. In fact, the New York-Newark-Jersey City metropolitan area has the highest concentration of jobs of any metropolitan area in the U.S. 7. Rhode Island, Connecticut and New Jersey are among the top-paying states for this occupation7.
Ready to Start Your LPN Career?
If you’re ready to start a career as an LPN, contact Lincoln Technical Institute today. We offer a Practical Nursing training program that can prepare you for entry-level nursing work. Our instructors have years of experience in health care and are here to help you succeed. Our program includes industry standard medical and nursing labs that provide tools and equipment for you to hone your skills. The program also provides opportunities to participate in health fairs, blood drives, blood pressure screenings, and community health events so you can gain practical experience before employment. And we help you prepare to sit for the NCLEX-PN exam so you can become one step closer to licensure. Fill out the form to learn more.
References:
1 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania https://www.pa.gov/en/agencies/dos/department-and-offices/bpoa/boards-commissions/nursing/licensed-practical-nurses-licensure-snapshot.html Retrieved July 29, 2024.
2 Connecticut’s Official State Website https://portal.ct.gov/dph/practitioner-licensing--investigations/lpn/practical-nurse-licensure-by-examination Retrieved July 29, 2024.
3 New Jersey Consumer Affairs https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/nur/Pages/Continuing-Education-FAQ.aspx Retrieved July 29, 2024.
4 Bureau of Labor Statistics https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/licensed-practical-and-licensed-vocational-nurses.htm#tab-6 Retrieved July 29, 2024.
5 Bureau of Labor Statistics https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/licensed-practical-and-licensed-vocational-nurses.htm#tab-5 Retrieved July 29, 2024.
6 Bureau of Labor Statistics https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/licensed-practical-and-licensed-vocational-nurses.htm#tab-3 Retrieved July 29, 2024.
7 Bureau of Labor Statistics https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes292061.htm#st Retrieved July 29, 2024.