LPN Schools
The growing demands for the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) have led to an increase in the number of LPN schools. 

Guidelines In Evaluating LPN Schools

Training in LPN facilities play a major role in equipping a student with practical and theoretical knowledge as well as the various skills in caring for a patient. It should then become a prerequisite for an individual to evaluate the standards of an LPN school before deciding to enroll in one.

[List of LPN Schools By State & City] 

LPN Duties and Responsibilities

Numerous factors make up for guidelines in evaluating LPN schools. To begin with, we must first understand what a licensed practical nurse do in general. A licensed practical nurse or known as LPNs, work closely with patients by taking vital signs, administering shots, nursing wounds, collecting body fluid specimen samples, and performing standard lab tests. They are supervised by registered nurses or by doctors as they provide patients with basic medical care.

Being directly involved in the care of a patient, LPNs are then required to complete a vocational course in accredited LPN schools, attending class room studies and additional clinical practices under supervision. LPN training takes at least 9 months to 18 months depending on the program. LPN nursing programs commonly require a student to be at least 18 years old and has a high school diploma or equivalent GED upon admittance. A student will also be asked to take the the basic academic skill test or what is commonly referred as the LPN entrance exam.

Upon successful enrollment, LPN students will be introduced to LPN curriculum programs where they will be extensively trained in handling patients. Despite the differences of each state in terms of rules and laws, LPN schools still need to adhere with a set of educational standard that the Board of Nursing sets up. This is done so in order to make sure that all schools teach the same curriculum. Since LPN programs take one year to complete, students are exposed to different  workshops and seminars where they can put to test the skills they have learned all throughout training. After the students successfully complete the program, they now become eligible to take the NCLEX-PN exam or the National Council Licensure Examination in order for a student to receive a license and work as an LPN.

Schooling Options

Because of the increase in demands for licensed practical nurses, LPN schools are now made available campus-based or online-based. Since a classroom setting is more structured and more time demanding, a majority of LPN students who are mostly adults have considered online schooling in favor of their otherwise hectic schedules at work. Online LPN courses offer them the convenience of completing their classes at their own pace and in the comfort of their own homes.

School Costs

LPN schools may have varying tuition fees depending on the nature of the programs available. The ballpark figure would be roughly around $7,500.00 which is already inclusive of textbooks, uniforms, assessment testing, liability insurance, lab fees, background checks, membership in student nursing organizations, board applications, and tuition fees. The good thing nowadays is that, if a student is having a financial problem, he can always apply for student financial aid at Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).