Licensed Practical Nurse Programs

While not quite as popular as registered nurse programs, licensed practical nurse programs still have large amount of applicants each year.  Licensed practical nurse programs are also referred to as LPN programs.  As I have mentioned in my nurse programs post the licensed practical nurse takes many of the same classes as a registered nurse and their responsibilities are much the same on the job.  There are a few differences which I will try to touch on in this post.

Licensed practical nurse programs may not have as many applicants, but that doesn’t make them any easier to get into.  LPN programs like RN programs usually are set up on a points system that requires you to take the same basic educational courses required by almost all degrees such as English, history, math, public speaking and fine arts classes.  However these basic classes don’t earn you points other than your overall grade point average.  Which in the case of my local college only accounts for about 1% of the total points.  Most of the points will be obtained by either a TEAS test or a Compass reading test, along with points earned in two Anatomy and Physiology classes and a Microbiology class. You will have to check with the college you are planning on attending to see how their admission is set up, but this system seems to be the norm in my area.  Of course since this is a two year degree, you will only be able to get into a licensed practical nurse program at a community or junior college.

As far as the career itself, the LPN is reduced in the amount duties they are able to perform.  One of the major differences is the starting and regulation of an IV.  Licensed practical nurses can receive additional training that will allow them to perform the start up of an IV, otherwise they are not allowed to start an IV even though they may receive the training in their college courses.  Along with the reduced responsibilities comes a reduction in pay and job opportunities compared to registered nurses.  Many hospitals no longer employ LPNs and the average pay tends to be five dollars per hour lower than RNs and even lower in some cases.  However, if you are looking to work at a physician’s office or a long term health care facility this may be the degree that will provide you that opportunity.  After receiving your degree as a licensed practical nurse, you can work for a few years and decide if that is as far as you want to go with your education.  If that isn’t the case, most colleges also have a bridge program or a mobility programs that allows LPNs to become RNs while they still work.  Hopefully this provides some information that will help you when you are looking at potential licensed practical nurse programs at the college of your choice.