LPN Career, Schools and Training Overview
If you're interested in working in health care but can't or prefer not to make the significant educational investment often required for other medical careers, training to become an LPN could be a good choice. These nurses are employed in a wide variety of settings, including nursing care facilities, hospitals, doctors' offices and home health care services.
LPN is short for licensed practical nurse. This role is referred to as an LVN, or licensed vocational nurse, in Texas and California, but apart from the name, there is no tangible difference between the two. Supervised by a registered nurse or doctor, LPNs work closely with patients and are responsible for basic medical care. This can involve tasks such as the following:
- Administering medication and injections
- Changing patient bandages
- Helping patients dress, bathe and eat
- Keeping medical records
- Monitoring patient vitals
- Reporting a patient's health status to doctors and registered nurses
LPNs might also be called on to provide emotional support to patients -- another reason why nurses are nicknamed "angels in comfortable shoes."
LPN Training Options
Depending on the degree or certificate program you choose to pursue and class scheduling, becoming licensed as an LPN can take as little as one year, after which you need to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for practical nursing. You can often find LPN training programs at technical schools or community colleges, although some might be located at high schools or hospitals. Training generally involves a combination of traditional class work, such as biology and pharmacology, along with supervised clinical instruction.
Online LPN Training Programs
Unlike many educational opportunities today, LPN training is not yet available online. Due to to the hands-on, personal nature of training within the nursing program, LPN training requires you to physically interact with patients on a regular basis -- something online training couldn't easily accommodate. Also, training could include clinical experience in acute and long-term care.
Good Qualities to have as an LPN
While anyone can train to become an LPN, you may be a particularly good candidate if you possess some or all of these qualities:
- High physical strength and stamina
- Compassion
- Self-confidence
- Good judgment
- Patience
- People skills
- Attention to detail
Advancing your Nursing Career
One benefit of becoming an LPN is that it offers the possibility of moving up in the nursing field. According to the National Federation of Licensed Practical Nurses, with enough experience and training, you might move into a supervisory role or join a specialized nursing group such as infusion nurses, treatment nurses, critical care nurses or special procedure nurses.
If you decide you'd eventually like to train to become a registered nurse, there are many LPN to RN education programs available, making LPN training a stepping stone to more advanced nursing careers. Some LPN to RN bridge programs feature online study options.
More information on being an LPN
If you have additional questions or would like more details on what it's like to be an LPN, salary data and more, check out the other articles on this website.
Schools offering LPN Programs
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- 2019 U.S. News & World Report - America’s Best Colleges
- Ranked #21 among 95 top-tier regional universities in the West.
- Ranked #10 in “Best Value Schools,” which takes into account a school’s academic quality weighed against net cost of attendance.
- Ranked #4 in “Most Innovative Schools.”
- Ranked #13 in “Best Colleges for Veterans” in the West.
- Listed as one of America’s Best Colleges by Forbes Magazine.
- Ranked one of the Best in the West by The Princeton Review.
- More than 97% of tenure-track faculty holds a terminal degree in their field.
- Accredited by The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
- Online Courses
- Offers medical and cosmetic programs, including dental assisting, massage therapy, cosmetology, esthetics, and more.
- Features a public salon and spa where students may get real-world experience.
- Offers scholarship opportunities for students wo qualify.
- Accredited by the Council on Occupational Education (COE).
- 2 separate Vacaville campuses, one is for medical careers and the other is the beauty academy.
- Accredited
- Flexible Scheduling
- Financial Aid
- A Los Angeles-based private college offering programs in medical sciences, legal studies, and graphic design since 1985.
- Has weekend programs, including certified veterinary technology, nurse assistant, and hemodialysis technician.
- Showcases visual communication students’ artwork and design through campus magazine.
- 3 campuses in Southern California.
- Accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC).
- Accredited
- Flexible Scheduling
- Accelerated Programs
- Financial Aid
- Transferable Credits
- Dedicated to providing career training since 1975.
- Has 13 campus locations in Southern California and a campus in Morrow, GA.
- Provides flexible class times including weekends.
- Offers curriculum that ranges from 8 month diploma programs to 16-month Associate of Applied Science degree programs.
- Has admissions professionals available to help students decide which diploma or degree program they should pursue.
- Gives job placement assistance strengthened by relationships with local employers.
- Accredited
- Flexible Scheduling
- Financial Aid
- A part of the Select Education Group (SEG).
- Offers several scholarship and financial aid opportunities for students who qualify.
- California campuses accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), and accreditation for the Salem campus from the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET).
- 4 Campuses located in Clovis, Modesto, and Redding in California, and Salem, Oregon.
- Accredited
- Flexible Scheduling
- Financial Aid
- Transferable Credits