Vocational Nursing Program Riverside IL - LPN and LVN Schools Near You

How to Select the Right LPN College near Riverside Illinois

Riverside IL LPN pediatric nurse holding infant There are generally two academic credentials available that provide training to become an LPN near Riverside IL. The one that can be finished in the shortest time period, usually about 12 months, is the certificate or diploma program. The 2nd choice is to obtain a Practical Nursing Associate Degree. These LPN programs are more comprehensive in nature than the diploma alternative and normally require 2 years to complete. The advantage of Associate Degrees, along with providing a higher credential and more in-depth training, are that they furnish more transferable credit toward a Bachelor’s Degree in nursing. Regardless of the kind of credential you seek, it needs to be state approved and accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) or any other national accrediting organization. The NLNAC guarantees that the course of study properly prepares students to become Practical Nurses, and that most graduates pass the 50 state required NCLEX-PN licensing exam.

What is an LPN?

Riverside IL Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Licensed Practical Nurses have many different functions that they complete in the Riverside IL health care facilities where they are employed. As their titles signify, they are mandated to be licensed in all states, including Illinois. Although they may be responsible for overseeing Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA), they themselves normally work under the supervision of either an RN or a doctor. The health care facilities where they work are numerous and varied, including hospitals, medical clinics, schools, and long-term care facilities. Anywhere that you can encounter patients in need of medical treatment is their dominion. Each state not only oversees their licensing, but also what functions an LPN can and can’t perform. So based on the state, their day-to-day work activities might include:

Measuring vital signs
Administering medications
Initiating IV drips
Monitoring patients
Collecting blood or urine samples
Maintaining patient records
Supporting doctors or Registered nurses with procedures

Along with their job responsibilities being governed by each state, the medical facilities or other Riverside IL healthcare providers where LPNs work can further limit their job roles within those parameters. In addition, they can work in various specialties of nursing, including long-term care, critical care, oncology and cardiology.

Online LPN Programs

female student attending LPN school online in Riverside IL Attending LPN programs online is emerging as a more preferred way to obtain instruction and acquire a nursing certificate or degree in Riverside IL. Many schools will require attendance on campus for part of the training, and virtually all programs call for a certain number of clinical rotation hours conducted in a local healthcare center. But since the balance of the training can be accessed online, this option may be a more accommodating solution to finding the free time to attend school for some students. Pertaining to tuition, some online degree programs are cheaper than other on campus choices. Even supplementary expenses such as for commuting and study materials may be minimized, helping to make education more affordable. And many online programs are accredited by U.S. Department of Education recognized organizations. So if your work and household commitments have left you with very little time to pursue your academic goals, it could be that an online LPN program will make it easier to fit a degree into your hectic schedule.

LPN Salary

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) was $45,030 in May 2017. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $32,970, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $61,030. Most licensed practical nurses near Riverside IL work full time, although about 1 in 5 worked part time in 2016. Many work nights, weekends, and holidays, because medical care takes place at all hours. They may be required to work shifts of longer than 8 hours. Employment of LPNs is projected to grow 12 percent from 2016 to 2026. Job prospects should be favorable for LPNs who are willing to work in rural and medically under served areas.

Things to Ask LPN Programs

Questions to ask Riverside IL LPN programs Once you have decided on obtaining your LPN certificate, as well as if you will attend classes on campus or on the internet, you can utilize the following pointers to begin narrowing down your options. As you undoubtedly are aware, there are many nursing schools and colleges near Riverside IL as well as within Illinois and throughout the United States. So it is essential to decrease the number of schools to select from so that you will have a workable list. As we previously pointed out, the site of the school as well as the cost of tuition are most likely going to be the primary two things that you will look at. But as we also stressed, they should not be your only qualifiers. So before making your final selection, use the following questions to evaluate how your pick measures up to the other programs.

Accreditation. It’s a good idea to make sure that the certificate program in addition to the school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. Besides helping ensure that you obtain a premium education, it may help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited schools near Riverside IL.
Licensing Preparation. Licensing requirements for LPNs are different from state to state. In all states, a passing score is needed on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN) as well as graduation from an accredited school. Some states require a specific number of clinical hours be performed, as well as the passing of additional tests. It’s essential that the school you are attending not only delivers a top-notch education, but also preps you to meet the minimum licensing standards for Illinois or the state where you will be working.
Reputation. Visit online rating services to see what the evaluations are for each of the LPN schools you are looking into. Ask the accrediting organizations for their reviews as well. Also, get in touch with the Illinois school licensing authority to check out if there are any complaints or compliance issues. Finally, you can call some local Riverside IL healthcare organizations you’re interested in working for after graduation and ask what their judgements are of the schools as well.
Graduation and Job Placement Rates. Find out from the LPN programs you are looking at what their graduation rates are as well as how long on average it takes students to finish their programs. A low graduation rate may be an indication that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It’s also essential that the schools have high job placement rates. A high rate will not only verify that the school has a favorable reputation within the Riverside IL medical community, but that it also has the network of relationships to assist students gain a position.
Internship Programs. The most ideal way to get experience as a Licensed Practical Nurse is to work in a clinical environment. Essentially all nursing degree programs require a specific number of clinical hours be completed. A number of states have minimum clinical hour prerequisites for licensing too. Check if the schools have a working relationship with local Riverside IL community hospitals, clinics or labs and help with the placement of students in internships.

Enrolling in an LPN Program near Riverside IL?

If you are considering enrolling in and attending an LPN school near Riverside IL, you may find the following information both interesting and useful when making your final decision.

North Riverside, Illinois

As of the 2010 census, there were 6,672 people, 2,827 households, and 1,746 families living in the village. The population density was 4,068.3 people per square mile (1,588.6/km²). There were 2,981 housing units at an average density of 1,817.7 per square mile (709.8/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 81.2% White, 6.5% African American, 0.1% Native American, 2.1% Asian, 8.1% some other race, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 23.8% of the population.[3]

At the 2010 census there were 2,827 households, out of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.0% were headed by married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.2% were non-families. 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.2% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34, and the average family size was 3.02.[3]

In the village, the population was spread out with 20.8% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 27.5% from 45 to 64, and 20.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.3 males.[3]

Enroll in the Right LPN Program near Riverside IL

Riverside IL LPN geriatric nurse with patient Choosing the right Licensed Practical Nurse school is potentially the most crucial step to beginning a new career in the healthcare field. There are various aspects that you should think about when choosing a nursing school. These variables will be prioritized differently depending on your existing career objectives, lifestyle, and financial situation. As we have emphasized in this post, it is important that you enroll in an LPN school and a certificate or degree program that are both accredited and have exceptional reputations within the health care community. You originally decided to visit this website because of an interest in Vocational Nursing Program. However, by using our list of qualifying questions, you will be able to develop a short list of schools to choose from so that you can make your ultimate selection. And with the appropriate degree and training, combined with your hard work and drive to succeed, you can become a Licensed Practical Nurse in Riverside IL.