How to Enroll In the Right LPN College near Cresco Pennsylvania
There are principally two academic credentials available that provide education to become an LPN near Cresco PA. The one that may be completed in the shortest period of time, typically about twelve months, is the certificate or diploma program. The 2nd option is to obtain a Practical Nursing Associate Degree. These LPN programs are more comprehensive in nature than the diploma option and typically require 2 years to finish. The benefit of Associate Degrees, besides offering a higher credential and more extensive instruction, are that they provide more transferable credit toward a Bachelor’s Degree in nursing. Regardless of the type of credential you pursue, it needs to be state approved and accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) or some other national accrediting organization. The NLNAC attests that the course of study effectively prepares students to become Practical Nurses, and that most graduates pass the 50 state required NCLEX-PN licensing exam.
What is an LPN?
Licensed Practical Nurses have numerous duties that they accomplish in the Cresco PA health care facilities where they work. As their titles signify, they are mandated to be licensed in all states, including Pennsylvania. While they may be accountable for overseeing Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA), they themselves normally work under the guidance of either an RN or a doctor. The medical care facilities where they work are numerous and diverse, for example hospitals, medical clinics, schools, and long-term care facilities. Anyplace that you can encounter patients seeking medical care is their dominion. Each state not only controls their licensing, but also what work activities an LPN can and can’t perform. So based on the state, their day-to-day work functions might include:
- Measuring vital signs
- Administering medicines
- Starting IV drips
- Monitoring patients
- Getting blood or urine samples
- Managing patient records
- Assisting doctors or Registered nurses with procedures
Along with their job responsibilities being mandated by each state, the medical facilities or other Cresco PA healthcare providers where LPNs work can additionally limit their job roles within those parameters. Also, they can work in numerous specialties of nursing, including long-term care, critical care, oncology and cardiology.
LPN Programs Online
Enrolling in LPN schools online is growing into a more preferred way to get instruction and attain a nursing certificate or degree in Cresco PA. Many schools will require attendance on campus for a component of the training, and nearly all programs require a specific number of clinical rotation hours completed in a local healthcare center. But since the balance of the training can be accessed online, this method may be a more convenient answer to finding the free time to attend college for some students. Pertaining to tuition, a number of online degree programs are less expensive than other on campus alternatives. Even additional expenses such as for commuting and study materials can be reduced, helping to make education more economical. And numerous online programs are accredited by U.S. Department of Education recognized organizations. So if your job and household responsibilities have left you with little time to work toward your academic goals, maybe an online LPN program will make it more convenient to fit a degree into your active 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 Cresco PA 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 Schools
Now that you have decided on obtaining your LPN certificate, as well as if you will attend classes on campus or online, you can use the following checklist to begin narrowing down your choices. As you probably realize, there are numerous nursing schools and colleges near Cresco PA as well as within Pennsylvania and throughout the United States. So it is important to lower the number of schools to select from to ensure that you will have a manageable list. As we earlier pointed out, the site of the school along with the cost of tuition are undoubtedly going to be the initial two things that you will consider. But as we also stressed, they should not be your sole qualifiers. So prior to making your final selection, use the following questions to evaluate how your pick compares to the field.
- 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 agency. In addition to helping make sure that you get a premium education, it may assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited schools near Cresco PA.
- Licensing Preparation. Licensing criteria for LPNs differ 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. Certain 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 enrolled in not only delivers a top-notch education, but also prepares you to comply with the minimum licensing requirements for Pennsylvania or the state where you will be working.
- Reputation. Check internet rating companies to see what the reviews are for each of the LPN schools you are considering. Ask the accrediting organizations for their reviews as well. Additionally, contact the Pennsylvania school licensing authority to determine if there are any complaints or compliance issues. Finally, you can speak with some nearby Cresco PA healthcare organizations you’re interested in working for after graduation and ask what their opinions are of the schools as well.
- Graduation and Job Placement Rates. Find out from the LPN programs you are considering 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 unhappy with the program and dropped out. It’s also imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. A high rate will not only confirm that the school has a favorable reputation within the Cresco PA healthcare community, but that it also has the network of relationships to assist students obtain a position.
- Internship Programs. The most ideal way to get experience as a Licensed Practical Nurse is to work in a clinical environment. Virtually all nursing degree programs require a specific number of clinical hours be completed. Various states have minimum clinical hour prerequisites for licensing as well. Ask if the schools have associations with nearby Cresco PA community hospitals, clinics or labs and help with the placement of students in internships.
Enrolling in an LPN Program near Cresco PA?
If you are considering enrolling in and attending an LPN school near Cresco PA, you may find the following information both interesting and useful when making your final decision.
Pennsylvania Route 390
Pennsylvania Route 390 (PA 390) is a 25.3-mile-long (40.7 km) state highway located in Monroe, and Pike Counties in Pennsylvania. The southern terminus is at PA 940 in Paradise Township. The northern terminus is at PA 507 in Tafton View. The routeis a two-lane undivided road that runs through forested areas in the Pocono Mountains. PA 390 begins at PA 940 west of Paradise Valley and heads northeast. The route runs concurrent with PA 191 between Cresco and Mountainhome before it splits and intersects PA 447 in Canadensis. PA 390 passes through Skytop before it crosses the county line and runs through Promised Land State Park. The route has an interchange with Interstate 84 (I-84) before passing through Tafton and ending at PA 507 near Lake Wallenpaupack.
PA 390 was designated in 1928 to run between PA 90 (now PA 191) in Mountainhome and PA 90/PA 507 in Newfoundland, with PA 90 following the current route south of Mountainhome. The route was realigned in the 1930s to head north from Canadensis to its current terminus at PA 507 north of Tafton, with PA 290 (now PA 447) extended along the former alignment between Canadensis and Newfoundland. PA 90 was shifted to a more direct alignment between Paradise Valley and Cresco in the 1940s, with the former section becoming unnumbered. PA 390 was extended south to its current terminus at PA 940 in the 1970s.
PA 390 begins at an intersection with PA 940 west of the community of Paradise Valley in Paradise Township, Monroe County, which is in the Pocono Mountains region of Pennsylvania, heading northeast on a two-lane undivided road. The route heads through forested areas with some homes, reaching an intersection with PA 191. At this point, PA 390 heads north concurrent with PA 191, running through more dense forests with some development and crossing into Barrett Township. The road turns north-northeast and passes over a Delaware–Lackawanna Railroad line before heading through the community of Cresco. The two routes continue into the residential and commercial community of Mountainhome, where PA 191 splits to the north and PA 390 becomes Peterson Road. The road continues through more wooded areas with some homes as an unnamed road, crossing the Middle Branch Brodhead Creek and intersecting PA 447 in Canadensis. The route becomes Krummel Hill Road and runs through more dense forests with some residential development, heading through Skytop before passing to the east of Mountain Lake and winding north.[2][3]
Pick the Right LPN School near Cresco PA
Picking the ideal Licensed Practical Nurse program is probably the most critical phase to launching a new career in the healthcare industry. There are numerous aspects that you must think about when choosing a nursing school. These aspects will be prioritized differently depending on your existing career objectives, lifestyle, and financial status. As we have highlighted in this article, it is critical that you enroll in an LPN school and a certificate or degree program that are each accredited and have exceptional reputations within the healthcare community. You originally decided to visit this website because of an interest in LPN Education Requirements. However, by utilizing our checklist of qualifying questions, you will be able to create a shortlist of schools to select from so that you can make your ultimate selection. And with the proper degree and training, combined with your hard work and drive to succeed, you can become a Licensed Practical Nurse in Cresco PA.
More Practical Locations in Pennsylvania
Business Results 1 - 10 of 1
2 Reviews 