LPN Education and Training Newell SD

How to Pick the Right LPN College near Newell South Dakota

Newell SD LPN pediatric nurse holding infant There are essentially two scholastic credentials available that provide instruction to become an LPN near Newell SD. The one that can be finished in the shortest amount of time, generally about 12 months, is the certificate or diploma course. The second option is to earn a Practical Nursing Associate Degree. These LPN programs are broader in nature than the diploma alternative and normally require 2 years to complete. The advantage of Associate Degrees, aside from providing a higher credential and more extensive training, are that they provide more transferable credit toward a Bachelor’s Degree in nursing. No matter the kind of credential you pursue, 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 warrants that the syllabus adequately prepares students to become Practical Nurses, and that the majority of graduates pass the 50 state required NCLEX-PN licensing exam.

What is an LPN?

Newell SD Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Licensed Practical Nurses have a number of duties that they perform in the Newell SD medical facilities where they work. As their titles signify, they are required to be licensed in all states, including South Dakota. Although they may be responsible for overseeing Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA), they themselves generally work under the guidance of either an RN or a doctor. The health care facilities where they work are numerous and diverse, including hospitals, medical clinics, schools, and long-term care facilities. Virtually any place that you can find patients in need of medical attention is their domain. Each state not only oversees their licensing, but also what duties an LPN can and can’t perform. So depending on the state, their routine work functions can include:

Measuring vital signs
Administering medications
Starting IV drips
Monitoring patients
Taking blood or urine samples
Keeping patient records
Assisting doctors or RNs with procedures

Along with their work responsibilities being controlled by each state, the health care facilities or other Newell SD healthcare providers where LPNs work can additionally limit their job roles within those parameters. In addition, they can work in numerous specialties of nursing, for example long-term care, critical care, oncology and cardiology.

Online LPN Programs

female student attending LPN school online in Newell SD Attending LPN programs online is growing into a more favored way to obtain instruction and earn a nursing certificate or degree in Newell SD. Some schools will require attendance on campus for a component of the training, and almost all programs call for a specified number of clinical rotation hours conducted in a local healthcare facility. But since the rest of the training may be accessed online, this method may be a more convenient approach to finding the time to attend school for some students. Concerning tuition, many online degree programs are cheaper than other on campus options. Even supplementary expenses such as for commuting and study materials may be minimized, helping to make education more affordable. And a large number of online programs are accredited by U.S. Department of Education recognized organizations. Therefore if your job and family responsibilities 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 busy 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 Newell SD 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.

Questions to Ask LPN Programs

Questions to ask Newell SD 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 probably are aware, there are many nursing schools and colleges near Newell SD as well as within South Dakota and throughout the United States. So it is necessary to decrease the number of schools to choose from so that you will have a manageable list. As we previously pointed out, the site of the school along with the cost of tuition are undoubtedly going to be the initial two points that you will consider. But as we also stressed, they should not be your only qualifiers. So prior to making your final decision, use the following questions to evaluate how your selection compares to the field.

Accreditation. It’s a good idea to make sure that the certificate program as well as the school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency. Aside from helping confirm that you receive an excellent education, it may help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not provided for non-accredited schools near Newell SD.
Licensing Preparation. Licensing prerequisites for LPNs differ from state to state. In all states, a passing score is needed on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN) together with graduation from an accredited school. Many states require a specified number of clinical hours be completed, as well as the passing of additional tests. It’s essential that the school you are enrolled in not only provides an exceptional education, but also preps you to comply with the minimum licensing standards for South Dakota or the state where you will be working.
Reputation. Look at online rating companies to see what the assessments are for each of the LPN schools you are considering. Ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews as well. In addition, check with the South Dakota school licensing authority to check out if there are any complaints or compliance issues. Finally, you can speak with some local Newell SD 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 schools you are looking at what their graduation rates are as well as how long on average it takes students to complete their programs. A low graduation rate may be an indication that students were displeased with the program and dropped out. It’s also important that the schools have high job placement rates. A high rate will not only confirm that the school has a favorable reputation within the Newell SD medical community, but that it also has the network of relationships to help students attain employment.
Internship Programs. The best way to acquire experience as a Licensed Practical Nurse is to work in a clinical environment. Essentially all nursing degree programs require a specified number of clinical hours be completed. Various states have minimum clinical hour prerequisites for licensing also. Find out if the schools have associations with local Newell SD community hospitals, clinics or labs and assist with the positioning of students in internships.

Enrolling in an LPN Program near Newell SD?

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

Newell, South Dakota

As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 603 people, 270 households, and 172 families residing in the city. The population density was 597.0 inhabitants per square mile (230.5/km2). There were 344 housing units at an average density of 340.6 per square mile (131.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 92.7% White, 0.2% African American, 1.7% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.5% Pacific Islander, and 4.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.0% of the population.

There were 270 households of which 24.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.8% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.3% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.78.

The median age in the city was 48.2 years. 23.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19.3% were from 25 to 44; 30.5% were from 45 to 64; and 22.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 51.1% male and 48.9% female.

Choose the Right LPN Program near Newell SD

Newell SD LPN geriatric nurse with patient Enrolling in the ideal Licensed Practical Nurse program is perhaps the most important step to launching a new career in the healthcare field. There are a number of variables that you need to think about when selecting a nursing school. These factors will be prioritized differently depending on your existing career goals, lifestyle, and financial status. As we have pointed out within this post, it is critical that you select an LPN school and a certificate or degree program that are both accredited and have excellent reputations within the health care community. You originally decided to visit this website because of an interest in LPN Education and Training. However, by utilizing our list of qualifying questions, you will be able to produce a shortlist of schools to select from so that you can make your ultimate selection. And with the right degree and training, combined with your dedication and drive to succeed, you can become a Licensed Practical Nurse in Newell SD.