LVN Nursing Programs Collegedale TN - LPN and LVN Schools Near You

How to Select the Right LPN School near Collegedale Tennessee

Collegedale TN LPN pediatric nurse holding infant There are principally two academic credentials offered that provide education to become an LPN near Collegedale TN. The one that may be finished in the shortest amount of time, usually about twelve months, is the certificate or diploma program. The other alternative is to obtain a Practical Nursing Associate Degree. These LPN programs are broader in nature than the diploma option and usually require 2 years to complete. The benefit of Associate Degrees, along with supplying 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 pursue, it needs to be state approved and accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) or another national accrediting organization. The NLNAC guarantees 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?

Collegedale TN Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Licensed Practical Nurses have a number of functions that they accomplish in the Collegedale TN health facilities where they are employed. As their titles indicate, they are required to be licensed in all states, including Tennessee. Even though they may be responsible for overseeing Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA), they themselves usually work under the supervision of either an RN or a doctor. The health care facilities where they work are numerous and diverse, such as hospitals, medical clinics, schools, and long-term care facilities. Virtually any place that you can encounter patients requiring medical care 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 everyday job activities can include:

Checking vital signs
Providing medications
Starting IV drips
Monitoring patients
Taking blood or urine samples
Managing patient records
Assisting doctors or RNs with procedures

In addition to their occupational responsibilities being governed by each state, the medical facilities or other Collegedale TN healthcare providers where LPNs work can additionally limit their job roles within those parameters. In addition, they can practice in different specialties of nursing, for instance long-term care, critical care, oncology and cardiology.

Online LPN Programs

female student attending LPN school online in Collegedale TN Attending LPN programs online is emerging as a more popular way to obtain instruction and earn a nursing certificate or degree in Collegedale TN. Many schools will require attending on campus for part of the training, and nearly all programs call for a certain number of clinical rotation hours carried out in a local healthcare facility. But since the rest of the training may be accessed online, this option may be a more accommodating answer to finding the free time to attend classes for many students. Regarding tuition, some online degree programs are less expensive than other on campus options. Even supplementary expenses such as for commuting and study materials can be lessened, helping to make education more easily affordable. And many online programs are accredited by U.S. Department of Education recognized organizations. And so if your job and household responsibilities have left you with little time to pursue your academic goals, it could be that an online LPN school will make it more convenient 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 Collegedale TN 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.

What to Ask LPN Schools

Questions to ask Collegedale TN LPN programs Now that you have decided on obtaining your LPN certificate, as well as if you will attend classes on campus or on the internet, you can use the following guidelines to start narrowing down your options. As you probably are aware, there are many nursing schools and colleges near Collegedale TN as well as within Tennessee and throughout the United States. So it is necessary to reduce the number of schools to choose from to ensure that you will have a workable list. As we previously discussed, the site of the school along with the expense of tuition are undoubtedly going to be the first two points that you will look at. But as we also stressed, they should not be your only qualifiers. So prior to making your ultimate choice, use the following questions to see how your selection compares to the other schools.

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 recognized accrediting organization. Besides helping make sure that you obtain an excellent education, it may assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not offered for non-accredited schools near Collegedale TN.
Licensing Preparation. Licensing prerequisites for LPNs differ from state to state. In all states, a passing score is required on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN) in addition to graduation from an accredited school. Many states require a specific number of clinical hours be completed, as well as the passing of additional tests. It’s important that the school you are attending not only provides an excellent education, but also preps you to satisfy the minimum licensing standards for Tennessee or the state where you will be practicing.
Reputation. Look at online rating services to see what the evaluations are for each of the LPN schools you are looking into. Ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews too. Also, check with the Tennessee school licensing authority to check out if there are any complaints or compliance issues. Finally, you can contact some nearby Collegedale TN 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 complete their programs. A low graduation rate may be an indication that students were displeased 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 superb reputation within the Collegedale TN healthcare community, but that it also has the network of relationships to help students attain employment.
Internship Programs. The most ideal way to obtain experience as a Licensed Practical Nurse is to work in a clinical setting. Almost all nursing degree programs require a certain number of clinical hours be completed. A number of states have minimum clinical hour prerequisites for licensing also. Check if the schools have associations with local Collegedale TN community hospitals, clinics or labs and assist with the placement of students in internships.

Enrolling in an LPN Program near Collegedale TN?

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

Collegedale, Tennessee

Collegedale is a city in Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 8,282 at the 2010 census[4] and 11,437 in a 2016 estimate.[1] Collegedale is a suburb of Chattanooga and is part of the Chattanooga, TN–GA Metropolitan Statistical Area. Collegedale is home to Southern Adventist University. The median household income is among one of the highest in Hamilton County.[5] It has been ranked as one of the best and safest places to live in Tennessee.[6] The unincorporated community of Ooltewah is an enclave in Collegedale.

Collegedale was founded as the site of Southern Adventist University (then Southern Junior College) in 1916. It was incorporated under a city manager government in 1968. J. M. Ackerman was the first city manager, and Fred Fuller served as the city's first mayor.

Collegedale is located in southeastern Hamilton County at 35°3′6″N 85°2′49″W / 35.05167°N 85.04694°W / 35.05167; -85.04694 (35.051578, -85.047004),[7] in the valley of Wolftever Creek. Just west of the city center, the creek cuts through White Oak Mountain, forming Collegedale Gap. Tennessee State Route 317 passes through the city center and Collegedale Gap, leading southeast 10 miles (16 km) to State Route 60 and northwest 4 miles (6 km) to Interstate 75 in the northeast outskirts of Chattanooga. Downtown Chattanooga is 19 miles (31 km) west of Collegedale. Tennessee State Route 321 runs through the western part of Collegedale, leading north to U.S. Routes 11 and 64 just north of Ooltewah and south 5 miles (8 km) to the Georgia state line.

Pick the Right LPN School near Collegedale TN

Collegedale TN LPN geriatric nurse with patient Enrolling in the ideal Licensed Practical Nurse program is probably the most crucial first step to launching a new career in the healthcare industry. There are numerous variables that you need to consider when picking a nursing school. These variables will be prioritized differently depending on your current career goals, lifestyle, and financial status. As we have emphasized within this article, it is important that you select an LPN school and a certificate or degree program that are both accredited and have outstanding reputations within the health care community. You originally decided to visit this website because of an interest in LVN Nursing Programs. However, by using our list of qualifying questions, you will be able to create a shortlist of schools to select from so that you can make your final selection. And with the proper degree and training, combined with your dedication and ambition to succeed, you can become an LPN in Collegedale TN.