LPN Schools Garwood TX

How to Select the Right LPN School near Garwood Texas

Garwood TX LPN pediatric nurse holding infant There are essentially two academic credentials offered that provide education to become an LPN near Garwood TX. The one that can be finished in the shortest amount of time, commonly about 12 months, is the certificate or diploma program. The second option is to attain a Practical Nursing Associate Degree. These LPN programs are more comprehensive in nature than the diploma alternative and usually require 2 years to finish. The benefit of Associate Degrees, aside from supplying a higher credential and more extensive instruction, are that they provide more transferable credit toward a Bachelor’s Degree in nursing. Regardless of the kind of credential you seek, it should be state approved and accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) or another national accrediting organization. The NLNAC guarantees that the core curriculum 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?

Garwood TX Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Licensed Practical Nurses have many different duties that they carry out in the Garwood TX health facilities where they are employed. As their titles signify, they are required to be licensed in all states, including Texas. Even though they may be responsible for managing Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA), they themselves normally work under the guidance of either an RN or a doctor. The healthcare facilities where they work are numerous and diverse, for instance hospitals, medical clinics, schools, and long-term care facilities. Virtually any place that you can encounter patients requiring medical assistance is their domain. Each state not only regulates their licensing, but also what functions an LPN can and can’t perform. So based on the state, their routine job functions may include:

Taking vital signs
Administering medicines
Initiating IV drips
Observing patients
Getting blood or urine samples
Maintaining patient records
Assisting doctors or RNs with procedures

Along with their occupational functions being regulated by each state, the healthcare facilities or other Garwood TX healthcare providers where LPNs work can additionally limit their job duties within those parameters. Also, they can work in numerous specialties of nursing, which include long-term care, critical care, oncology and cardiology.

Online LPN Programs

female student attending LPN school online in Garwood TX Attending LPN schools online is becoming a more preferred way to obtain training and acquire a nursing certificate or degree in Garwood TX. Some schools will require attendance on campus for a component of the training, and nearly all programs require a certain amount of clinical rotation hours conducted in a local healthcare facility. But since the remainder of the training can be accessed online, this alternative may be a more convenient solution to finding the free time to attend classes for some students. Regarding tuition, many online degree programs are less expensive than other on campus choices. Even supplemental expenses such as for commuting and study materials may be lessened, helping to make education more easily affordable. And a large number of online programs are accredited by U.S. Department of Education recognized organizations. So if your job and household commitments have left you with little time to work toward 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 Garwood TX 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 Garwood TX LPN programs Once you have decided on obtaining your LPN certificate, and if you will attend classes on campus or on the web, you can utilize the following pointers to begin narrowing down your options. As you no doubt are aware, there are many nursing schools and colleges near Garwood TX as well as within Texas and throughout the United States. So it is necessary to decrease 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 price of tuition are undoubtedly going to be the first two points that you will take into consideration. But as we also stressed, they should not be your sole qualifiers. So prior to making your final 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 as well as the school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization. In addition to helping confirm that you receive a quality education, it may help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools near Garwood TX.
Licensing Preparation. Licensing prerequisites for LPNs vary from state to state. In all states, a passing score is required on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN) as well as graduation from an accredited school. Many states require a specified number of clinical hours be performed, as well as the passing of additional tests. It’s imperative that the school you are enrolled in not only provides an excellent education, but also preps you to comply with the minimum licensing requirements for Texas or the state where you will be practicing.
Reputation. Check online rating services to see what the evaluations are for each of the LPN schools you are considering. Ask the accrediting organizations for their reviews as well. Also, contact the Texas school licensing authority to find out if there are any complaints or compliance issues. Finally, you can speak with some local Garwood TX 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 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 displeased 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 superb reputation within the Garwood TX healthcare community, but that it also has the network of contacts to help students gain a position.
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 as well. Find out if the schools have a working relationship with nearby Garwood TX community hospitals, clinics or labs and help with the placement of students in internships.

Enrolling in an LPN Program near Garwood TX?

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

Garwood, Texas

Garwood is an unincorporated community in Colorado County, Texas, United States. It is located on State Highway 71 at virtually the geographic midpoint between Columbus, Texas and El Campo, Texas. Nearly 1,000 people lived in Garwood in 2000.

Garwood is situated at the junction of State Highway 71 and FM 950 in southern Colorado County, approximately 13 miles (21 km) southwest of Eagle Lake and 20 miles (32 km) south of Columbus.[2] According to the Handbook of Texas, the community had an estimated population of 975 in 2000.[3] Although it is unincorporated, Garwood has a post office, with the ZIP code of 77442.[4]

Public education in the community of Garwood is provided by the Rice Consolidated Independent School District. Zoned campuses include Garwood School (grades K-6; located in Garwood), Rice Junior High School (grades 7-8), and Rice High School (grades 9-12).

Select the Right LPN School near Garwood TX

Garwood TX LPN geriatric nurse with patient Deciding on the ideal Licensed Practical Nurse school is perhaps the most critical step to beginning a new career in the health care industry. There are a number of aspects that you need to take into account when deciding on a nursing school. These variables will be prioritized differently depending on your current career goals, lifestyle, and financial situation. As we have emphasized in this content, it is essential that you select an LPN college and a certificate or degree program that are each accredited and have outstanding reputations within the healthcare community. You originally decided to visit this website because of an interest in LPN Schools. However, by utilizing our checklist of qualifying questions, you will be able to develop a short list of schools to select from so that you can make your final selection. And with the right degree and training, combined with your dedication and ambition to succeed, you can become a Licensed Practical Nurse in Garwood TX.