How Long is LPN Program Keene TX - LPN and LVN Schools Near You

How to Pick the Right LPN School near Keene Texas

Keene TX LPN pediatric nurse holding infant There are generally two scholastic credentials offered that provide instruction to become an LPN near Keene TX. The one that can be completed in the shortest time frame, commonly about 1 year, is the certificate or diploma program. The second choice is to earn a Practical Nursing Associate Degree. These LPN programs are more comprehensive in nature than the diploma option and normally require 2 years to complete. The benefit of Associate Degrees, aside from offering a higher credential and more comprehensive instruction, are that they furnish more transferable credit toward a Bachelor’s Degree in nursing. No matter the type 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 attests 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?

Keene TX Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Licensed Practical Nurses have many duties that they accomplish in the Keene TX medical facilities where they are employed. As their titles indicate, they are required to be licensed in all states, including Texas. Although they may be responsible for monitoring Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA), they themselves generally work under the guidance of either an RN or a doctor. The medical 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 attention is their dominion. Every state not only controls their licensing, but also what work activities an LPN can and can’t perform. So based on the state, their routine job activities can include:

Taking vital signs
Giving medicines
Starting IV drips
Observing patients
Collecting blood or urine samples
Taking care of patient records
Assisting physicians or Registered nurses with procedures

Along with their occupational functions being regulated by each state, the health care facilities or other Keene TX healthcare providers where LPNs work can additionally limit their job roles within those parameters. In addition, they can practice in various specialties of nursing, for instance long-term care, critical care, oncology and cardiology.

Online LPN Programs

female student attending LPN school online in Keene TX Enrolling in LPN programs online is growing into a more preferred way to get instruction and acquire a nursing certificate or degree in Keene TX. Some schools will require attending on campus for a component of the training, and almost all programs call for a specific number of clinical rotation hours completed in a local healthcare facility. But since the remainder of the training can be accessed online, this alternative may be a more accommodating answer to finding the time to attend school for some students. Regarding tuition, a number of online degree programs are less expensive than other on campus choices. Even other expenses such as for commuting and study materials can be minimized, helping to make education more economical. 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 very little time to pursue your academic goals, perhaps an online LPN program will make it more convenient 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 Keene 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.

Things to Ask LPN Programs

Questions to ask Keene 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 use the following guidelines to start narrowing down your choices. As you undoubtedly realize, there are many nursing schools and colleges near Keene TX as well as within Texas and throughout the United States. So it is necessary to lower the number of schools to choose from in order that you will have a manageable list. As we earlier discussed, the location of the school as well as the price of tuition are most likely going to be the initial two things that you will look at. But as we also emphasized, they should not be your sole qualifiers. So before making your final decision, use the following questions to evaluate how your pick compares to the other programs.

Accreditation. It’s a good idea to make sure that the certificate program along with the school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency. Aside from helping confirm that you get an excellent education, it may assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not provided for non-accredited schools near Keene TX.
Licensing Preparation. Licensing requirements for LPNs are different 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. Some states require a specified number of clinical hours be completed, as well as the passing of additional tests. It’s imperative that the school you are enrolled in not only provides an outstanding education, but also preps you to meet the minimum licensing requirements for Texas or the state where you will be working.
Reputation. Check internet rating services to see what the evaluations are for all of the LPN schools you are looking into. Ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews also. In addition, get in touch with the Texas school licensing authority to check out if there are any complaints or compliance issues. Finally, you can contact some nearby Keene TX 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 complete their programs. A low graduation rate may be an indication that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It’s also imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. A high rate will not only verify that the school has a favorable reputation within the Keene TX healthcare community, but that it also has the network of relationships 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. Virtually all nursing degree programs require a specific number of clinical hours be completed. Various states have minimum clinical hour requirements for licensing as well. Ask if the schools have a working relationship with nearby Keene TX community hospitals, clinics or labs and help with the placing of students in internships.

Enrolling in an LPN Program near Keene TX?

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

Keene, Texas

Keene is located at 32°23′34″N 97°19′39″W / 32.39278°N 97.32750°W / 32.39278; -97.32750 (32.392860, -97.327501).[3] According to the United States Census Bureau,[4] the city has a total area of 4.93 square miles (12.8 km2).

As of the census estimate[1] of 2016, there were 6,293 people, 1,651 households, and 1,147 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,783.2 people per square mile (687.4/km²). There were 1,772 housing units at an average density of 631.6/sq mi (243.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 74.46% White, 7.06% African American, 0.76% Native American, 2.44% Asian, 2.60% Pacific Islander, 9.33% from other races, and 3.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 25.84% of the population.

There were 1,651 households out of which 35.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.8% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.29.

Select the Right LPN School near Keene TX

Keene TX LPN geriatric nurse with patient Deciding on the ideal Licensed Practical Nurse school is probably the most crucial first step to launching a new career in the healthcare field. There are a number of aspects that you need to think about when selecting a nursing school. These variables will be prioritized differently contingent on your current career objectives, lifestyle, and financial status. As we have pointed out within this content, it is essential that you choose an LPN college and a certificate or degree program that are each accredited and have exceptional reputations within the health care community. You originally decided to visit this website because of an interest in How Long is LPN Program. However, by using our checklist of qualifying questions, you will be able to create a short list 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 ambition to succeed, you can become an LPN in Keene TX.