How Many Years to Become an LPN Odem TX - LPN and LVN Schools Near You

How to Find the Right LPN College near Odem Texas

Odem TX LPN pediatric nurse holding infant There are generally two scholastic credentials available that provide education to become an LPN near Odem TX. The one that can be concluded in the shortest amount of time, normally about 1 year, is the certificate or diploma program. The other option is to attain a Practical Nursing Associate Degree. These LPN programs are broader in nature than the diploma alternative and typically require 2 years to finish. The advantage of Associate Degrees, aside from offering a higher credential and more comprehensive instruction, are that they provide 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 warrants 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?

Odem TX Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Licensed Practical Nurses have numerous functions that they accomplish in the Odem TX health facilities where they practice. As their titles imply, they are mandated to be licensed in all states, including Texas. While they may be responsible for supervising Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA), they themselves generally work under the oversight of either an RN or a doctor. The medical facilities where they work are numerous and assorted, for instance hospitals, medical clinics, schools, and long-term care facilities. Anywhere that you can encounter patients in need of medical assistance is their dominion. Every state not only regulates their licensing, but also what duties an LPN can and can’t perform. So based on the state, their everyday job functions can include:

Taking vital signs
Providing medicines
Initiating IV drips
Overseeing patients
Collecting blood or urine samples
Keeping patient records
Supporting doctors or RNs with procedures

In addition to their job duties being regulated by each state, the health care facilities or other Odem TX 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

female student attending LPN school online in Odem TX Attending LPN schools online is emerging as a more preferred way to receive instruction and acquire a nursing certificate or degree in Odem TX. Many schools will require attending on campus for part of the training, and nearly all programs call for a specified number of clinical rotation hours conducted in a local healthcare facility. But since the balance of the training can be accessed online, this alternative may be a more convenient approach to finding the time to attend college for some students. Regarding tuition, some online degree programs are less costly than other on campus alternatives. Even other expenses such as for commuting and study materials may be lessened, helping to make education more economical. And numerous online programs are accredited by U.S. Department of Education recognized organizations. Therefore if your work and household obligations have left you with limited time to work toward your academic goals, perhaps an online LPN school 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 Odem 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 Schools

Questions to ask Odem TX LPN programs Now that 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 guidelines to start narrowing down your choices. As you no doubt are aware, there are many nursing schools and colleges near Odem TX as well as within Texas and throughout the United States. So it is important to lower the number of schools to select from so that you will have a manageable list. As we previously discussed, the location of the school and the cost of tuition are undoubtedly going to be the primary two things that you will take into consideration. But as we also emphasized, they should not be your only qualifiers. So prior to making your ultimate selection, use the following questions to evaluate how your pick measures up 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 acknowledged accrediting agency. Besides helping make sure that you receive a quality education, it may help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often not provided for non-accredited schools near Odem TX.
Licensing Preparation. Licensing criteria for LPNs vary from state to state. In all states, a passing score is required on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN) along 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 imperative that the school you are enrolled in not only delivers an exceptional education, but also prepares you to satisfy the minimum licensing standards for Texas or the state where you will be practicing.
Reputation. Visit internet rating services to see what the reviews are for all of the LPN schools you are looking into. Ask the accrediting organizations for their reviews too. Additionally, check with the Texas school licensing authority to determine if there are any complaints or compliance issues. Finally, you can speak with some local Odem 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 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 dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It’s also important that the schools have high job placement rates. A high rate will not only verify that the school has a superb reputation within the Odem TX healthcare community, but that it also has the network of relationships to help students obtain employment.
Internship Programs. The most effective way to get experience as a Licensed Practical Nurse is to work in a clinical environment. Almost all nursing degree programs require a certain number of clinical hours be completed. A number of states have minimum clinical hour mandates for licensing too. Find out if the schools have associations with nearby Odem TX community hospitals, clinics or labs and help with the positioning of students in internships.

Enrolling in an LPN Program near Odem TX?

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

Odem, Texas

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 2,499 people, 776 households, and 633 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,246.0 people per square mile (869.3/km²). There were 843 housing units at an average density of 757.7 per square mile (293.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 73.59% White, 0.20% African American, 0.68% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 22.97% from other races, and 2.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 77.91% of the population.

There were 776 households out of which 43.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.9% were married couples living together, 17.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.3% were non-families. 17.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.22 and the average family size was 3.65.

In the city, the population was spread out with 32.5% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.5 males.

Pick the Right LPN School near Odem TX

Odem TX LPN geriatric nurse with patient Selecting the ideal Licensed Practical Nurse program is potentially the most critical step to starting a new career in the medical care industry. There are a number of factors that you should consider when picking a nursing school. These aspects will be prioritized differently depending on your current career goals, lifestyle, and economic status. As we have highlighted in this article, it is critical that you choose an LPN school and a certificate or degree program that are each accredited and have outstanding reputations within the medical community. You originally decided to visit this website because of an interest in How Many Years to Become an LPN. However, by using our checklist of qualifying questions, you will be able to create a shortlist of schools to pick from so that you can make your final selection. And with the appropriate degree and training, combined with your dedication and drive to succeed, you can become an LPN in Odem TX.