How Long to Become an LPN Stanton TX

How to Choose the Right LPN School near Stanton Texas

Stanton TX LPN pediatric nurse holding infant There are principally two academic credentials available that provide education to become an LPN near Stanton TX. The one that can be completed in the shortest time frame, normally about 1 year, is the certificate or diploma program. The second option is to earn a Practical Nursing Associate Degree. These LPN programs are more comprehensive 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 comprehensive training, are that they furnish more transferable credit toward a Bachelor’s Degree in nursing. No matter the type of credential you pursue, it should be state approved and accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) or some other national accrediting organization. The NLNAC guarantees that the syllabus properly prepares students to become Practical Nurses, and that most graduates pass the 50 state required NCLEX-PN licensing exam.

What is an LPN?

Stanton TX Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Licensed Practical Nurses have a number of tasks that they carry out in the Stanton TX healthcare facilities where they work. As their titles signify, they are mandated to be licensed in all states, including Texas. Even though they may be responsible for monitoring Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA), they themselves usually work under the guidance of either an RN or a doctor. The health care facilities where they work are numerous and assorted, including hospitals, medical clinics, schools, and long-term care facilities. Anyplace that you can find patients in need of medical attention is their domain. Each state not only regulates their licensing, but also what work activities an LPN can and can’t perform. So depending on the state, their routine work functions may include:

Measuring vital signs
Providing medications
Setting up IV drips
Overseeing patients
Collecting blood or urine samples
Taking care of patient records
Helping physicians or Registered nurses with procedures

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

LPN Programs Online

female student attending LPN school online in Stanton TX Enrolling in LPN programs online is emerging as a more popular way to obtain training and acquire a nursing certificate or degree in Stanton TX. Certain schools will require attending on campus for a component of the training, and virtually all programs call for a specific amount of clinical rotation hours performed in a local healthcare center. But since the balance of the training can be accessed online, this alternative may be a more accommodating answer to finding the time to attend college for many students. Pertaining to tuition, a number of online degree programs are less expensive than other on campus choices. Even additional expenses such as for commuting and study materials may 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. And so if your work and household responsibilities have left you with little time to work toward your academic goals, maybe an online LPN program will make it easier to fit a degree into your active 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 Stanton 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 Stanton TX LPN programs Once you have decided on obtaining your LPN certificate, and if you will attend classes on campus or online, you can utilize the following pointers to begin narrowing down your choices. As you no doubt are aware, there are numerous nursing schools and colleges near Stanton TX as well as within Texas and throughout the United States. So it is necessary to lower the number of schools to select from to ensure that you will have a manageable list. As we previously mentioned, the site of the school as well as the cost of tuition are undoubtedly going to be the first two points that you will look at. But as we also emphasized, they should not be your sole qualifiers. So prior to making your final decision, use the following questions to see how your pick compares to the other programs.

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. In addition to helping make sure that you get an excellent education, it may help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools near Stanton TX.
Licensing Preparation. Licensing criteria for LPNs are different from state to state. In all states, a passing score is needed on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN) in addition to graduation from an accredited school. Certain 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 attending not only delivers an outstanding education, but also readies you to comply with the minimum licensing standards for Texas or the state where you will be working.
Reputation. Look at online rating companies to see what the reviews are for each of the LPN schools you are considering. Ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews as well. Also, check with the Texas school licensing authority to determine if there are any complaints or compliance issues. Finally, you can speak with some nearby Stanton TX healthcare organizations you’re interested in working for after graduation and ask what their assessments 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 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 verify that the school has a superb reputation within the Stanton TX healthcare community, but that it also has the network of relationships to assist students obtain a position.
Internship Programs. The most effective way to acquire 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 requirements for licensing too. Check if the schools have a working relationship with nearby Stanton TX community hospitals, clinics or labs and help with the positioning of students in internships.

Enrolling in an LPN Program near Stanton TX?

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

Stanton, Texas

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 2,556 people, 854 households, and 651 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,458.1 people per square mile (563.9/km²). There were 1,002 housing units at an average density of 571.6 per square mile (221.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 73.98% White, 2.86% African American, 0.74% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 19.56% from other races, and 2.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 52.90% of the population.

There were 854 households out of which 44.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.0% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.7% were non-families. 22.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.44.

In the city, the population was spread out with 35.0% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 16.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.9 males.

Choose the Right LPN Program near Stanton TX

Stanton TX LPN geriatric nurse with patient Enrolling in the right Licensed Practical Nurse program is probably the most critical step to launching a new career in the medical care industry. There are numerous aspects that you must take into account when choosing a nursing school. These variables will be prioritized differently contingent on your current career objectives, lifestyle, and financial situation. As we have emphasized in this article, it is important that you choose an LPN school and a certificate or degree program that are both accredited and have exceptional reputations within the medical community. You originally decided to visit this website because of an interest in How Long to Become an LPN. However, by using our checklist of qualifying questions, you will be able to create a short list of schools to pick from so that you can make your ultimate selection. And with the right degree and training, combined with your hard work and drive to succeed, you can become an LPN in Stanton TX.