Online LPN Degree Programs Burlington WA - LPN and LVN Schools Near You

How to Pick the Right LPN College near Burlington Washington

Burlington WA LPN pediatric nurse holding infant There are essentially two academic credentials available that provide training to become an LPN near Burlington WA. The one that can be concluded in the shortest amount of time, normally about one year, is the certificate or diploma course. The 2nd choice 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 benefit of Associate Degrees, along with offering a higher credential and more extensive instruction, are that they furnish more transferable credit toward a Bachelor’s Degree in nursing. Regardless of 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 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?

Burlington WA Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Licensed Practical Nurses have a number of functions that they carry out in the Burlington WA medical facilities where they practice. As their titles signify, they are mandated to be licensed in all states, including Washington. While they may be accountable for monitoring Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA), they themselves usually work under the supervision of either an RN or a doctor. The healthcare facilities where they work are numerous and assorted, for instance hospitals, medical clinics, schools, and long-term care facilities. Anyplace that you can find patients requiring medical assistance is their dominion. Every state not only oversees their licensing, but also what duties an LPN can and can’t perform. So based on the state, their daily job activities can include:

Checking vital signs
Administering medicines
Initiating IV drips
Monitoring patients
Collecting blood or urine samples
Managing patient records
Helping doctors or RNs with procedures

Along with their work responsibilities being regulated by each state, the healthcare facilities or other Burlington WA healthcare providers where LPNs work can further limit their job duties within those parameters. In addition, they can work in numerous specialties of nursing, for example long-term care, critical care, oncology and cardiology.

LPN Programs Online

female student attending LPN school online in Burlington WA Attending LPN schools online is emerging as a more in demand way to get instruction and attain a nursing certificate or degree in Burlington WA. Certain schools will require attendance on campus for a component of the training, and virtually all programs call for a specified amount of clinical rotation hours conducted in a local healthcare facility. But since the rest of the training can be accessed online, this method may be a more convenient answer to finding the time to attend school for many students. Regarding tuition, many online degree programs are cheaper than other on campus choices. Even other 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. So if your work and family responsibilities have left you with limited time to pursue your academic goals, maybe an online LPN program 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 Burlington WA 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 Burlington WA LPN programs Now that you have decided on obtaining your LPN certificate, and if you will attend classes on campus or on the internet, you can utilize the following guidelines to begin narrowing down your choices. As you no doubt realize, there are numerous nursing schools and colleges near Burlington WA as well as within Washington and throughout the United States. So it is important to lower the number of schools to choose from so that you will have a manageable list. As we earlier discussed, the site of the school along with the price of tuition are undoubtedly going to be the primary two points that you will take into consideration. But as we also emphasized, they should not be your only qualifiers. So prior to making your ultimate decision, 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 agency. Besides helping make sure that you get a premium education, it may help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools near Burlington WA.
Licensing Preparation. Licensing criteria for LPNs differ from state to state. In all states, a passing score is needed on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN) together with graduation from an accredited school. Some states require a certain number of clinical hours be performed, as well as the passing of additional tests. It’s essential that the school you are enrolled in not only provides an excellent education, but also prepares you to comply with the minimum licensing standards for Washington or the state where you will be working.
Reputation. Look at online rating companies 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, contact the Washington school licensing authority to determine if there are any complaints or compliance issues. Finally, you can contact some local Burlington WA 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 looking at 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 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 favorable reputation within the Burlington WA healthcare community, but that it also has the network of contacts to help students attain a position.
Internship Programs. The best way to get experience as a Licensed Practical Nurse is to work in a clinical environment. Virtually all nursing degree programs require a certain number of clinical hours be completed. Many states have minimum clinical hour prerequisites for licensing as well. Find out if the schools have associations with nearby Burlington WA community hospitals, clinics or labs and assist with the placement of students in internships.

Enrolling in an LPN Program near Burlington WA?

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

Burlington, Washington

Burlington is a city in Skagit County, Washington, United States. The population is 8,388 as recorded by the 2010 census.[5] It is roughly halfway in between Seattle and Vancouver, and is included in the Mount Vernon–Anacortes, Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Originally, Burlington's businesses were centered on Fairhaven Avenue.[9] Today, Fairhaven Avenue is the center of Burlington's old downtown,[10] and provides a gathering place for the whole city during the annual summer Berry Dairy Days.[11]

Berry Dairy Days started in 1937 was originally simply known as the Strawberry Festival. It served as a fundraiser for the town's fire department for many years. It is now a community event put on by the Burlington Chamber of Commerce.[12] A 1954 article described a gigantic strawberry shortcake that was the centerpiece of that year's festival: it consisted of 60 sheets of sponge cake that took 12 hours to bake, and claimed to be the largest strawberry shortcake in the world.[12]

Choose the Right LPN School near Burlington WA

Burlington WA LPN geriatric nurse with patient Enrolling in the ideal Licensed Practical Nurse school is potentially the most crucial first step to beginning a new career in the healthcare field. There are numerous aspects that you need to think about when selecting a nursing school. These factors will be prioritized differently contingent on your current career goals, lifestyle, and economic situation. As we have stressed in this article, it is critical that you select an LPN college and a certificate or degree program that are each accredited and have outstanding reputations within the health care community. You originally decided to visit this website because of an interest in Online LPN Degree Programs. However, by using our checklist of qualifying questions, you will be able to develop a short list of schools to choose 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 a Licensed Practical Nurse in Burlington WA.