LVN Education River Falls WI

How to Find the Right LPN Training near River Falls Wisconsin

River Falls WI LPN pediatric nurse holding infant There are generally two scholastic credentials available that provide education to become an LPN near River Falls WI. The one that can be concluded in the shortest amount of time, generally about twelve months, is the certificate or diploma course. The next alternative is to earn a Practical Nursing Associate Degree. These LPN programs are broader in nature than the diploma option and normally require 2 years to finish. The advantage of Associate Degrees, aside from providing a higher credential and more in-depth 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 some other national accrediting organization. The NLNAC guarantees that the syllabus effectively 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?

River Falls WI Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Licensed Practical Nurses have a number of functions that they accomplish in the River Falls WI health care facilities where they work. As their titles indicate, they are mandated to be licensed in all states, including Wisconsin. Although they may be accountable for monitoring Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA), they themselves typically work under the oversight of either an RN or a doctor. The medical facilities where they work are numerous and diverse, for instance hospitals, medical clinics, schools, and long-term care facilities. Anywhere that you can find patients requiring medical attention is their domain. Every state not only oversees their licensing, but also what duties an LPN can and can’t perform. So depending on the state, their day-to-day job functions might include:

Checking vital signs
Providing medicines
Starting IV drips
Monitoring patients
Getting blood or urine samples
Maintaining patient records
Helping doctors or Registered nurses with procedures

In addition to their work functions being governed by each state, the health facilities or other River Falls WI healthcare providers where LPNs work can additionally limit their job duties within those parameters. Additionally, they can work in different specialties of nursing, including long-term care, critical care, oncology and cardiology.

Online LPN Programs

female student attending LPN school online in River Falls WI Enrolling in LPN programs online is growing into a more in demand way to receive instruction and acquire a nursing certificate or degree in River Falls WI. Some schools will require attendance on campus for a component of the training, and nearly all programs require a specific number of clinical rotation hours carried out in a local healthcare facility. But since the rest of the training can be accessed online, this alternative may be a more practical answer to finding the free time to attend school for some students. Pertaining to tuition, many online degree programs are less costly than other on campus alternatives. Even supplemental expenses such as for commuting and study materials may be minimized, helping to make education more affordable. And many online programs are accredited by U.S. Department of Education recognized organizations. So if your job and family obligations have left you with little time to work toward your academic goals, it could be that an online LPN training program 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 River Falls WI 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 River Falls WI LPN programs Now that you have decided on obtaining your LPN certificate, as well as if you will attend classes on campus or online, you can use the following pointers to begin narrowing down your choices. As you no doubt are aware, there are numerous nursing schools and colleges near River Falls WI as well as within Wisconsin and throughout the United States. So it is important to reduce the number of schools to select from so that you will have a manageable list. As we already pointed out, the site of the school along with the cost of tuition are undoubtedly going to be the primary two points that you will look at. But as we also stressed, they should not be your sole qualifiers. So before making your ultimate decision, use the following questions to evaluate how your selection measures up to the field.

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. Aside from helping make sure that you obtain a premium education, it may assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are oftentimes not offered for non-accredited schools near River Falls WI.
Licensing Preparation. Licensing requirements for LPNs differ from state to state. In all states, a passing score is needed on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN) as well as graduation from an accredited school. Some states require a specific number of clinical hours be performed, as well as the passing of additional tests. It’s essential that the school you are attending not only delivers an exceptional education, but also prepares you to comply with the minimum licensing standards for Wisconsin or the state where you will be working.
Reputation. Check online rating services to see what the evaluations are for all of the LPN schools you are considering. Ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews also. Additionally, contact the Wisconsin school licensing authority to find out if there are any complaints or compliance issues. Finally, you can call some local River Falls WI 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 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 verify that the school has a favorable reputation within the River Falls WI healthcare community, but that it also has the network of contacts to assist students gain employment.
Internship Programs. The most ideal 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. Various states have minimum clinical hour prerequisites for licensing as well. Check if the schools have a working relationship with nearby River Falls WI community hospitals, clinics or labs and assist with the positioning of students in internships.

Enrolling in an LPN Program near River Falls WI?

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

River Falls, Wisconsin

River Falls is a city in Pierce and St. Croix counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is adjacent to the Town of River Falls in Pierce County and the Town of Kinnickinnic in St. Croix County. River Falls is the most populous city in Pierce county. The population was 15,000 at the 2010 census, with 11,851 residing in Pierce County, and 3,149 in St. Croix County. It is part of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area and is about 30 miles (48 km) east of the center of that region.[5]

The city's first settlers were Joel Foster and his indentured servant, Dick, in the year 1848.[6] The original village was started as the village of Kinnickinnic in 1854 by brothers Nathaniel N. and Oliver S. Powell who were from St. Lawrence County, New York. At the time, the town and village were also known as "Greenwood" but this was changed, as another Greenwood, Wisconsin already existed.[7] The present name is for the rapids on the Kinnickinnic River.[8]

On June 23, 1893, a lightning bolt hit the center circus pole at a Ringling Brothers circus performance in River Falls, leading to the injuries of more than a dozen audience members and performers and the deaths of seven.[9]

Select the Right LPN Program near River Falls WI

River Falls WI LPN geriatric nurse with patient Deciding on the right Licensed Practical Nurse program is probably the most critical first step to launching a new career in the health care industry. There are numerous factors that you must think about when deciding on a nursing school. These variables will be prioritized differently depending on your existing career objectives, obligations, and financial status. As we have stressed within this content, it is essential that you select an LPN school and a certificate or degree program that are each accredited and have exceptional reputations within the healthcare community. You originally decided to visit this website because of an interest in LVN Education. However, by utilizing our checklist of qualifying questions, you will be able to create a shortlist of schools to pick from so that you can make your ultimate selection. And with the appropriate degree and training, combined with your hard work and drive to succeed, you can become an LPN in River Falls WI.