Renewal
LPN License Renewal
Licensed practical nurses need to renew their license every two years in order to maintain an active status on their state's board of nursing. Most states require a renewal fee and some states offer online renewal. Those who have an inactive, lapsed, or suspended license are not eligible for renewal and must contact their board of nursing to find out how to reactivate it. Every state has its own renewal requirements and only LPNs who meet work and continuing education requirements qualify for renewal and are allowed to practice. Contact the board of nursing to find out how many hours of nursing practice and how many continuing educational credits are mandatory for license renewal in your state.
Practice
What is the practice of nursing?
The practice of nursing is a set of interactions that take place between the nurse and the client. The process starts with a detailed assessment of the client’s health care needs. The nurse interviews the client and sometimes the family to obtain the health history as well as the current health status. The nurse physically examines the patient and also reviews the client's medical record including important data such as the results of diagnostic tests. Nursing assessment is followed by developing a plan of care which address the client's ongoing health conditions. The goal of a nursing plan of care is to improve an individual's health status and to prevent future illness. The interventions outlined in a nursing plan of care may include support with activities of daily living as well as highly complex technological services such as ventilator support. It is the nurse's job to observe the effects of the services being provided to each client and to make necessary adjustments. The nurse should always be the patient's advocate and act in the client's best interest.
Licensure
How do I get a compact multistate license if I live in a noncompact state?
Only nurses who declare a compact state as their primary state of residence are eligible for a multistate license. As a resident of a noncompact state, you may apply for a license in a compact state, although your eligibility will be limited to a single state license that is valid in that state only. If you declare a compact state as your primary state of residence, your license automatically becomes a compact multistate license, as long as it is in good standing. If you're unsure of your licensure status, use the QuickConfirm tool at www.nursys.com. This report will indicate "multistate" or "single state" in the status column.
Exam
Can I take the NCLEX in a different state?
The NCLEX-PN exam is administered on a computer at approved test sites throughout the United States. First, the nurse graduate chooses a test center where to take the examination. Since all states administer the same exam, it is not required that a candidate sit for the examination in the same state in which he or she applies for licensure. Each exam is individualized according to the responses given to previous test questions but all exams follow a standard plan. A minimum of eighty-five (85) questions must be answered by a candidate in order to determine a pass or fail status. Some candidates may be answering items for up to five hours in order to finish the test. Every question is multiple choice and each item needs to be answered in order to move to the next one. Candidates with disabilities need to notify the test center in order to receive special accommodations. The NCLEX-PN exam has no more than 205 questions but you can pass with only 85 if you answer correctly. Those who fail the test can take it again but must wait at least forty-five days to retest.
Education
What do I need to become an LPN?
Most states have a specific set of criteria that needs to be met in order for an individual to become a licensed practical nurse. The requirements can be summarized as the following: have good moral character, be at least seventeen years of old, have a high school diploma or GED, meet the state's LPN education requirements, and pass the NCLEX-PN exam. LPN program graduates have the critical thinking skills as well as the technical competencies that are required for an entry level position as a vocational nurse.
Nursing students who successfully complete all the program coursework and clinical practice receive a Practical Nurse Diploma and are eligible to take the practical nurse licensing exam. Passing the NCLEX-PN is the first step towards finding employment as a practical nurse in a variety of settings including clinics, long term care facilities and doctors' offices. It is common for states to charge a licensing fee. The fees are subject to change and differ from state to state. Licensed practical nurses pay the licensing fee upon initial registration and every two years as they renew their status.
Career
Career Advancement Opportunities for LPN
In some employment settings, such as nursing homes, licensed practical nurses can advance to become charge nurses who oversee the work of other LPNs and nursing aides. Practical nurses may become credentialed in specialties like IV therapy, gerontology, long-term care, and pharmacology. Some practical nurses also choose to become registered nurses through LPN-to-RN training programs.
Organizations
Cleveland Clinic Free Nursing CMEs
The Center for Continuing Education has been committed to sharing a wealth of knowledge with physicians, nurses, and other medical professionals across the country and all over the world for more than 75 years. The Center for Continuing Education is responsible for one of the largest and most diverse CME programs anywhere.
National Federation of Licensed Practical Nurses
The National Federation of Licensed Professional Nurses (NFLPN) is the professional organization for licensed practical nurses and licensed vocational nurses and practical nursing students in the United States.