Renewal
Do LPNs need to take continuing education courses?
Every state has specific requirements when it comes to continuing education for LPNs. Each state board of nursing decides how many continuing education credits are mandatory for license renewal. LPN license renewals must be completed twenty-four months after the last renewal. Check with your state board of nursing to find out which courses and topics are approved and therefore will count towards the continuing education requirement.
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 long can I work in another compact state?
There is no time limit. As long as your home state is a compact state and is declared as your primary state of residency, and you remain in good standing, you may practice in other compact states.
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
Who offers LPN training programs?
LPN programs are usually offered in technical centers, private vocational schools, and community colleges. These educational programs prepare individuals to function as entry-level nurses upon graduation. Graduates of state-approved LPN programs are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-PN licensure examination and obtain a practical nurse license. Each state has its own licensing requirements and LPNs must be licensed before they can start practicing. Most full-time LPN programs require one year of study. There are schools which offer part-time programs and these may take two years to complete. Check with the particular school or technical center you are interested in to find out what options they offer, how long it takes to complete the training, and what it costs. Practical nurses have opportunities for career growth by furthering their education and becoming registered nurses with an associate or baccalaureate degree.
Career
How can I get a higher wage?
If you are looking to increase your income as an LPN then one option is to get more education in your field. For those who are interested in expanding their nursing practice, the option of becoming a registered nurse is a great choice. Many nursing schools are offering special LPN to RN programs which take no longer than a year and a half to complete.
Another option that will help you earn a higher income is to become certified in specific areas such as long-term care, gerontology, pharmacology, or intravenous therapy. Obtaining certification in one or several areas is a sure way for a practical nurse to increase her nursing knowledge, become more marketable to health care employers, and earn a higher wage.
There are two national licensed practical nurse associations which offer certification courses for practical nurses throughout the United States. The National Federation Licensed Practical Nurses Association (NFLPN) is known for its gerontology and IV therapy certification courses. If you would prefer a certification in pharmacology or long-term care then you should contact the National Association for Practical Nurses Education and Service (NAPNES) which offers both study materials and certification exams for practical and vocational nurses. Other types of certifications are widely available from many recognized nursing organizations and include Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), wound care certification, hospice and palliative care certification.
Organizations
American Nurses Credentialing Center
The mission of the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association (ANA), is to promote excellence in nursing and health care globally through credentialing programs. ANCC's internationally renowned credentialing programs certify and recognize individual nurses in specialty practice areas, recognize healthcare organizations for promoting safe, positive work environments, and accredit continuing nursing education 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.