Renewal
Can I make my license inactive if I am not going to practice nursing for a while?
Indiana does not have an inactive status. You may either continue to renew the license or allow it to lapse to expired status. If your license expires and you choose to renew it after it has been expired more than three years the board may require additional measures to renew your license at that time.
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
Can I take the NCLEX in a different state?
The NCLEX can be taken in any state convenient to you. The results will be directed to the board of nursing where you applied for your authorization to test (ATT) and licensure. You should apply for a license in the state where you intend to legally reside and practice.
Exam
What is the NCLEX-PN exam?
The NCLEX-PN is an exam administered to individuals qualified for and seeking a practical nurse license. Only those who have completed a state-approved LPN program and received authorization by a state board of nursing are allowed to sit for the exam. This test is a national licensing examination, administered using a computer, in the United States and its territories. Nursing graduates are tested on their knowledge, skills, and abilities to ensure they are ready to practice nursing at the entry level. Because the same exam is used throughout all states and territories of the United States, practical nurses are able to request endorsement or reciprocity of their license from one state to another without having to re-take the exam. The test results are reported as either pass or fail. Those who pass the exam obtain an LPN license in their particular state.
Education
Planning Ahead for Nursing School
If you are still attending high school, there are some important things you can do to help prepare for a nursing career. First of all maintain a good grade point average (GPA). Admission to nursing school is competitive, and a high GPA greatly increases your chances of being accepted. Take high school courses that will help you with the college curriculum, such as chemistry, anatomy and nutrition. Study hard and practice so you can do well on the college entrance exams. Keep track and prepare for important deadlines such as the ACT - SAT deadline, college admission deadline, and financial aid deadline. Apply for and take advantage of any scholarships, grants, and other forms of financial assistance. Visit the schools you are interested in and apply for admission to at least two nursing programs.
To do well in nursing school you must stay focused and study hard. For most students, the first semester is one of the most challenging. Nursing students get to experience classroom instruction and participate in hands-on clinical experiences in a variety of environments. It is important to keep on top of your studies to do well on tests and clinical practice. Always keep in mind that your actions as a nursing student affect your clients. It is typical of nursing programs to require that students maintain course grade averages at or above 70. Prepare for the practical nurse licensing examination by doing periodic reviews, taking practice exams, and participating in study groups. You must pass the NCLEX-PN test to become licensed as an LPN.
Career
What is the annual wage of a Practical Nurse?
The median wage of LPNs and LVNs was $20.15 hourly and $41,920 annually in 2013. 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 ten percent earned less than $31,300 and the top ten percent earned more than $58,000. Most licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses work full time, although about 1 in 5 worked part time or on variable schedules. Many LPNs and LVNs work nights, weekends, and holidays and they may be required to work shifts of longer than 8 hours.
Wages can be greatly affected by various factors such as the size, location and type of the healthcare facility where you work, how many years of experience you have, and if you are employed full-time or part-time. Long term care facilities offer higher wages but they also have a larger patient load for each nurse. When making decisions about potential employers and the salaries they offer you should also consider what the cost of living is in a particular area, especially if you are looking to relocate. Overall, the location and type of your employer make a substantial difference in how much money you will receive for each hour of nursing service.
Organizations
Pediatric Nursing Certification Board
The Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB) provides the highest quality certification services for nursing professionals who care for pediatric populations.
Nursys
Nursys is the only national database for verification of nurse licensure, discipline and practice privileges for RNs and LPN/VNs licensed in participating boards of nursing, including all states in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). Nursys provides online verification to a nurse requesting to practice in another state and nurse license lookup reports to employers and the general public.