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
Are LPNs supervised by RNs or Physicians?
Licensed practical nurses work under the supervision or direction of an RN, physician, or dentist. What this means is that a practical nurse receives guidance for accomplishing a specific nursing task or activity. The registered nurse, physician or dentist may also periodically inspect or witness the performance of a delegated activity. The person who is doing the supervising delegates appropriate tasks and skills to qualified LPNs. A good example is when a registered nurse delegates the administration of intravenous medication to a practical nurse. The supervising RN must ensure that the licensed practical nurse has been properly trained and is capable of performing the skill.
Licensure
What does multistate licensure mean?
Similar to a driver's license, a multistate nursing license allows a nurse who is licensed in one compact state (called a home state) to legally practice in another compact state (called a remote state). The Nurse Licensure Compact requires the nurse to adhere to the practice laws and rules of the state in which the patient(s) receives care.
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
What education do I need to become an LPN?
LPNs must be licensed to practice in a particular state and must complete a state-approved training program in practical nursing to be eligible for licensure. Most practical nursing training programs last about one year, and are offered by vocational and technical schools or community and junior colleges. Other programs are available through high schools, hospitals, and colleges and universities. A high school diploma or its equivalent usually is required for entry, although some programs accept candidates without a diploma, and some programs are part of a high school curriculum.
Career
Where do LPNs work?
Licensed practical nurses are employed in long-term care facilities, rehabilitation centers, hospitals, offices and private practice, home health, and outpatient clinics, however, the most common employment settings for LPNs are skilled nursing facilities, long-term care facilities, and hospitals. These three health care settings have seen an increase of one to two percent in the number of licensed practical nurses employed in the last four years.
Organizations
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.
American Nurses Association
The American Nurses Association (ANA) advances the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the rights of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Congress and regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public.