If you are interested in becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), which is also known as a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) in the states of California and Texas then you need to do some research into the subject of an LPN program (or an LVN program).

The LPN Program

The LPN program is designed to enable people to train, learn and gain experience in becoming an LPN.  The LPN qualification is a starter qualification on the nursing ladder.  In order to get started on this career path therefore you need to participate in one of the many LPN programs available.  In order to give you some form of monetary encouragement it may interest you to know that in 2006 the US Bureau of Labor Statistics announced in their findings that the average annual salary for a graduate of online LPN programs, or online LVN programs was roughly $30,000 to $40,000 per annum. This figure equates to approximately $15-$20 per hour.  This means that the qualification is well worth pursuing as not only do LPN jobs pay well but the LPN employment market is also looking buoyant, being forecast to grow at up to 14% per annum in the run up to 2016.

There are a number of different ways you can access an LPN program.  Perhaps the easiest and cheapest is via local technical schools, junior colleges, community colleges, and vocational schools.  A recent occurrence is that there are many online LPN programs now being offered as competition for new students increases.  In addition, there are a number of private schools which have established LPN nursing programs.  The exact length of time that the LPN program will take does ultimately depend upon the particular LPN nursing program selected and this should be something you consider when making your decision.

LPNThe typical LPN program will take between one and two years to complete.  Although the online LPN programs are usually at the shorter end of this scale, more often lasting only one year.  There are two broad parts to the LPN program.  There is the classroom, or book learning part.  Then there is the supervised practical experience part for which the trainee LPN must spend some time undertaking.

Newcomers to the subject might believe that all LPN programs, whether they be a community college LPN program, an online LVN program or other online LPN programs are created equally.  This is not true, so knowing which LPN program to select is crucially important and may effect the development of your career later on.

Online LPN Programs

Many people are lured into taking online LPN programs.  There are various reasons for this but perhaps the most common one is that the online LPN program, or online LVN program does not require its students to go to class everyday.  This clearly makes it easier for someone to work while studying on the LPN nursing program.  This is not to criticize these online LPN programs at all.  They offer flexibility and adaptability that has not been available in previous years.  However, you should not be under any misapprehension.  The practical part of any LPN program is essential, and as a general rule, the LPN program or LVN program that devotes a significant portion to practical experience is usually superior to one that offers less.

Finding The Right LPN Program Or LVN Program

Finding the right school that offers the best or most appropriate online LPN programs may well be quite tricky.  At the very least you should make it a priority to enquire of current students their impressions and experiences on the online LPN program.  This is to assist you in trying to determine the quality of their training experiences and providing evidence to support your decision making process.  You should also make particularly sure that the online LPN programs you are considering are indeed offering a genuinely accredited LPN program.  There would be few things worse than to find that your hard work and time spent had been wasted.

Nowadays most schools that offer an LPN program or LVN programs actually provide flexible class hours including running training sessions at weekend classes or evening classes.  This is almost certainly in response to the competition for students that online LPN programs have created.  Two things should be noted however.  Many schools nowadays run both a conventional LPN program and also an alternative online LPN program.  The reason for offering the online LPN program alternative is because working adults can become licensed practical nurses in a relatively short period of time.  In addition, the flexibility of the online LPN program, or the online LVN program means that students are much more able to manage their time easily, possibly to combine work or family commitments.

If you have the flexibility to take full time LPN nursing programs then you might also be interested that a growing number of hospitals and even universities are also providing online LPN programs.  These may have an advantage as they can clearly offer a greater mix of practical experience, but more importantly the LPN program may be a precursor to an LPN job at the particular hospital or university afterwards.

As a point of reference the sort of subjects that you will be required to undertake on your LPN program, or also on LVN programs includes:

  • physiology,
  • pediatrics,
  • anatomy, and
  • first aid

Some of these subjects will be a compulsory part of your LPN program, even if you are studying on an online LPN program.

After completing one of the online LPN programs you may decide that you want to further your education and become a Registered Nurse (RN).  Finishing any of the online LPN programs will enable you to be working and be on your way towards earning a substantial salary.  However you should be under no illusions.  Online LPN programs are rigorous and require hard work and determination.  The reward, in the end, perhaps the thing that makes all the hard work really worth it is that LPN programs help nurses to qualify so that they can learn how to help other people.