A Licensed Practical Nurse assists the Registered Nurses and doctors in skilled facilities or hospitals. They are responsible for taking patients’ vital signs and medical histories, performing first aid, preparing medication charts, preparing and administering injections, taking samples and performing routine laboratory tests, caring for infants, assisting with hygiene, performing I.V. maintenance, educating patients and their families, supervising Certified Nursing Assistants and aides, as well as providing emotional support. Licensed Practical Nurses care for patients under the direct supervision of physicians or registered nurses. An LPN is the first level in nursing and does not require an Associates, Bachelors or Masters degree. It is often a stepping stone to one of the higher levels of nursing.

The majority of LPN programs are still offered by traditional universities, colleges and vocational schools, however a growing number of courses are being offered via the internet, allowing for those who do not live in proximity to a traditional campus to study the same coursework and submit assignments as do students in a regular program. The added advantage of having flexible hours and locations for studying allow for enrollment of students who are working or caring for children and might otherwise be unable to pursue an education.

Online lectures, video conferencing, email discussions and class chat rooms provide for interaction between students and instructors, as well as enrich the learning experience. Some online schools may require students to coordinate with local medical facilities or hospitals for practical training as the program progresses.

To become an LPN, it is necessary to earn a certificate from a state-approved school and pass the NCLEX-PN, the national licensing examination. Although most are not online programs, 1,250 state-approved programs currently exist in the U.S. A convenient tool offered by The National Association for Practical Nurse Education & Service (NAPNES -http://www.napnes.org/schools/index.htm) allows a search by state for approved programs. There are two basic ways of locating a qualified online LPN program. One is to obtain a listing of approved online programs from your particular State Board of Nursing. So if you are looking for an LPN degree nursing online directory sites will also serve to aid in locating a program, after which you may contact your state board for approval.

Tuition fees vary from one institution to the next, and considering an online program may save a student quite a substantial amount of money. Many schools offer financial aid, and educational grants are available. With the current demand and even larger projected future demand for Licensed Practical Nurses, the short duration, easy availability and low cost of a degree nursing online LPN program can put a student on a fast track to a rewarding medical career.