LVN Program Online Darien CT - LPN and LVN Schools Near You

How to Pick the Right LPN Program near Darien Connecticut

Darien CT LPN pediatric nurse holding infant There are basically two scholastic credentials offered that provide education to become an LPN near Darien CT. The one that can be concluded in the shortest amount of time, generally about 12 months, is the certificate or diploma course. The second option is to earn a Practical Nursing Associate Degree. These LPN programs are more comprehensive in nature than the diploma alternative and typically require 2 years to finish. The advantage of Associate Degrees, in addition to providing a higher credential and more comprehensive instruction, are that they provide more transferable credit toward a Bachelor’s Degree in nursing. No matter the kind of credential you pursue, it needs to be state approved and accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) or another national accrediting organization. The NLNAC attests that the course of study effectively prepares students to become Practical Nurses, and that most graduates pass the 50 state required NCLEX-PN licensing exam.

What is an LPN?

Darien CT Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Licensed Practical Nurses have numerous tasks that they accomplish in the Darien CT health care facilities where they practice. As their titles imply, they are mandated to be licensed in all states, including Connecticut. Although they may be accountable for supervising Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA), they themselves usually work under the oversight of either an RN or a doctor. The healthcare facilities where they work are numerous and assorted, including hospitals, medical clinics, schools, and long-term care facilities. Virtually any place that you can encounter patients in need of medical attention is their domain. Every state not only oversees their licensing, but also what functions an LPN can and can’t perform. So based on the state, their day-to-day work activities might include:

Measuring vital signs
Giving medications
Starting IV drips
Overseeing patients
Taking blood or urine samples
Maintaining patient records
Helping doctors or Registered nurses with procedures

Along with their work responsibilities being controlled by each state, the health facilities or other Darien CT healthcare providers where LPNs work can further limit their job roles within those parameters. Additionally, they can practice in various specialties of nursing, for example long-term care, critical care, oncology and cardiology.

Online LPN Programs

female student attending LPN school online in Darien CT Enrolling in LPN schools online is emerging as a more popular way to get training and attain a nursing certificate or degree in Darien CT. Some schools will require attending on campus for a component of the training, and almost all programs call for a specific amount of clinical rotation hours carried out in a local healthcare center. But since the balance of the training may be accessed online, this alternative may be a more accommodating answer to finding the free time to attend college for some students. Pertaining to tuition, many online degree programs are cheaper than other on campus alternatives. Even supplemental expenses such as for commuting and study materials can be minimized, helping to make education more easily affordable. And many online programs are accredited by U.S. Department of Education recognized organizations. So if your work and household obligations have left you with little time to pursue your academic goals, perhaps an online LPN school will make it easier to fit a degree into your hectic schedule.

LPN Salary

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) was $45,030 in May 2017. 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 10 percent earned less than $32,970, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $61,030. Most licensed practical nurses near Darien CT work full time, although about 1 in 5 worked part time in 2016. Many work nights, weekends, and holidays, because medical care takes place at all hours. They may be required to work shifts of longer than 8 hours. Employment of LPNs is projected to grow 12 percent from 2016 to 2026. Job prospects should be favorable for LPNs who are willing to work in rural and medically under served areas.

What to Ask LPN Programs

Questions to ask Darien CT LPN programs Once you have decided on obtaining your LPN certificate, and if you will attend classes on campus or on the web, you can utilize the following checklist to begin narrowing down your options. As you probably realize, there are numerous nursing schools and colleges near Darien CT as well as within Connecticut and throughout the United States. So it is essential to decrease the number of schools to choose from in order that you will have a manageable list. As we earlier discussed, the site of the school along with the expense of tuition are probably going to be the primary two factors that you will look at. But as we also stressed, they should not be your sole qualifiers. So before making your ultimate choice, use the following questions to evaluate how your selection compares to the field.

Accreditation. It’s a good idea to make sure that the certificate program as well as the school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency. Besides helping confirm that you obtain a quality education, it may assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often not provided for non-accredited schools near Darien CT.
Licensing Preparation. Licensing requirements for LPNs vary from state to state. In all states, a passing score is needed on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN) as well as graduation from an accredited school. Certain states require a certain number of clinical hours be performed, as well as the passing of additional tests. It’s important that the school you are attending not only provides a top-notch education, but also preps you to satisfy the minimum licensing standards for Connecticut or the state where you will be working.
Reputation. Visit internet rating services to see what the evaluations are for each of the LPN schools you are considering. Ask the accrediting organizations for their reviews also. In addition, check with the Connecticut school licensing authority to determine if there are any complaints or compliance issues. Finally, you can speak with some nearby Darien CT healthcare organizations you’re interested in working for after graduation and ask what their assessments are of the schools as well.
Graduation and Job Placement Rates. Find out from the LPN programs you are considering what their graduation rates are as well as how long on average it takes students to complete their programs. A low graduation rate may be an indication that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It’s also important that the schools have high job placement rates. A high rate will not only substantiate that the school has a favorable reputation within the Darien CT healthcare community, but that it also has the network of contacts to assist students attain employment.
Internship Programs. The most ideal way to get experience as a Licensed Practical Nurse is to work in a clinical setting. Essentially all nursing degree programs require a certain number of clinical hours be completed. Many states have minimum clinical hour prerequisites for licensing as well. Ask if the schools have associations with nearby Darien CT community hospitals, clinics or labs and help with the positioning of students in internships.

Enrolling in an LPN Program near Darien CT?

If you are considering enrolling in and attending an LPN school near Darien CT, you may find the following information both interesting and useful when making your final decision.

Darien, Connecticut

Darien (/dɛəriˈæn/) is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, 37 miles northeast of New York City. With a population of 20,732 for the 2010 census and a land area of just under 13 square miles, it is the smallest town on Connecticut's "Gold Coast".[2] Darien is one of the wealthiest communities in the U.S.; it was listed at #2 on CNN Money's list of "top-earning towns" in the United States as of 2010[update].[3] In 2018, data from the American Community Survey revealed that Darien was the wealthiest municipality in the United States, with a median household income of $208,125.[4] Bloomberg's 2018 "America's 100 Richest Places" ranking placed Darien in the top 10, with an average household income of $327,901.[5]

Situated on Long Island Sound between the cities of Stamford and Norwalk, the town is a bedroom community with relatively few office buildings. Many residents commute to Manhattan with two Metro-North railroad stations – Noroton Heights and Darien – linking the town to Grand Central Terminal. For recreation, the town boasts eleven parks,[6] two public beaches, three country clubs including the first organized golf club in Connecticut, a hunt club, and Noroton Yacht Club.

According to early records, the first clearings of land were made by men from the New Haven and Wethersfield colonies and from Norwalk in about 1641. It was not until 1739, however, that the Middlesex Society of the Town of Stamford built the first community church, now the First Congregational Church of Darien (which stands on the original site at the corner of Brookside Road and the Boston Post Road).[7]

Pick the Right LPN Program near Darien CT

Darien CT LPN geriatric nurse with patient Enrolling in the ideal Licensed Practical Nurse program is arguably the most important step to starting a new career in the health care field. There are a number of variables that you need to take into account when deciding on a nursing school. These variables will be prioritized differently contingent on your existing career goals, lifestyle, and financial situation. As we have stressed in this article, it is important that you select an LPN school and a certificate or degree program that are each accredited and have outstanding reputations within the medical community. You originally decided to visit this website because of an interest in LVN Program Online. However, by utilizing our checklist of qualifying questions, you will be able to create a shortlist of schools to choose from so that you can make your ultimate selection. And with the right degree and training, combined with your dedication and ambition to succeed, you can become an LPN in Darien CT.