How to Pick the Right LPN Program near Knoxville Maryland
There are generally two academic credentials available that provide training to become an LPN near Knoxville MD. The one that can be completed in the shortest time frame, usually about 12 months, is the certificate or diploma program. The next option is to obtain a Practical Nursing Associate Degree. These LPN programs are more comprehensive in nature than the diploma option and typically require 2 years to complete. The benefit of Associate Degrees, in addition to providing a higher credential and more comprehensive training, are that they furnish more transferable credit toward a Bachelor’s Degree in nursing. No matter the kind of credential you pursue, it should be state approved and accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) or some other national accrediting organization. The NLNAC attests that the course of study adequately prepares students to become Practical Nurses, and that most graduates pass the 50 state required NCLEX-PN licensing exam.
What is an LPN?
Licensed Practical Nurses have numerous tasks that they carry out in the Knoxville MD healthcare facilities where they practice. As their titles imply, they are mandated to be licensed in all states, including Maryland. Although they may be accountable for monitoring Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA), they themselves typically work under the supervision of either an RN or a doctor. The health care facilities where they work are numerous and varied, including hospitals, medical clinics, schools, and long-term care facilities. Virtually any place that you can encounter patients in need of medical care is their dominion. Each state not only oversees their licensing, but also what duties an LPN can and can’t perform. So depending on the state, their routine job activities might include:
- Measuring vital signs
- Administering medications
- Initiating IV drips
- Observing patients
- Collecting blood or urine samples
- Managing patient records
- Supporting physicians or RNs with procedures
Along with their work duties being governed by each state, the healthcare facilities or other Knoxville MD healthcare providers where LPNs work can additionally limit their job roles within those parameters. In addition, they can practice in various specialties of nursing, including long-term care, critical care, oncology and cardiology.
Online LPN Programs
Attending LPN programs online is becoming a more preferred way to receive training and acquire a nursing certificate or degree in Knoxville MD. Many schools will require attending on campus for part of the training, and almost all programs require a specified amount of clinical rotation hours performed in a local healthcare center. But since the rest of the training can be accessed online, this method may be a more convenient approach to finding the free time to attend college for many students. Regarding tuition, a number of online degree programs are cheaper than other on campus alternatives. Even additional expenses such as for commuting and study materials can be reduced, helping to make education more affordable. And many online programs are accredited by U.S. Department of Education recognized organizations. So if your work and family commitments have left you with little time to pursue your academic goals, it could be that an online LPN program will make it easier to fit a degree into your busy 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 Knoxville MD 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 Schools
Once you have decided on obtaining your LPN certificate, as well as if you will attend classes on campus or on the web, you can utilize the following pointers to start narrowing down your choices. As you probably realize, there are many nursing schools and colleges near Knoxville MD as well as within Maryland and throughout the United States. So it is important to reduce the number of schools to choose from to ensure that you will have a workable list. As we previously mentioned, the location of the school along with the cost of tuition are most likely going to be the primary two points that you will take into consideration. But as we also emphasized, they should not be your only qualifiers. So prior to making your final decision, use the following questions to evaluate how your pick measures up to the other schools.
- 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. In addition to helping make sure that you receive a quality education, it may help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are oftentimes not provided for non-accredited schools near Knoxville MD.
- Licensing Preparation. Licensing prerequisites for LPNs differ 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. Many states require a certain number of clinical hours be completed, as well as the passing of additional tests. It’s imperative that the school you are enrolled in not only provides an excellent education, but also readies you to satisfy the minimum licensing requirements for Maryland or the state where you will be working.
- Reputation. Look at online rating companies to see what the assessments are for each of the LPN schools you are considering. Ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews too. Also, contact the Maryland school licensing authority to check out if there are any complaints or compliance issues. Finally, you can contact some local Knoxville MD 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 schools you are considering what their graduation rates are as well as how long on average it takes students to finish 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 superb reputation within the Knoxville MD healthcare community, but that it also has the network of relationships to assist students gain a position.
- Internship Programs. The most effective way to acquire experience as a Licensed Practical Nurse is to work in a clinical setting. Essentially all nursing degree programs require a specified number of clinical hours be completed. A number of states have minimum clinical hour requirements for licensing also. Find out if the schools have a working relationship with local Knoxville MD community hospitals, clinics or labs and help with the positioning of students in internships.
Enrolling in an LPN Program near Knoxville MD?
If you are considering enrolling in and attending an LPN school near Knoxville MD, you may find the following information both interesting and useful when making your final decision.
Knoxville, Maryland
Knoxville is situated at the base of South Mountain directly beside the Potomac River to the immediate east of the water gap leading towards Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. The first settlers, English and German, began to populate the area in the latter half of the 18th century. By the early 19th century, a village began to form along the main road leading from Frederick, Maryland, to Harpers Ferry, the site of one of the two national armories in the United States.[3] The coming of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, and the establishment of the industrial town of Weverton to the immediate west fueled the growth of Knoxville in the 1840s.
In 1849, the Frederick Examiner newspaper reported that Knoxville was flourishing with new businesses and houses.[4] Many of the vernacular and Greek Revival styled buildings seen in the village today date from the 1840s and 1850s when the railroad, canal, and industry along the Potomac River contributed to Knoxville's growth. In 1851, a German Reformed congregation was founded in Knoxville and a new stone church erected atop Cemetery Hill.[5] Despite the interruption of the Civil War, Knoxville continued to thrive as a local transportation hub throughout the third quarter of the 19th century. Two additional churches were established in the town during these years: a Methodist Episcopal Church in 1869 and a Lutheran church (removed from the village of Weverton) in 1873.[6]
In 1890, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad began construction of a massive rail yard in the village of Berlin, 2 miles (3 km) to the east. By 1894, Berlin was incorporated as Brunswick, and all industry and transportation activity shifted from Knoxville to the new city.
Choose the Right LPN School near Knoxville MD
Enrolling in the ideal Licensed Practical Nurse program is probably the most critical first step to starting a new career in the health care field. There are a number of factors that you need to consider when choosing a nursing school. These aspects will be prioritized differently depending on your existing career objectives, obligations, and economic situation. As we have highlighted within this content, it is important that you choose an LPN college and a certificate or degree program that are both accredited and have excellent reputations within the medical community. You originally decided to visit this website because of an interest in LPN Program Online. However, by utilizing our checklist of qualifying questions, you will be able to produce a short list of schools to pick from so that you can make your ultimate selection. And with the proper degree and training, combined with your dedication and ambition to succeed, you can become a Licensed Practical Nurse in Knoxville MD.
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