Online Practical Nursing Programs Concordia MO

How to Find the Right LPN School near Concordia Missouri

Concordia MO LPN pediatric nurse holding infant There are basically two scholastic credentials available that provide training to become an LPN near Concordia MO. The one that can be completed in the shortest amount of time, typically about 1 year, is the certificate or diploma program. The second choice is to earn a Practical Nursing Associate Degree. These LPN programs are more comprehensive in nature than the diploma alternative and generally require 2 years to complete. The advantage of Associate Degrees, besides providing a higher credential and more comprehensive training, are that they provide more transferable credit toward a Bachelor’s Degree in nursing. No matter the type of credential you seek, it should be state approved and accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) or any other national accrediting organization. The NLNAC warrants 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?

Concordia MO Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Licensed Practical Nurses have a number of functions that they accomplish in the Concordia MO health facilities where they practice. As their titles imply, they are mandated to be licensed in all states, including Missouri. Even though they may be responsible for supervising Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA), they themselves typically work under the supervision of either an RN or a doctor. The medical facilities where they work are numerous and varied, including hospitals, medical clinics, schools, and long-term care facilities. Anywhere that you can encounter patients in need of medical care is their domain. Each state not only controls their licensing, but also what functions an LPN can and can’t perform. So based on the state, their everyday job activities might include:

Measuring vital signs
Administering medicines
Setting up IV drips
Monitoring patients
Getting blood or urine samples
Managing patient records
Assisting doctors or Registered nurses with procedures

In addition to their work functions being governed by each state, the health care facilities or other Concordia MO healthcare providers where LPNs work can additionally limit their job duties within those parameters. In addition, they can practice in numerous specialties of nursing, including long-term care, critical care, oncology and cardiology.

LPN Programs Online

female student attending LPN school online in Concordia MO Attending LPN programs online is emerging as a more favored way to receive training and acquire a nursing certificate or degree in Concordia MO. Some schools will require attending on campus for part of the training, and nearly all programs call for a certain amount of clinical rotation hours performed in a local healthcare center. But since the balance of the training can be accessed online, this option may be a more accommodating solution to finding the free time to attend college for many students. Concerning tuition, many online degree programs are less costly than other on campus options. Even additional expenses such as for commuting and study materials may be minimized, helping to make education more easily affordable. And a large number of online programs are accredited by U.S. Department of Education recognized organizations. So if your work and household obligations have left you with very little time to work toward your academic goals, it could be that an online LPN training program will make it easier to fit a degree into your active 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 Concordia MO 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.

Questions to Ask LPN Programs

Questions to ask Concordia MO LPN programs Once you have decided on obtaining your LPN certificate, and if you will attend classes on campus or online, you can use the following pointers to start narrowing down your options. As you no doubt are aware, there are a large number of nursing schools and colleges near Concordia MO as well as within Missouri and throughout the United States. So it is essential to reduce the number of schools to choose from so that you will have a workable list. As we already mentioned, the site of the school and the expense of tuition are most likely going to be the initial two points that you will look at. But as we also emphasized, they should not be your sole qualifiers. So prior to making your final selection, use the following questions to see how your pick measures up to the other programs.

Accreditation. It’s a good idea to make sure that the certificate program along with the school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. In addition to helping verify that you get a quality education, it may help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools near Concordia MO.
Licensing Preparation. Licensing criteria for LPNs are different 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. Some 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 delivers an excellent education, but also preps you to satisfy the minimum licensing standards for Missouri or the state where you will be working.
Reputation. Visit online rating companies to see what the reviews are for all of the LPN schools you are considering. Ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews also. In addition, check with the Missouri school licensing authority to find out if there are any complaints or compliance issues. Finally, you can speak with some local Concordia MO healthcare organizations you’re interested in working for after graduation and ask what their opinions are of the schools as well.
Graduation and Job Placement Rates. Find out from the LPN programs you are looking at 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 essential that the schools have high job placement rates. A high rate will not only confirm that the school has a favorable reputation within the Concordia MO healthcare community, but that it also has the network of contacts to assist students gain a position.
Internship Programs. The best way to obtain experience as a Licensed Practical Nurse is to work in a clinical setting. Essentially all nursing degree programs require a specific number of clinical hours be completed. Many states have minimum clinical hour mandates for licensing also. Check if the schools have a working relationship with local Concordia MO community hospitals, clinics or labs and help with the placing of students in internships.

Enrolling in an LPN Program near Concordia MO?

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

Concordia, Missouri

Concordia was platted in 1868.[6] The city was named after a place mentioned in the poem Das Lied der Glocke by Friedrich Schiller.[7] A post office called Concordia has been in operation since 1865.[8]

Concordia is located at 38°59′2″N 93°34′8″W / 38.98389°N 93.56889°W / 38.98389; -93.56889 (38.983927, -93.568776).[9] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.79 square miles (4.64 km2), of which 1.78 square miles (4.61 km2) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2) is water.[1]

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 2,450 people, 1,002 households, and 645 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,376.4 inhabitants per square mile (531.4/km2). There were 1,131 housing units at an average density of 635.4 per square mile (245.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.7% White, 0.2% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.4% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.1% of the population.

Select the Right LPN School near Concordia MO

Concordia MO LPN geriatric nurse with patient Selecting the ideal Licensed Practical Nurse program is potentially the most important step to starting a new career in the health care industry. There are numerous factors that you must consider when selecting a nursing school. These factors will be prioritized differently depending on your current career objectives, obligations, and financial situation. As we have highlighted in this post, it is important that you enroll in an LPN college and a certificate or degree program that are both accredited and have outstanding reputations within the health care community. You originally decided to visit this website because of an interest in Online Practical Nursing Programs. However, by utilizing our list of qualifying questions, you will be able to create a shortlist of schools to select from so that you can make your final selection. And with the proper degree and training, combined with your hard work and ambition to succeed, you can become an LPN in Concordia MO.