Become an LPN Online Hastings PA - LPN and LVN Schools Near You

How to Choose the Right LPN Training near Hastings Pennsylvania

Hastings PA LPN pediatric nurse holding infant There are essentially two academic credentials available that provide training to become an LPN near Hastings PA. The one that can be concluded in the shortest period of time, typically about 1 year, is the certificate or diploma course. The other alternative is to obtain a Practical Nursing Associate Degree. These LPN programs are broader in nature than the diploma option and usually require 2 years to complete. The benefit of Associate Degrees, in addition to providing a higher credential and more in-depth training, are that they provide more transferable credit toward a Bachelor’s Degree in nursing. Regardless of the kind of credential you pursue, it needs to 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?

Hastings PA Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Licensed Practical Nurses have numerous duties that they carry out in the Hastings PA health facilities where they are employed. As their titles imply, they are mandated to be licensed in all states, including Pennsylvania. Although they may be accountable for managing Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA), they themselves typically work under the oversight of either an RN or a doctor. The medical care facilities where they work are numerous and assorted, for example hospitals, medical clinics, schools, and long-term care facilities. Anywhere that you can find patients in need of medical attention is their dominion. Every state not only regulates their licensing, but also what work activities an LPN can and can’t perform. So based on the state, their daily job functions can include:

Checking vital signs
Administering medicines
Initiating IV drips
Observing patients
Getting blood or urine samples
Managing patient records
Helping physicians or RNs with procedures

In addition to their occupational responsibilities being governed by each state, the health facilities or other Hastings PA healthcare providers where LPNs work can further limit their job roles within those parameters. Additionally, they can work in numerous specialties of nursing, which include long-term care, critical care, oncology and cardiology.

LPN Programs Online

female student attending LPN school online in Hastings PA Enrolling in LPN programs online is emerging as a more popular way to obtain training and acquire a nursing certificate or degree in Hastings PA. Certain schools will require attendance on campus for a component of the training, and almost all programs call for a specific number of clinical rotation hours performed in a local healthcare facility. But since the balance of the training can be accessed online, this option may be a more practical solution to finding the time to attend classes for many students. Concerning tuition, some online degree programs are less expensive than other on campus alternatives. Even additional expenses such as for commuting and study materials may be minimized, helping to make education more economical. And numerous online programs are accredited by U.S. Department of Education recognized organizations. And so if your work and family commitments have left you with very little time to pursue your academic goals, perhaps an online LPN program will make it more convenient 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 Hastings PA 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 Hastings PA LPN programs Now that you have decided on obtaining your LPN certificate, and if you will attend classes on campus or online, you can use the following guidelines to start narrowing down your choices. As you no doubt realize, there are many nursing schools and colleges near Hastings PA as well as within Pennsylvania and throughout the United States. So it is necessary to reduce the number of schools to select from to ensure that you will have a manageable list. As we already discussed, the location of the school along with the expense of tuition are probably going to be the primary two things that you will look at. But as we also stressed, they should not be your sole qualifiers. So prior to making your final decision, use the following questions to evaluate how your selection measures up to the other schools.

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 recognized accrediting agency. In addition to helping make sure that you receive an excellent education, it may help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not provided for non-accredited schools near Hastings PA.
Licensing Preparation. Licensing prerequisites for LPNs are different from state to state. In all states, a passing score is required 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 completed, as well as the passing of additional tests. It’s important that the school you are attending not only provides an excellent education, but also prepares you to meet the minimum licensing standards for Pennsylvania or the state where you will be working.
Reputation. Look at internet rating companies to see what the reviews are for each of the LPN schools you are considering. Ask the accrediting organizations for their reviews also. Additionally, get in touch with the Pennsylvania school licensing authority to determine if there are any complaints or compliance issues. Finally, you can speak with some nearby Hastings PA 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 schools 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 unhappy with the program and dropped out. It’s also important that the schools have high job placement rates. A high rate will not only verify that the school has a superb reputation within the Hastings PA healthcare community, but that it also has the network of relationships to assist students obtain employment.
Internship Programs. The best 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. Many states have minimum clinical hour requirements for licensing as well. Find out if the schools have associations with local Hastings PA community hospitals, clinics or labs and help with the placement of students in internships.

Enrolling in an LPN Program near Hastings PA?

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

Hastings, Pennsylvania

Hastings is located in northwestern Cambria County at 40°39′56″N 78°42′43″W / 40.66556°N 78.71194°W / 40.66556; -78.71194 (40.665473, -78.711903).[4] It is in the valley of Brubaker Run, a tributary of Chest Creek, which in turn flows north to the West Branch Susquehanna River. Hastings is 13 miles (21 km) north of Ebensburg, the Cambria County Seat, 24 miles (39 km) northwest of Altoona, and 31 miles (50 km) northeast of Johnstown.

As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 1,398 people, 557 households, and 382 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,484.1 people per square mile (963.9/km²). There were 603 housing units at an average density of 1,071.5 per square mile (415.7/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 99.43% White, 0.07% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.29% from other races, and 0.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.64% of the population.

There were 557 households, out of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.3% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.92.

Pick the Right LPN Program near Hastings PA

Hastings PA LPN geriatric nurse with patient Enrolling in the ideal Licensed Practical Nurse program is probably the most crucial phase to launching a new career in the healthcare industry. There are numerous variables that you must think about when selecting a nursing school. These aspects will be prioritized differently contingent on your existing career objectives, obligations, and financial status. As we have stressed in this content, it is critical that you select an LPN college and a certificate or degree program that are both accredited and have outstanding reputations within the medical community. You originally decided to visit this website because of an interest in Become an LPN Online. However, by using 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 appropriate degree and training, combined with your dedication and ambition to succeed, you can become a Licensed Practical Nurse in Hastings PA.