LPN School Online Halifax VA

How to Choose the Right LPN Program near Halifax Virginia

Halifax VA LPN pediatric nurse holding infant There are generally two scholastic credentials offered that provide instruction to become an LPN near Halifax VA. The one that can be finished in the shortest time frame, normally about twelve months, is the certificate or diploma program. The 2nd option is to obtain a Practical Nursing Associate Degree. These LPN programs are broader in nature than the diploma option and commonly require 2 years to finish. The advantage of Associate Degrees, aside from offering 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 should 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 properly prepares students to become Practical Nurses, and that the majority of graduates pass the 50 state required NCLEX-PN licensing exam.

What is an LPN?

Halifax VA Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Licensed Practical Nurses have many duties that they carry out in the Halifax VA health facilities where they practice. As their titles signify, they are mandated to be licensed in all states, including Virginia. Even though they may be accountable for overseeing Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA), they themselves typically work under the direction of either an RN or a doctor. The medical care facilities where they work are numerous and diverse, including hospitals, medical clinics, schools, and long-term care facilities. Anyplace that you can find patients requiring medical treatment is their domain. 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 everyday job functions might include:

Taking vital signs
Giving medicines
Initiating IV drips
Observing patients
Collecting blood or urine samples
Keeping patient records
Supporting physicians or RNs with procedures

Along with their occupational responsibilities being regulated by each state, the health care facilities or other Halifax VA healthcare providers where LPNs work can additionally limit their job roles within those parameters. In addition, they can work in numerous specialties of nursing, for example long-term care, critical care, oncology and cardiology.

Online LPN Programs

female student attending LPN school online in Halifax VA Attending LPN schools online is emerging as a more favored way to receive instruction and earn a nursing certificate or degree in Halifax VA. Many schools will require attendance on campus for part of the training, and nearly all programs require a certain number of clinical rotation hours carried out in a local healthcare center. But since the rest of the training may be accessed online, this option may be a more practical solution to finding the free time to attend classes for some students. Concerning tuition, many online degree programs are less costly than other on campus alternatives. Even other expenses such as for commuting and study materials can be reduced, helping to make education more affordable. And numerous online programs are accredited by U.S. Department of Education recognized organizations. Therefore if your work and household commitments have left you with limited time to work toward your academic goals, maybe an online LPN school 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 Halifax VA 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 Schools

Questions to ask Halifax VA LPN programs Now that you have decided on obtaining your LPN certificate, and if you will attend classes on campus or on the internet, you can use the following pointers to begin narrowing down your choices. As you probably realize, there are many nursing schools and colleges near Halifax VA as well as within Virginia and throughout the United States. So it is necessary to lower the number of schools to select from in order that you will have a manageable list. As we previously pointed out, the site of the school and the cost of tuition are probably going to be the initial two things that you will take into consideration. But as we also emphasized, they should not be your sole qualifiers. So prior to making your ultimate selection, use the following questions to see 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 organization. In addition to helping make sure that you obtain a quality education, it may help in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are often not offered for non-accredited schools near Halifax VA.
Licensing Preparation. Licensing criteria for LPNs vary from state to state. In all states, a passing score is required on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN) in addition to graduation from an accredited school. Some states require a certain number of clinical hours be performed, as well as the passing of additional tests. It’s essential that the school you are attending not only delivers an outstanding education, but also preps you to satisfy the minimum licensing standards for Virginia or the state where you will be working.
Reputation. Look at internet rating services to see what the reviews are for all of the LPN schools you are considering. Ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews too. Additionally, contact the Virginia school licensing authority to determine if there are any complaints or compliance issues. Finally, you can contact some nearby Halifax VA healthcare organizations you’re interested in working for after graduation and ask what their judgements 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 complete their programs. A low graduation rate may be an indication that students were displeased 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 Halifax VA healthcare community, but that it also has the network of contacts to assist students gain employment.
Internship Programs. The most ideal way to get experience as a Licensed Practical Nurse is to work in a clinical environment. Virtually all nursing degree programs require a specific number of clinical hours be completed. Many states have minimum clinical hour mandates for licensing also. Find out if the schools have associations with nearby Halifax VA community hospitals, clinics or labs and help with the placing of students in internships.

Enrolling in an LPN Program near Halifax VA?

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

Halifax, Virginia

Carlbrook, Halifax County Courthouse, Mountain Road Historic District, Pleasant Grove, and the Town of Halifax Court House Historic District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[5][6]

Halifax is located at the center of Halifax County, at 36°45′53″N 78°55′41″W / 36.76472°N 78.92806°W / 36.76472; -78.92806 (36.764593, -78.928081).[7] Its northern border is the Banister River, an east-flowing tributary of the Dan River and part of the Roanoke River watershed.

U.S. Route 501 passes through the town on Main Street, leading south 5 miles (8 km) to South Boston and north 55 miles (89 km) to Lynchburg. Virginia State Route 360 joins US 501 along North Main Street but leads east 7 miles (11 km) to U.S. Route 360 near Scottsburg and west 35 miles (56 km) to Danville.

Pick the Right LPN School near Halifax VA

Halifax VA LPN geriatric nurse with patient Selecting the right Licensed Practical Nurse program is potentially the most crucial first step to beginning a new career in the medical care industry. There are many factors that you need to take into account when picking a nursing school. These variables will be prioritized differently depending on your current career goals, lifestyle, and economic status. As we have pointed out in this post, it is critical that you enroll in an LPN school and a certificate or degree program that are both accredited and have exceptional reputations within the healthcare community. You originally decided to visit this website because of an interest in LPN School Online. However, by using our list of qualifying questions, you will be able to develop a shortlist of schools to pick from so that you can make your final selection. And with the proper degree and training, combined with your hard work and desire to succeed, you can become an LPN in Halifax VA.