| LPN stands for Licensed Practical Nurse and is the | | | | the necessary qualification programs across the |
| initial nursing qualification. In order to qualify as an LPN | | | | country. Indeed in 2006 the Bureau of Labor |
| you must undertake a course on a training program | | | | Statistics estimated that there were more than 1,500 |
| which has been approved by the State Board of | | | | state approved training courses in practical nursing. |
| Nursing. The course is usually 18 months to two | | | | Since that time there have been a significant number |
| years long but can be as short as 12 months. | | | | of programs that have been designed specifically for |
| At the end of the training course, prospective | | | | learning online. |
| candidates must pass an examination. The licensing | | | | Most courses still however require a clinical aspect to |
| examination is called the NCLEX-PN and is essential if | | | | the training which is difficult to undertake on a |
| you wish to go on and practice as a nurse. | | | | distance basis, so it is likely that attendance as some |
| Once licensed the nurse can undertake a variety of | | | | form of organized clinical training events will still be |
| both simple and complex medical procedures, but | | | | required. There are however many local vocation |
| should only do so under the supervision of a | | | | schools and technical LPN programs that offer |
| Registered Nurse (RN) or a physician. | | | | complete courses or just specific aspects of the |
| Usually, before being admitted to an approved | | | | training regime as well as community colleges. |
| training program you must demonstrate as a | | | | Once qualified LPN's are able to undertake a wide |
| minimum that you have a high school diploma and do | | | | variety of activities, from simple measurements for |
| not have a criminal record, although increasingly, | | | | example taking a patients temperature or blood |
| possibly as demand for the qualification grows, there | | | | pressure, through to administering CPR on a patient |
| are training courses which will accept you on the | | | | who is suffering a cardiac arrest. Most of the time |
| course without high school diploma, indeed in some | | | | however they will be administering basic care to |
| cases students can start LPN programs while still in | | | | elderly, infirm or recuperative patients in a |
| high school through vocational programs. | | | | non-hospital environment. |
| There are many approved training schools providing | | | | |