Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN): Career Diploma Summary

About this article
Getting your Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Diploma will allow you to find employment caring for patients in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and private residents. Courses that you may be required to take include nutrition, pharmacology, promotion of health, CPR and anatomy. Read the following article to find out more.
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Reasons to Earn a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Diploma:

Individuals with a Licensed Practical Nurse diploma will be working on the front lines. You will be caring for the patients in hospitals or nursing homes as they get better. Duties include taking vital signs, attending to dressings on wounds, feeding patients and maintaining medical records. The position of licensed practical nurse is very demanding and responsible yet very rewarding. If you enjoy helping and caring for others in a hospital, nursing home, convalescent or acute or extended care setting, then consider getting your LPN diploma. Once you fulfill the requirements of the diploma, you have to meet the requirement of the State where you wish to work (www.ncsbn.org). Lastly, you have to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX®)-PN. A good diploma course will prepare you for this exam.

Career Opportunities

LPNs work in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, or even in private homes.

Occupational Outlook

According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, licensed practical nurses will be in great demand over the next few years due to the rising number of elderly people who will need full-time medical care. Once a nurse has been licensed, they will be able to work in many different areas of nursing within the state where they live. If they move to another state, they will have to be licensed for that state.

Salary Information

Those who earn a licensed practical nurse diploma can expect to earn between $28,000 and $40,000 annually, according to The Bureau of Labor Statistics. According to PayScale, www.payscale.com, LPNs earn between $15 and $17 per hour.

Coursework Requirements

The basic courses required for this diploma program include:

  • CPR
  • Anatomy
  • Medical terminology
  • Nursing basics
  • Care of Elderly
  • Patient care
  • Communications
  • Food and nutrition
  • Pharmacology
  • Mental health nursing
  • Dosage Calculation
  • Promotion of health

Skills that you will learn

Graduate with a LPN diploma may be skilled in the following areas:

  • Observational skills
  • Teaching skills
  • First aid skills
  • Assessment skills
  • Decision making skills
  • Team work skills
  • Communications skills
  • Know how to take orders
  • Nursing skills
  • Assessment, documentation and reporting skills

Popular Schools

  • Online Programs Available
    1. Grand Canyon University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
      • Doctor of Nursing Practice with an Emphasis in Educational Leadership
    Master's
      • M.S. in Nursing with an Emphasis in Health Care Quality & Patient Safety
      • Bridge MSN Health Care Quality & Patient Safety
      • MS in Nursing: Public Health (Bridge)
      • MS in Nursing: Health Care Informatics (Bridge)
      • MS in Nursing: Nursing Leadership in Health Care Systems
      • M.S. in Nursing with an Emphasis in Health Informatics
    Bachelor's
      • BS in Nursing (Registered Nurse - R.N. to BSN)
  • Online Programs Available
    2. Liberty University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • Doctor of Nursing Practice: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Post-BSN)
      • PHD: Nursing: Nursing Education
      • Doctor of Philosophy in Health Sciences: General
      • Doctor of Health Sciences: General
    Certificate
      • CTG: Nursing Educational Leadership
  • Online Programs Available
    3. Bryant & Stratton College

    Program Options

    Associate's
      • Health Services Administration - AAS
  • Online Programs Available
    4. Penn Foster High School

    Program Options

    High School Diploma
      • HS Diploma
  • Chula Vista, CA

    Southwestern College

  • Online Programs Available
    6. Purdue Global

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • Master of Science - DNP Executive Leader
      • MSN-DNP Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
      • Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
      • Master of Science - DNP Path (Doctor of Nursing Practice)
      • Master of Science -DNP Path Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
    Master's
      • MS in Nursing - Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
      • Master of Science in Nursing - MSN/MBA Dual Degree Option
      • MSN - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
      • MS in Nursing
      • Master of Science - DNP Family Nurse Practitioner
      • Master of Science - DNP Adult Nurse Practitioner
    Bachelor's
      • Bachelors of Science in Nursing - RN to BSN (RN License Required)
    Associate's
      • Associate of Applied Science in Health ScienceNo Concentration
      • Associate of Applied Science in Health SciencePreprofessional
      • Associate of Science in Health Science
      • Associate of Science in Health SciencePreprofessional
  • Western Governors University

  • Missoula, MT

    The University of Montana

  • Poplarville, MS

    Pearl River Community College

Featured Schools

Grand Canyon University

  • Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
  • M.S. in Nursing with an Emphasis in Health Care Quality & Patient Safety
  • BS in Nursing (Registered Nurse - R.N. to BSN)

What is your highest level of education?

Liberty University

  • Doctor of Nursing Practice: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Post-BSN)
  • PHD: Nursing: Nursing Education
  • CTG: Nursing Educational Leadership

What is your highest level of education?

Bryant & Stratton College

  • Health Services Administration - AAS

What is your high school graduation status?

Penn Foster High School

  • HS Diploma

What is your highest level of education?

Southwestern College

Purdue Global

  • Master of Science - DNP Executive Leader
  • MS in Nursing - Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Bachelors of Science in Nursing - RN to BSN (RN License Required)
  • Associate of Applied Science in Health ScienceNo Concentration

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