Some basic prerequisite classes required for an LPN program, such as math, English, anatomy and microbiology can be taken in high school. More specialized classes are required to obtain a certificate, and many of these classes can be taken online. Requirements to be an LPN are determined by each state, so you must check with the state board of nurses to determine what classes are needed to become an LPN in your state.
One universal requirement in all 50 states is the NCLEX-LN exam, which you must pass to acquire a certificate to be an LPN. The program you choose should prepare you for this test. It is important that you confirm that the program is accredited so it is recognized by the state where you live. There are two kinds of training to become an LPN: the classroom portion and the clinical portion. An LPN program takes from 12 to 15 months to complete.
The classroom part of the program includes educational courses in anatomy and physiology. You also will learn how to administer drugs and how to use technical equipment. The classroom portion of LPN training teaches you all the fundamentals of the profession. Psychiatric nursing also may be part of the program. Pediatrics, obstetrics, first aid and nutrition are often included as well. The classroom portion can be taken online with an accredited school.
The clinical portion of the LPN program allows you to work at a hospital or clinic. Originally part of a registered nursing program, clinical work recently has become part of many LPN programs, offering firsthand knowledge of what it takes to be an LPN. Clinical work teaches you to do everything you learned about in your educational coursework. Obviously, this portion of the LPN program cannot be completed online.
The demand for LPNs is on the increase. In-home health care is becoming more prominent, providing another outlet for LPNs. Nursing homes are in desperate need of the type of care LPNs provide to patients, such as grooming and other daily tasks. Technology advancements have resulted in specialized equipment, and this has increased the number of LPNs needed to operate and monitor it.