Find a program offering a practical nursing degree online. The number of colleges and technical schools offering a PN degree online is small, and this may make it difficult for you to find a program in your city or state. It is advised to stay in your local area or state to get your degree since many programs have on-site clinicals you must attend and others won’t admit out-of-state students. You should contact your state nursing board to get a list of approved programs in your state. Specific state contact information can be found on the website of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
Apply for admission to the programs of your choice. The competition to get into an online LPN degree program is fierce due to a limited number of spots. Each program has a separate admissions process you will need to follow and an admissions deadline you will need to adhere to.
Obtain funding for tuition, fees, books and other requirements of the program. In most cases, an online PN degree is going to be more expensive than a traditional classroom program since it costs more to produce an online class for most colleges. You may have the money saved up to pay for your degree, or you may need to borrow some. You can apply for financial aid, which includes grants and student loans, by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Pass the prerequisites needed to begin the PN program. Human anatomy and physiology, English and general psychology are generally the prerequisites for most colleges. However, you will want to make sure you check with the specific program you plan to enroll in for their exact courses.
Complete the lecture and classroom part of the practical nursing degree. All practical nursing programs begin with the traditional lecture and learning found in most classrooms. Your instructor will assign readings from your textbooks and test your knowledge of what you learned. He may also provide you with lab or homework assignments for you to complete to help you learn through hands-on activities.
Submit required information and documents before completing clinicals. As the program progresses, you will have the opportunity to try out what you’re learning in an actual healthcare setting by performing clinicals. Depending upon the program, you will either meet for the clinicals at a pre-determined location or arrange the clinicals individually with your instructor. Prior to completing the clinicals, you may need to submit certain information such as authorization for a background check, health screening, certification of CPR and more to meet the requirements of the healthcare facility where you will be doing clinicals. Your instructor should be able to assist you in determining exactly what you need.
Take and pass the national certification exam. The National Certification and Licensure Examination (NCLEX) is the national test required for all practical nurses to take before seeking licensure in their state. Most online programs will include preparing for the test as part of their curriculum since many students look at the NCLEX pass rate as an indicator of the quality of the program.
Graduate from the program and get licensed. After completing your clinicals, you are ready to graduate from the program. You’ve earned your online practical nursing degree. Now you can apply for licensure in your state and begin working.