Obtaining a practical nursing license in the state in which you plan to work requires passing the NCLEX-PN examination. Each state has a board of nursing that enforces compliance with rules regarding entry into the nursing profession. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) writes the NCLEX-PN exam, which "measures the competencies needed to perform safely and effectively as a newly licensed, entry-level nurse," according to the group's website.
Distance education practical nursing programs include coursework in anatomy, chemistry, nutrition, death and dying, and child development as well as required completion of at least one clinical training session, reports LPNtraining.org. During the clinical component, you must travel at your own expense to a site approved by your nursing program to practice nursing procedures in adult care, pediatrics, first aid, and obstetrics under direct supervision of qualified clinical nursing instructors.
Your state's board of nursing may require completion of an accredited practical nursing program to take the licensing examination. Several entities provide accreditation to practical nursing programs; the three most recognized are the National League of Nursing Accreditation Commission, the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology, and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Accredited status means the school has voluntarily sought an accrediting body to evaluate its curriculum for quality and compliance with rules and regulations, says LPNtraining.org.
Each state has a board of nursing, whose purpose is to regulate and ensure compliance with the rules and laws of nursing. The board protects the public through regulation and enforcement of its standards, and it protects nursing professionals by ensuring consistent enforcement and disciplinary action.
According to the 2008-09 Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job outlook for LPNs is promising, with expected growth of 14 percent by 2016. BLS reports 2006 median yearly incomes for LPNs between $32,710 and $42,110. Temporary staffing agency and nursing home incomes tend to be higher than those in home health, hospitals or doctor offices.