Licensed Practical Nurse(LPN) training programs are offered by state approved training centers, such as high schools, hospitals, junior colleges, community colleges, vocational schools and technical schools. The training program includes classroom studies and clinical practices under supervision. After the completion of LPN training, you need to appear for National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX-PN) for getting license and work as a licensed practical nurse. The duration of LPN training varies depending on the program you choose. Mostly, it ranges from a minimum 9 months to a maximum 18 months. You may come across with lots of advertisements which claim that you can become an LPN within a very short span of time. You should be very careful about such advertisements and should check whether the school is accredited or not. LPN courses offer entry level training in which you should learn lots of fundamental medical concepts. You should also acquire practical knowledge during this course.
The duties of licensed practical nurses vary depending on the work environment. Though medical assistants, nurse aids, etc are working under LPNs, there is clear demarcation between the duties of LPNs and the rest. Licensed practical nurses are acquiring unique theoretical and practical knowledge during their LPN training program.
Curriculum of LPN Programs
The curricula of LPN training depend on the program you choose. However, most programs consists of:
- Fundamentals of nursing,
- Maternal child health,
- Medical surgical nursing,
- Psychiatric nursing,
- Introduction to pharmacology,
- Growth and development,
- Nutrition and diet therapy,
- Contemporary health issues,
- Vocational adjustment, etc.
Besides these, the LPN training programs also cover subjects, such as biology, emergency medical technology, physical education, first aid, and chemistry. The students must undergo clinical practice in patients’ care under supervision.
Requirements for LPN
You must have 18 years old or more for enrolling in LPN program. You must also have a minimum high school diploma or equivalent (GED). You need to pass an LPN entrance examination for getting admission in this training program.
Duties and Responsibilities of LPN
The demand for LPNs is increasing day by day and it is very easy for them to get a job in healthcare centers. Mostly, the nature of job involves providing basic care to the patients. Licensed practical nurses can work in hospitals, nursing care facilities, offices of physicians, surgical hospitals, general medicine departments, home healthcare services, etc. The salary of LPNs also varies as per the nature of work and environment.
You can become a successful LPN if you are a compassionate and caring person with good communication skill. You must work along with registered nurses and medical doctors. You are responsible for monitoring the conditions of patients more closely than physicians and registered nurses. You should also report your observations to them as well. You need to supervise nursing aids working under you. Besides patients’ care, you must also handle various responsibilities, such as collection of health history of patients, performing simple laboratory tests, collection of samples for laboratory testing, measure and record vital signs of patients such as pulse, blood pressure, temperature, weight, height and respiration. You must also need to prepare and give enemas and injection, dress wounds, monitor catherers, provide massages and alcohol rubs, etc. Cleaning and monitoring medical equipment are also the responsibilities of licensed practical nurses.
LPN Programs in New Jersey
US is facing a shortage of licensed practical nurses so the demand for them are very high. LPN programs in NJ empower students to acquire various skills required for working as a licensed practical nurse. LPN programs in NJ are conducted by private LPN schools, trade schools, vocational schools, etc. If you want to specialize in psychiatry, surgery, pediatrics and obstetrics, LPN programs in NJ offers you such opportunities as well.
Some of the LPN degree and training courses offered by New Jersey LPN certificate programs are discussed below:
Cumberland County Technical Education Center
Situated in Bridgeton Avenue, New Jersey, Cumberland County Technical Education Center’s practical nursing programs prepare students to provide direct patient care under the supervision of a physician or a registered nurse. The training program includes theory and clinical instructions in 12 nursing related subjects. The institution combines its nursing education program with technical skills and scientific knowledge for providing students in-depth knowledge in LPN programs. Theory and clinical instructions of the institute cover topics, such as anatomy and physiology, fundamentals of nursing, mental health nursing, pharmacology, pediatric nursing, maternal and neonatal nursing, nutrition, nursing trends and issues, medical terminology, medical and surgical nursing, growth and development and gerontology.
Somerset County Technical Institute
This institute is situated in Bridgewater, New Jersey and it is providing Associate of Applied Science Degree program in Nursing. After the completion of this entry level course, students can appear for National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses. This program is accredited by National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission and licensed by New Jersey Board of Nursing. The nursing program of the institute includes general education courses, nursing courses and clinical experiences.
Salem Community College
This is another prestigious and highly reputed institution which offers LPN programs to students. The institute is situated at Carney, New Jersey. This is a four semester practical nursing certificate program, which combines a variety of clinical settings. Students need to study basic nursing care, specialty nursing, disease process, pharmacology, etc as a part of their training program. During the clinical training period, students need to work in a variety of departments such as physical, pediatrics, maternity, behavioral health, respiratory and occupational therapy, and medical surgical nursing.
Besides, you can also enroll in a number of other institutions for LPN programs in NJ. They are:
- Camden Board of Education,
- Cape May County Technical School,
- Prism Career Institute,
- Union County College,
- Morris County School of Technology,
- Harrison Institute,
- Dover Business College, Dover,
- Middlesex County Vocational Technical School,
- Best Care Training Institute,
- Essex County Vocational School of Practical Nursing,
- America Health Care Inc,
- Hohokus Hackensack School,
- The Center for Allied Health and Nursing Education,
- Pinelands Schcool of Practical Nursing and Allied Health Inc,
- Hudson County Community College,
- Vineland Senior High School,
- Warren County Technical School,
- Southern New Jersey Technical School, etc.
These institutions are providing accredited and licensed training programs to the students. Depending on the experience and location, an LPN can earn around $40,000 in New Jersey.