LPN stands for "licensed practical nurse". This type of nurse usually works under the supervision of a registered nurse and can be responsible for a variety of caretaking tasks, including patient feeding, medical record updating, patient call answering, and vital sign monitoring. In some states, an LPN is allowed to administer intravenous medication as well. In California and Texas, an LPN is referred to as an LVN (licensed vocational nurse). On the nursing hierarchy, an LPN takes on more responsibility than a certified nurse assistant, but not quite as much as an RN.
Becoming an LPN
In order to become an LPN, one must hold his/her high school diploma or equivalent and then complete a two-year practical nursing program. Upon course completion, a candidate must pass the NCLEX-PN to become officially licensed as an LPN. LPNs can expect to earn approximately $16 per hour, which is the national average.
Comparing Online LPN Programs
There are many colleges that offer LPN training online, so that anyone can learn from home in his/her spare time without having to quit his/her job. Some things to consider when looking for an online LPN program include time flexibility, cost, prerequisites, and professor availability.
Ask yourself first how much spare time you have to study in an online LPN program. You should be able to complete your training online without having to sacrifice your day job. Maybe you also have family to consider. Additionally, you should be sure to look at cost to make sure that enrolling isn't going to put a huge dent in your budget.
Also be sure to consider any prerequisites that a program may have. Most online LPN programs will require nothing more than a high school diploma, but it never hurts to double check this. Also consider your computer system requirements as well. Make sure you have a reliable Internet connection and a sturdy Word processing program and you should be good to go.
Finally, it is usually helpful if you can get in touch with professors during the course of a class term. Some programs allow for more communication than others, so you will definitely want to consider this factor as well.
To find out more about choosing an online LPN program, Sara Reed recommends Nursing Online Degree.
» left by Tnishna from Anchorage,Alaska (2 years 112 days ago.)
no,I would like to see about taking some prequisite classes online Respond to this comment
» left by Anonymous (1 year 199 days ago.)
no there needs to be some links that actually take you to online courses. Not just take you to something that will tell you all about the different colleges you can go to and sit at. Respond to this comment
» left by Denise Goodwin from Suitland, MD (1 year 145 days ago.)
I work full time and I a so intrested in being a lpn and would like to go on line for this if possible, and when it is time to do clinicals to be affilated with a hospital to do this, can you help? Respond to this comment
» left by kim from Muscat, oman (1 year 55 days ago.)
I have not found any online LPN programs... Do you have a list? Respond to this comment
» left by Jennifer Stadtmiller from Cairo, Egypt (1 year 55 days ago.)
I have not found any online LPN programs either. Please post a list. Respond to this comment
» left by Anonymous (1 year 40 days ago.)
I have found one online LPN course and believe me, I had to search for months to find this one, but I believe you must be a resident of AZ to participate, I am checking into it. I know there are more out there just very difficult to find, the would not let me include the link in my comment but just google maricopa community colleges. I will give you the link you just have to remove the spaces www . nursing . maricopa . edu Respond to this comment
» left by Anonymous (1 year 40 days ago.)
lake area technical institute is another accredited school with LPN courses online, on both courses the maricopa and this one I just posted are courses designed to be for getting your associates degree in nursing (RN), but both schools state that after the first year you are eligible to sit for the LPN exam. I still cannot find one for Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, Kansas, or Arkansas as I am in Oklahoma and would certainly drive to a bordering state for clinicals. Please email me at tmyers 2147 at aol . com if anyone can help me find an online course that would work for me. I had to put spaces in my email address so they would let me post it. Thanks Respond to this comment
» left by Cathy Foxx from Stanley NC (1 year 39 days ago.)
In 1995 I was in the LPN program and during the 3rd quarter my brother suddenly passed away and I failed med-surg by 2/10th of a point. I was devistated! I went on to get my CNA II and certified phlebotomy but now I would like to start back with the LPN program so I can give flu shots at clinics etc. I have been giving injections but would like to be able to do this on my own.
I have been searching for an online LPN course. I found the ones mentioned above but you have to be a resident of AZ. If anyone finds one in NC or have any other suggestions, please contact me. Thank you and good luck Respond to this comment
» left by Anonymous (1 year 18 days ago.)
Any LPN Programs in ALABAMA??? Respond to this comment
» left by THERESE from 601BEECHWOOD AV (1 year 5 days ago.)
I WANT TO BE A LPN ,BECAUSE IAM A CNA IWANT TO KNOW IF YOUR CAN HELP. Respond to this comment
» left by Alexis from St. Louis Metro., MO (353 days 4 hours ago.)
Deaconess College has an AS degree, and you can sit for your LPN after the first year. They are owned by DeVry. I am not sure how clinicals work with them. For all of the CNA's etc. out there, they offer real world credit towards degrees. Respond to this comment
» left by Lebordia Smith from Indinola, MS (321 days 7 hours ago.)
Can anyone PLEASE list a website for an on-line LPN program. Respond to this comment
» left by Jen from Texas (309 days 19 hours ago.)
I have been searching for weeks looking for either an LPN/LVN or Associates degree in Nursing that I can do fulltime online except for my clinicals. I have sat in a classroom and I have my CNA and CMA, I want more, but I have 2 children and work full time plus run a business out of our home. I am completely disillusioned with the internet. It keeps taking me to the same websites over and over again. I am getting frustrated!!!!!!! These same said websites state over and over again that I need to have my RN degree or that they can't help me with continued education because I am not in their area!! What is up with this??? I am about to give up. It is now January and I have been searching since before Thanksgiving. We need some updated information here, people!!!!! Respond to this comment
» left by Adam from Massachusetts (298 days 18 hours ago.)
I am in-synch with all the above enquirers. I have gone as far as Canada online but to no-avail. I am still searching for an Online LPN program. I live in Massachusetts and I am willing to travel to any State for my Clinicals. Can anyone help me please. Respond to this comment
» left by Anonymous (151 days 16 hours ago.)
Julyl 2008 - have you found one in Massachusetts yet?? I'm desperate to get my LPN - have a daughter who is sick and NEED this training!
» left by Nancy Dunbar from Florida (296 days 6 hours ago.)
Looking for an online LPN program in Florida . Please help ! Respond to this comment
» left by JJJJJJ from Indianapolis IN (277 days 21 hours ago.)
There was an online LPN program somewhere, but again you had to be a resident of that state and it may well have been the Arizona program I read several people have found. I don't reside in that state, so I dimissed the whole idea of nursing. The Deaconess College AS degree may be an option. I'm getting ready to hunt for it online. Good news, though. Two potential options. In Canada there is a Rocky Mountain College, maybe in Alberta, I can't remember. And then, if you are interested in getting just a general studies bachelor's degree with about 10 prerequisite courses, the University of North Dakota is beginning an excellerated nursing program to begin in January 2009, if the program is approved. I have like 20 hours to go for a bachelors degree and I just filled out their survey online about the program. I think I'm beginning to love the University of North Dakota for its innovative, real bachelor degrees in science online! Respond to this comment
» left by Anonymous (259 days 20 hours ago.)
what is the name of the college for the LPN online program in AZ? I've been searching for months now? Respond to this comment
» left by Amber from Colorado (250 days 1 hour ago.)
I have the same problem, I am getting very frustrated! I live in Colorado, if anybody can find an online LPN program PLEASE let me know!!! Respond to this comment
» left by Anonymous (222 days 7 hours ago.)
I FINALLY FOUND ONE!!! AFTER 2 YEARS OF SEARCHING. You can attend from any state, it is totally online but you have to go there for clinicals, there is a weekend option for the clinicals. It is in Minnesota, you test for your license in Minnesota, you must check with your state board to make sure they will let you reciprocate your license from Minnesota to your state and here is the link, just remove the spaces, I am really excited!!!! distance dot minnesota dot edu hope everyone checks it out Respond to this comment
» left by kurt from michigan (47 days 1 hour ago.)
hey thanks alot! trying to find online college for a long time i have 45 credits toward my R.N. degree but there is a waiting list which ive been on for three years. i have to move on because there are not enough teachers or facilities. r u attending this school now?
» left by Pamela (197 days 8 hours ago.)
Thanks, I have been looking for over a year to find an online LPN program. Thanks for listing the information about Distance Minnesota, it was very helpful, because I live in Delaware and the nursing clinicals take approximately 2 years to get into, which would mean that if I took the pre-nursing exam and scored high enough I would be able to enter my LPN clinicals in 2010. With this program, I would be DONE with my LPN and working on my RN since I already have a BS and MSW. I did not find the article helpful because it did NOT give information on WHERE the online programs where, however the comments section was EXTREMELY helpful as they POSTED actual resources.
» left by Anonymous (195 days 9 hours ago.)
Does anyone know of an online lpn program in GA?? I have been looking for a long time and its really frustrating!!
» left by niecey from Marietta,Ga (187 days 23 hours ago.)
Can someone help me find an online LPN program in GA too, honestly it really is hard finding one
» left by Jamie from Long Island, NY (174 days 16 hours ago.) Anonymous (47 days 15 hours ago.) I FINALLY FOUND ONE!!! AFTER 2 YEARS OF SEARCHING. You can attend from any state, it is totally online but you have to go there for clinicals, there is a weekend option for the clinicals. It is in Minnesota, you test for your license in Minnesota, you must check with your state board to make sure they will let you reciprocate your license from Minnesota to your state and here is the link, just remove the spaces, I am really excited!!!! distance dot minnesota dot edu hope everyone checks it out ________________________________________
Weekend option for clinicals? How does that work? There is no way you can get all of your clinicals for the whole program done in 1 weekend. I live in New York so flying to Minnesota a million times isn't feasible. I too have been searching for an online LPN program for YEARS. This would be awesome!!!!!! How do these clinicals work? Can someone answer this? THANKS!
» left by Anonymous (163 days 16 hours ago.)
I think it is unresponsable for the writer of this article to post it and not post reliable sources for us to use - very frustrating !
» left by imlookin2 from nc (158 days 3 hours ago.)
I am in NC and would be interested in finding an online LPN program. So if anyone truly knows where the site is I for one would appreciate it so much! I've looked at a lot of colleges , universities, technicial inst. and honestly people some of these schools are getting over on students/adults interested in taking nursing much less anything else. I'm surprised that there aren't online schools willing to at least offer the class portion of the LPN program online. And parterning with local facilities for the clinical portion, if parterning is difficult then have that be the responsiblity of the student. Then the student can find a hospital, doctors office, obgyn office(s)that will allow them to do their clinicals in. Afterwhich the student would then give the facility mentor a form so that they can atest that the student did complete for example 15 hrs . I know this sounds like a lot , but I know this type of system would work! Guess all my creative thinking and wishing want help any of us obtain our LPN course section online huh? LOL Let's not give up ...!! Things are changing around us everyday so just keep looking!! Seek and ye shall find!!
I also want to find a online lpn program in GA. Darton in Albany Ga has a hybird nursing program, meaning that you go half online and half on campus. they are accepting applications now but they only let in about 25 people every other year.
» left by sleeplessnva from NoVA (107 days 5 hours ago.)
With the national nursing shortage and it being considered a crisis, you would think there would be more options out there for us all! Obviously, it's not a lack of interest....
» left by PC from Washington, DC (82 days 2 hours ago.)
I am looking into the MN program. It's about $18K for the program (including some travel), and the hourly and per credit fees. There is also a monthly online fee.
I live in Michigan and doing the online nursing program thru minnesota would very costly for clinicals on the weekend. Does anybody know if there is anything nearby?I have my certificate as a nurse assistant and medical assistant and have been trying to find a LPN program online for about 2 years also. I work full-time from 8-4:30 and i am a mother of 5 children with 3 at home still and trying to get my degree. I know with a nurse shortage and while i was in my clinicals for RN the1st year I had to quit due my son had an accident he had a 50/50 chance on living. I attempt again to accomplish my clinicals but this time again I had another tragedy in my life this time it was my husband he had malignant malenoma. I finally gave on nursing and attempt to get my MA and I did finish it and I've been a ma ever since.
I wish even with the nursing shortage the states would want to help or find a solution on helping people that really want to be a nurse.Except fianancially and the time to take off of work is very difficult with a family .
» left by ravensky from North Carolina (6 days 5 hours ago.)
I live in North Carolina and am about to graduate from an online LPN program. I am having trouble finding a job that pays over $14 an hour, that is all the hospital I work at wants to pay, and It is a very large hospital. My teacher says that the average is $19 per hour but I haven't found anything close.... help???
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