It’s time to do your research. As an accredited LPN school in Connecticut, Stone Academy can help. In this article, we will show you how to become an LPN in no time. From the diploma program you choose all the way to the licensure exam, here are the three must-know educational and skills-based LPN requirements needed to land your dream job:
- The Right Educational Program
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, licensed practical nurses are required to complete an approved educational program in order to qualify for an LPN nursing job. This program should have an extensive curriculum, combining classroom learning in subjects like biology and pharmacology with hands-on, clinical laboratory experience. After completion of an LPN program, students will be awarded a certificate or diploma that will qualify them to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN).
As a prospective nurse, your first step towards a career will be choosing the right educational program for your goals. For most LPNs, a diploma or certificate program is the preferred route to the workforce, as this type of program offers a quality education at a more accelerated pace. However, some students may pursue an associate degree if they have longer-term goals of becoming a registered nurse (RN).
At Stone Academy, you can have the best of both worlds. As a leading LPN school in Connecticut, we offer students the advantages of a diploma program alongside the ability to continue their education through the state’s LPN-RN transition program. This added flexibility gives aspiring students like you the option to enter the LPN workforce right away or go on to become a registered nurse.
After choosing the type of practical nursing program you wish to pursue, you must find an accredited and reputable school in your state. If long-term success is a priority for you, choose a school that has a high job placement rate. At Stone Academy, over 500 LPN graduates have been placed into the health field since 2012. With the recent growth of populations entering long-term care, there is no doubt that career opportunities will be abundant for licensed practical nurses.
You may also consider a program that can meet your scheduling needs. If you are looking for an accelerated program, you may consider a school that will help you to earn your diploma in months, not years. You may consider a school like Stone Academy, which offers Advanced Placement and zero waitlists so that you can jumpstart your LPN education immediately. You may need a program that offers part-time, evening, and weekend courses – so that you can still maintain your job while attending school. The LPN classes at Stone offer the flexibility of a full-time day or part-time evening/Saturday program.
- The Right Skills for the Job
Of the LPN requirements today is a well-rounded skillset – not only skills that are taught in school, but skills that are also inherent and developed over time. As a prospective nurse, you need to possess the following qualities before landing a job as an LPN:
- Compassion – The work of an LPN is all about care: taking care of others and being caring towards the people you serve. Therefore, you must be both compassionate and empathetic towards each patient and family that you interact with on the day-to-day.
- Interpersonal Skills – Because you will interact with a diverse group of patients and other healthcare providers in your job, you must possess strong people skills as an LPN.
- Communication Skills – LPNs must be able to communicate effectively to both patients and other members of the healthcare team. As an LPN, you will be required to relay information to other nurses and doctors about patients’ conditions, as well as speak with patients about their health and treatment plans.
- Attention to Detail – Being responsible and detail-oriented are essential LPN requirements, as patient care rests heavily in your hands: you will need to get the right patient to the right place, at the right time, for the right type of care.
- Physical Stamina – LPNs take on several physical tasks, such as bending over patients for long periods of time.
- Patience – Stress is common in any healthcare position, especially in an emergency field. Knowing how to cope with the stress that comes with sick and injured patients will be a crucial asset to have as an LPN.
- A Practical Nursing License
Upon completion of a state-approved LPN diploma or certificate program like Stone Academy’s, you may go on to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN). No matter where you reside, the NCLEX-PN competency examination is a core LPN requirement in order to work in the field. You cannot obtain a license and become an LPN without passing this exam.
The NCLEX-PN exam is a computerized, multiple-choice test that is to be completed within 5 hours. The examination focuses on various areas of nursing practice, including physiology, psychosocial integrity, safe and effective care environments, and health promotion.
As a career-oriented LPN school in Connecticut, Stone Academy works to prepare students for the future. Our nursing programs are specifically designed to train LPNs in patient care, health promotion and prevention, patient safety, critical reasoning, and more. Upon graduation from Stone Academy, students are immediately eligible to sit for the Connecticut NCLEX-PN licensing examination and enter entry-level jobs as:
- Licensed Practical Nurses
- Scheduling Supervisors
- Emergency Room Technicians
- Visiting Clinical Nurses
- Dialysis Technicians
- Public School Nurses
Do you want to learn more about how to become an LPN in the state of Connecticut? Or, are you interested in earning your LPN diploma at Stone Academy? Click here to request more information online or apply now!