3 Steps To Starting Your LPN CareersMany people are joining the nursing bandwagon and starting their own LPN careers. This is not surprising since this nurse job is quite challenging to keep them interested and pays good money to sustain their other interests. Among the other types of nurses jobs, most people prefer to start their careers by being licensed practical nurses. If you are interested to know how these people started their own LPN careers or want to pursue this nurse job as well, it would serve you well to learn these steps: 1. Enroll in a nursing program. If you are someone who is fresh out of high school or a person who wishes to switch careers at mid-life, you have to enroll in a practical nursing program in a community college. This is ideal for those who are strapped for cash to pursue a full-on bachelor degree in nursing from a university. Documents you need to secure a slot in a practical nursing program include a score of 15 or more in ACT or the equivalent in SAT, a high school and college GPA of 2.0 or higher or the equivalent in GED, and a grade of "C" or higher in the prerequisite courses. These prerequisite courses are essential to start off your LPN careers so mind that you have completed and passed them: Human Physiology, Human Anatomy, and Beginning Algebra. Once you have been accepted, you will undergo nine months to one year of training and education on practical nursing. 2. Qualify for a license. After a year of studying under a practical nursing program, you are just two steps shy of having LPN careers. Since a licensed practical nurse is expected to be in close proximity to people who are vulnerable, any potential practical nurse must have good moral character. You must also have certifications that you have completed and passed basic curriculum and a State-approved practical nursing program. You must also past the NCLEX-PN test for LPN licensure. However, if you are a foreigner who graduated from a foreign nursing program, you must pass the English proficiency test before you can qualify for the NCLEX. A minimum score of 500 from the TOEFL test is usually required if you want to pursue LPN careers in the United States. 3. Apply in a health institution offering LPN careers. Of course, to formally start off your LPN careers after completing your practical nursing coursework and getting an LPN license, you need to have a job in a healthcare institution. You can opt to start your LPN careers by working in a hospital, nursing home, school, private clinics, or corporate infirmary. LPN careers can help you get the experience and the money you need to advance in your nursing profession. But, always remember that you can move beyond your LPN careers by using them as leverage to gain further education in the nursing field. |