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How to Select the Right LPN or LVN Course Near West Sacramento California

West Sacramento California LPN looking over patient chart with physicianOnce you have decided on a rewarding vocation in the field of nursing, it's important that you choose a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) college near West Sacramento CA that will furnish the right instruction. If you reside in Texas or California, then you will be looking for a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) school instead. There is no distinction, other than the names, between an LPN and an LVN. They both perform the same job functions and work in health care facilities under the supervision of Registered Nurses (RN) or Doctors. However their responsibilities do differ depending on the state they practice in, which we will look at in the following section. When starting their search for schools, many future nursing students start with the ones that are the closest to their residences or that are the least costly. Although cost and location are important points to consider, they are not the only qualifications that you should base your selection on. Other factors, such as if the schools are accredited or have high pass rates on the licensing exam are extremely important also. Let's look at the job of an LPN and what is involved in the instruction and licensing process.

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LPN and LVN Job Description

West Sacramento California licensed practical nurse checking on elderly woman in assisted living facility

Licensed Practical Nurses have numerous tasks that they perform in the West Sacramento CA healthcare facilities where they work. As their titles signify, they are mandated to be licensed in all states, including California. While they may be accountable for overseeing Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA), they themselves generally work under the direction of either an RN or a doctor. The medical care facilities where they work are numerous and assorted, for instance hospitals, medical clinics, schools, and long-term care facilities. Virtually any place that you can encounter patients requiring medical assistance is their dominion. Each state not only regulates their licensing, but also what work activities an LPN can and can't perform. So depending on the state, their everyday work functions may include:

    • Taking vital signs
    • Giving medicines
    • Setting up IV drips
    • Monitoring patients
    • Collecting blood or urine samples
    • Managing patient records
    • Helping physicians or RNs with procedures

Along with their job functions being controlled by each state, the healthcare facilities or other West Sacramento CA healthcare providers where LPNs work can further limit their job roles within those parameters. Also, they can work in different specialties of nursing, which include long-term care, critical care, oncology and cardiology.

LVN and LPN Certificates and Degrees

There are generally two scholastic credentials available that provide education to become an LPN or LVN near West Sacramento CA. The one that may be finished in the shortest period of time, typically about 1 year, is the certificate or diploma course. The second alternative is to attain a Practical Nursing Associate Degree. These LPN programs are broader in nature than the diploma alternative and normally require 2 years to finish. The advantage of Associate Degrees, besides offering a higher credential and more in-depth instruction, are that they provide more transferable credit toward a Bachelor's Degree in nursing. Regardless of the type of credential you pursue, it needs to be state approved and ideally accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) or some other national accrediting organization. The NLNAC attests that the syllabus effectively prepares students to become Practical Nurses, and that most graduates pass the 50 state required NCLEX-PN licensing exam.

Taking LVN and LPN Online Classes

West Sacramento California licensed practical nurse assisting man on crutches at entranceAttending LPN programs online is emerging as a more in demand way to receive instruction and earn a nursing certificate or degree in West Sacramento CA. Some schools will require attending on campus for a component of the training, and virtually all programs require a specified amount of clinical rotation hours carried out in a local healthcare facility. But since the balance of the training can be accessed online, this method may be a more accommodating solution to finding the free time to attend college for some students. Regarding tuition, a number of online degree programs are less costly than other on campus choices. Even additional expenses such as for commuting and study materials can be minimized, helping to make education more affordable. And a large number of online programs are accredited by U.S. Department of Education recognized organizations. Therefore if your work and household responsibilities have left you with very little time to work toward your academic goals, perhaps an online LPN school will make it easier to fit a degree into your active schedule.

Learn How to Become an LPN or LVN in West Sacramento



 

WEST SACRAMENTO HOW TO BECOME AN LPN OR LVN | WEST SACRAMENTO LPN OR LVN PROGRAMS NEAR ME