If you consider pursuing an LPN course, you likely wonder if it is a challenging program, and rightly so. After all, nursing school is generally demanding, but the experience can differ for different people.
That said, choosing to dwell on the LPN school's challenges can make you miss out on the 58,000 job openings the profession projects each year.
LPN is a one-year-long certificate or diploma course in technical and community colleges. Some State-approved high schools and hospitals also offer LPN programs.
It is common for nursing students to worry about what to expect in LPN school, more so about the technicality of various healthcare programs. LPN school is challenging but surmountable. You can make it more manageable through dedication and a positive mindset.
The challenging aspect of LPN school stems from the need for students to learn to offer the best care to patients with varying medical conditions, such as disabilities and extensive injuries.
Some of the units covered by the program include biology, physiology, pharmacology, surgery, and pediatrics. Students get tested in these and other topics through exams, quizzes, supervised clinicals, and assignments before they can eventually sit for a licensing exam.
With the necessary study materials and professional guide, LPN may turn out easier or, in some cases, pretty enjoyable. Which brings us to our next query: Is LPN school harder than RN?
Yes, LPN school is more demanding than RN school because, in the former, all content has to be grasped within a year, while the latter offers a 2-4 study period. However, this does not rule out the fact that individual experiences are different, and some may find LPN school easier than RN or consider both a breeze.
Before starting your LPN school journey, you must get approved to study the program. You need an impressive GPA to qualify for the LPN course. However, the GPA requirements vary in different schools, implying that you can get approved elsewhere despite being declined in certain schools.
Enrolling in nursing prerequisites or classes that prepare nursing students for the coursework ahead can also increase your chances of being accepted into LPN school. You can find the relevant programs in private or community colleges.
LPN’s one-year-long diploma course combines theoretical and supervised practical experiences to produce professional and equally passionate nurses at the end of the program.
Finally, upon successful program completion, you must undertake a licensing exam called NCLEX-PN (National Council Licensure Examination -Practical Nurse).
Keeping up with LPN school's demands can leave you feeling exhausted due to the rotational classes, exams, practicals, and everything in between. For a less-bumpy LPN school experience, consider doing the following:
LPN school can be complicated or straightforward based on the student's efforts to make the program manageable. With consistent study routines, regular physical activities, and other healthy choices, LPN school can be bearable.
Simply put, refrain from allowing the general perception of LPN school to overcrowd your judgment because the experience is as easy as you make it.