| As the demand for qualified health care professionals | | | | online LPN nursing programs where you can complete |
| has continued to increase, the field of nursing has | | | | a large portion of your coursework from home. If |
| become one of the most popular career choices. | | | | you are more comfortable in a classroom setting, |
| There are several unique reasons for this including job | | | | there are many community colleges that offer |
| stability, steady wage growth, and significant | | | | campus based fast track LPN programs as well. In |
| advancement opportunities. The rapidly accelerating | | | | most cases, your LPN program will involve at least |
| demand for nurses has put a considerable amount of | | | | some hands on training in a clinical setting before you |
| pressure on nursing schools as they frequently get | | | | take your NCLEX-PN licensing exam. |
| more qualified applicants to their programs than they | | | | Once you are ready to move on to an RN degree or |
| are able to handle. | | | | BSN, you will find many accredited programs where |
| In some cases, getting into an accredited RN | | | | you can complete the entire program online while you |
| program can involve being placed on a waiting list for | | | | continue to work. This can be one of the most |
| anywhere from 6 months to well over 3 years. | | | | affordable ways to complete your nursing education |
| Before you get discouraged, there is a fast track | | | | as many employers will offer financial assistance |
| way to jump start your career as a nurse by | | | | including tuition reimbursement or in some cases |
| becoming a licensed practical nurse (LPN). In some | | | | financing it entirely provided that you continue to |
| parts of the country, these are referred to as | | | | work for the same employer upon completion. If you |
| licensed vocational nursing (LVN) programs. They | | | | want to get your career as a nurse started right |
| perform the same job function and the difference in | | | | away, enrolling in an accredited LPN program can be |
| name is based purely upon location. | | | | one of the fastest and most rewarding ways to |
| LPN programs are often described as fast track | | | | reach your goal. |
| nursing programs because they can usually be | | | | Within nine to 12 months, you will be working in a |
| completed in under a year of study and without | | | | clinical setting with patients and enhancing your |
| having to go on a waiting list for a traditional nursing | | | | knowledge along the way. This will allow you to |
| school. After completing the program and gaining | | | | unlock some of your earning potential within a very |
| some experience, it can be much easier to go on to | | | | short period of time and keep you from facing the |
| get an RN degree. One of the biggest advantages of | | | | mountain of student loan debt that many people |
| taking this path is that you can quickly start your | | | | emerging from a traditional nursing school program |
| career as an LPN nurse, gain valuable experience, and | | | | are left to deal with. Becoming a licensed practical |
| earn a respectable living while you work towards | | | | nurse can quickly get your nursing career off the |
| your RN. | | | | ground and could be one of the best decisions you |
| Even if you are working right now, there are several | | | | will ever make! |