Is a Career AS A Licensed Practical Nurse for you?

1. Is a Career AS A Licensed Practical Nurse for you? Here are some answers to your questions!

2. What is a Licensed Practical Nurse? • Licensed practical nurses (LPN’s) care for ill, injured, convalescent and disabled persons in hospitals, clinics, doctors’ offices, private homes, nursing homes, medical care facilities and similar institutions. The duties of LPN’s vary according to each state’s nurse practice regulations.

3. Typical Duties • LPN’s provide direct client care across the lifespan. • The practical nurse graduate is prepared to function in the role of provider of care and manager of care for individuals and families with common health problems.  • This nurse functions dependently under supervision as a health care team member in a variety of health care settings.

4. Working Hours • Various Shifts-8 hours, 10 hours, 12 hours

5. What are the steps to enrollment in the Practical Nursing Diploma Program?

6. PROCEDURES • Complete and submit a York Technical College Application • Take the placement test or submit SAT/ACT scores • Submit college transcripts (if applicable) • Meet with an Admissions Counselor • Be accepted to the Pre-Practical Nursing program • Work with your advisor each term • Meet requirements for program goal • Meet with an Admissions Counselor • Pay the $50.00 wait list fee • Pay the $100.00 deposit when seat is available • Maintain 2.0 GPR each semester • Fulfill entry criteria Physical Exam Criminal Background Check Health and liability insurance

7. Courses To Take In High School • Algebra • Chemistry • College Preparatory English • Medical Terminology

8. What job opportunities exist?

9. Work under the direction of dentists, physicians or registered nurses • May work in modern, well-equipped medical facilities, nursing homes, doctors’ offices, or care for patients in their homes.

10. What salary will I make after completing this program? • Nationally, the middle fifty percent earned between $32,945 and $46.258.

11. Things To Consider • Curriculum is rigorous – requires extensive reading, study time and good time management • Program runs concurrently – starts only once each fall; if you withdraw or fail any PN course you have to reapply to be able to reenter • Critical thinking required on the job • Stress level – medium to high • Must be a team player as well as able to work independently • Very interesting and rewarding field of study

12. Make an Informed and Realistic Choice • LPN’s deal with sick and dying people. • There is a great deal of stress for RN’S due to staffing issues. • There is a great deal of odor with some diseases such as cancer and gangrene. • LP’s deal with excrement, urine, vomitus, blood, bed sores, sad and angry people and patients with mental health issues.

13. How much time should I expect to spend in this program to be successful?

14. The program is very demanding! • The program is a full-time, Monday through Friday daytime program. • Between the coursework and the clinical rotations, successful students should plan to devote approximately 40 hours per week each semester to their education.

15. This schedule can make it challenging to be employed full-time while enrolled in the program. • For students who must work, it is highly recommended that they work no more than 20 hours per week.

16. How stressful is the clinical environment?

17. The program can be quite stressful. Classroom material must be retained for the clinical setting where students are acquiring hands on skills to make the connection between theory and practice. Students must be willing to become motivated, independent learners and accept constructive criticism while in the clinical setting.

18. Is there a great deal of physical work associated with this field?

19. Sitting, standing, walking, frequent bending, squatting, reaching, occasional kneeling, twisting, and exposure to changes in temperature/humidity and fumes are common.

20. Included in the essential functions of a nurse is the lifting, carrying, positioning and moving of clients both manually and by stretcher. • Both hands are used for power grip, speed and precision work. • Use of both feet is required.

21. What type of special skills do I need to possess in order to be a successful Licensed Practical Nurse?

22. Responsible/reliable • Flexible/adaptable • Good communication skills • Like working with people and equipment • Strong interest in science • Able to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking • Able to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagrammatic form.

23. Make an INFORMED and REALISTIC CHOICE • The grading scale for the PN program for both coursework and clinicals: • Students MUST maintain a MINIMUM grade point average of 80 in all Nursing coursework in order to remain in the program. • A minimum of 80 is required in all clinical coursework. Below 80 is considered unacceptable clinical performance.

24. In other words… • Students who earn any grade below a C in any Nursing course will not be eligible to continue. • It is very difficult for students to work more than 20 hours per week and be successful in this program.

25. What are the estimated expenses for the program?

26. Tuition & fees for three semesters(in county)$5244 • Textbooks $650 • Uniforms $150 • Stethescope (Recommended) $60 • Liability Insurance $15 • Health Insurance $944 -$1370 (if purchased through York Technical College) • Physical Exam $250 • Hepatitis B Exam (Recommended) $240 • TB Testing $45 • Criminal Background Check $54.50 • CPR Certification $50 • Student Nurse Assoc.(Recommended) $60 • Computer Assisted Testing $300 • NCCLEX-PN Licensure $200 • SC Licensing $77 • Graduation Fee/Cap/Gown $35 • Nursing Pin $65PN/$55/ADN • Transportation to Clinical Sites Variable

27. Will I be required to complete additional training once I become a Licensed Practical Registered Nurse? • Continuing education in the form of workshops, classes, etc. is the norm for all medical professionals and is required to maintain licensure.

28. Can You Picture Yourself in a Career As Licensed Practical Nurse?

29. If so, you may have additional questions. • Please feel free to contact: • Jane FleischerProgram Manager, at 981-7046