- nurse chris image by John Keith from Fotolia.com
Licensed practical nurses are professionals trained to carry out basic patient care. Certification is required to practice as an LPN in all states of the U.S., although requirements vary from state to state. Following are the requirements for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for becoming a licensed practical nurse. - Pennsylvania requires that all candidates for LPN programs clear a federal criminal background check and submit the Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance. Candidates must also have a high school diploma or GED. In addition, all candidates must pass the Psychological Services Bureau entrance test for health education programs.
- LPN candidates must complete a program approved by the Pennsylvania Board of Nursing. These programs are generally offered by vocational-technical and community colleges. The programs run for a full calendar year in most cases, and require study in the following disciplines: anatomy, physiology, microbiology, pharmacology, nutrition, medical surgery nursing, and three to four levels of fundamentals of nursing, which includes clinical experience. Some examples of Pa. approved LPN programs are: Central Susquehanna LPN Center (csiu.org/lpn) UPMC St. Margaret School of Nursing (upmc.com); and York County School of Technology (ycstech.org).
- Once an LPN candidate has completed all educational requirements, she is eligible to take the NCLEX-PN exam. There is a $200.00 fee for this exam, as of June, 2010, and it can take up to five hours to complete. Upon successful completion of the NCLEX-PN, the candidate may apply to the Pa. Board of Nursing for her license. There is a $35.00 application fee plus a $40.00 National Council of State Boards fee. Pennsylvania requires LPNs to renew their licenses every two years by June 30th, in even-numbered years.
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