The goal of this program is to prepare the graduate to take and pass the Louisiana Practical Nursing Exam, thus gaining their license, and gain employment as a Licensed Practical Nurse.
Approximate completion time: Day—15 months
NATURE OF THE WORK: Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) care for the sick injured, convalescent, and disabled under the direction of physicians and registered nurses.
Most LPNs provide basic bedside care, taking vital signs such as temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and respiration. They also prepare and give injections and enemas, monitor catheters, apply dressings, treat bedsores, and give alcohol rubs and massages. LPNs monitor their patients and report adverse reactions to medications or treatments. They collect samples for testing, perform routine laboratory tests, feed patients, and record food and fluid intake and output. To help keep patients comfortable, LPNs assist with bathing, dressing, and personal hygiene. In states where the law allows, they may administer prescribed medicines or start intravenous fluid. Some LPNs help deliver, care for, and feed infants. Experienced LPNs may supervise nursing assistants and aides.
In addition to providing routine bedside care, LPNs in nursing care facilities help to evaluate residents' needs, develop care plans, and supervise the care provided by nursing aides. In doctors' offices and clinics, they also may make appointments, keep records, and perform other clerical duties. LPNs working in private homes may prepare meals and teach family members simple nursing tasks.
WORKING CONDITIONS: Most Licensed Practical Nurses in hospitals and nursing care facilities work a 40-hour week, but because patients need round-the-clock care, some work nights, weekends, and holidays. They often stand for long periods and help patients move in bed, stand or walk.
EMPLOYMENT: LPNs held about 726,000 jobs in 2008. About 27 percent of LPNs worked in hospitals, 25 percent in nursing care facilities, and another 12 percent in offices of physicians. Others worked for home health care services, employment services, community care facilities for the elderly, public and private educational services, outpatient care centers, and Federal, State, and local government agencies. About 1 in 5 worked part time.
JOB OUTLOOK: Employment of LPNs is expected to grow about as fast as average for all occupations through 2018 in response to long-term care needs of an increasingly elderly population and the general growth of health care services. Replacement needs will be a major source of job openings, as many workers leave the occupation permanently. Applicants for jobs in hospitals may face competition as the number of hospital jobs for LPNs declines; however, rapid employment growth is projected in other health care industries, with the best job opportunities occurring in nursing care facilities and in home health care services.
Employment of LPNs in hospitals is expected to continue to decline. Sophisticated procedures once performed in hospitals are being performed in physicians' offices and in outpatient care centers such as ambulatory surgical and emergency medical centers, largely because of advances in technology. Consequently, employment of LPNs in most health care industries outside the traditional hospital setting is projected to grow faster than average.
EARNINGS: Median annual earnings of LPNs were $39,030 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $33,360 and $46,710. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $28,260, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $53,580.
- Information taken from the Occupational Outlook Handbook 2010-2011
PRACTICAL NURSING PROGRAM - DELTA, SLIDELL
Major Occupations for which graduates will be qualified:
O*NET Code Title of Occupation Title
PROGRAM COSTS:
|
Registration Fee: |
$ 100. |
|
Tuition through Graduation: |
$ 22,000. |
|
Books and Supplies: |
included* |
|
Total Cost: |
$22,100. |
| Required Fees paid to Outside Entities: |
|
| Admissions Requirements: |
|
| Fingerprint fee (LA St. Pol.) |
$ 26. |
| Fingerprint Processing fee |
$ 10. |
| State Board of PN Eval fee |
$ 50. |
| Pre-Licensing and Related Fees: |
|
| FBI Record Request Fee |
$ 18. |
| Fingerprint Processing Fee |
$ 10. |
| NCLEX Registration Fee |
$ 200. |
| LA State Board of PN Examination Test Fee |
$ 100. |
*All required textbooks, workbooks, software, lab supplies, two sets of uniforms, etc. needed to complete the program are included with tuition. Incidentals such as notebooks, pens, pencils, etc. are not included and must be provided by the student. For more information of tuition policies and additional charges see the college catalog.
COMPLETION DATA FOR 7/1/2009 - 6/30-2010:
|
Beginning
Enrollment |
Students
Started |
Drops |
Grads |
Ending
Enrollment |
| 27 |
59 |
11 |
22 |
53 |
Graduation Rate: 66.7%
Graduates Completing within the normal program time: 22
Normal Completion time Day Students / 15 Months
Normal Completion time Night Students / 22 Months
GRADUATE EMPLOYMENT DATA:
Average Entry-Level Hourly Wage: $16.94
(This data is taken from information voluntarily furnished for graduates during the time period)
Graduate Employment Rate: 100.0%
(This rate is prepared annual using the formulas and methodologies required by our accrediting commission)
GRADUATE INDEBTEDNESS:
The following data are the median debt levels for graduates of this program upon graduation.
|
Title IV Loans* |
$ 9,269. |
|
Institutional Loans** |
$ 0. |
|
Private Loans |
$ none |
|
Total Loans |
$ 9,269. |
*Title IV Loans include Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Student Loans
**Institutional Loans would include any money due to the college when the student graduates.
