Nursing Degrees

The quickest way to enter the field of in most states is by becoming an LPN. Many universities and colleges offer extensive LPN programs as part of their curriculum, both on campus as well as online. This article explores two types of nursing degrees; LPN and RN.

LPN Programs-Eligibility criteria

The minimum age requirement to enroll into an accredited LPN programs is usually 18 years of age. To be eligible to enroll in an LPN program, you must have a high school diploma or a GED certificate. Most colleges and universities have an LPN entrance exam for admission into the program. This is a general academic skill test. To get more information regarding what the exam may cover, you should check with the school you wish to enroll and its admission requirements and the entrance test procedure.

LPN General Curriculum:

While the curriculum for LPN programs varies from school to school, a general list of classes for any LPN program may include the following topics:

• Fundamentals of Nursing
• Intro to Pharmacology
• Contemporary Health Issues Vocational Adjustment
• Nutrition and Diet Therapy
• Anatomy/Physiology
• Psychiatric Nursing
• Medical-Surgical Nursing
• Maternal Child Health
• Growth and Development.

Besides these courses, students may also be required to take courses in chemistry, biology, emergency medical care, and first aid. Many LPN programs require students to undergo clinical practice in patient care (under the supervision of senior professionals) as a means of increasing their practical experience. This experience proves valuable when the students take their NCLEX-PN exam in order to obtain their license.

Registered Nurse Programs:

A registered nurse program is a course of study in nursing with the ultimate aim of preparing students to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) and earn their license to practice nursing. Prospective RNs could choose one of the three educational paths: a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN), or a diploma from an approved and accredited nursing program.

As far as the curriculum and learning is concerned in RN programs, students gain a lot of clinical work experience and work under supervision in various hospital settings such as surgery, psychiatry, maternity and pediatrics. Clinical experience is not extended to hospitals alone; many students gain hands on experience in long term care facilities, home health agencies, and public as well as private health departments and even in walk-in clinics. Students get to study courses in nursing, physiology, anatomy, chemistry, nutrition, psychology, microbiology and other sciences.

Job outlook for LPN and RN’s:

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses is expected to grow by 22 percent from 2010 to 2020, faster than the average for all occupations. On the other hand, the employment of Registered Nurses is expected to grow by 26 percent from 2010 to 2020. The median annual wage for LPN’s were recorded at $42,400 and at $67,930for RN’s respectively, for the month of May 2012, according to BLS.