Delaware LPN Programs

In today’s economy with so many people losing their jobs, the job market is not nearly as secure as it once was. There are some professions that are highly unlikely to lack placement and one of these professions is practical or vocational nursing. The supply of licensed practice nurses is far from supplying the demand for these nurses today. Training for the LPN will run 9-14 months and provides an in-depth and intense education. It will offer the individual excellent job security with consistent pay raises, strong benefits packages and potential bonuses. It is a job that is both rewarding and humbling. An LPN will work under the direction of an RN or doctor and will serve the public in any number of areas, depending on what employment setting or nursing specialty triggers their interest after graduation.

The LPN is the “hands-on” nurse; they have the majority of patient contact and will get to know their patient in greater depth than the RN or doctor. The LPN will be responsible for measuring vital signs, documentation of daily conditions, implementing the plans of care set forth by the RN and doctor, changing wound dressings, bathing the patient, feeding the patient and assisting the patient with regular toileting. Some facilities train and allow the LPN to start IVs and watch over them. Other facilities will only allow the LPN to maintain the IV or discontinue the IV line. They are trained to test blood sugar levels, administer medications and injections and read oxygen levels while monitoring the correct level of oxygen liters.

Some facilities will allow the LPN to draw blood for tests while other facilities do not. No matter where the LPN is employed, facility policy will always determine what the nurse can or cannot do. The LPN is always under Delaware state guidelines of practice since they are licensed by the Delaware state board of nursing and they are working within the the state bounds.

Typical LPN training course subject matter includes human anatomy and physiology, learning critical thinking skills, medication administration and the calculation of dosages in any form from pills to injections to IV therapy, nutrition, chemistry, child growth and development, labor and delivery, death/dying and hospice, medical disorders and diagnostic testing. These classes only cover some of the classroom and online courses of study that might be included in any LPN program. The ultimate goal for all LPN programs is to provide enough training for students to be able to take and pass the NCLEX-PN exam.

Some places of employment that may be available for an LPN would include rehabilitation centers, long-term care facilities, hospitals, small care or group homes, home health agencies, hospice agencies, dialysis centers and doctors offices. Practical nurses may find other doors open to them as well. Wages can fluctuate from $15-$26 per hour or more depending on the number of years that the nurse has been employed and what type of employment experience they have.

List of LPN Programs in Delaware

Delaware LPN Schools

Our directory lists all Delaware schools that currently offer approved practical nursing programs. The Delaware state board of nursing is the regulatory organization in charge of approving LPN education programs. To gain approval, educational institutions must demonstrate to the board of nursing that their program sufficiently prepares students with the knowledge and skills expected of a licensed practical nurse. The on-going approval of a program depends largely upon their graduation rates and the NCLEX pass rates of their graduates. If a program starts to produce poor results in either of these two categories they can quickly lose their state approval or be placed on probationary approval status until their results improve.

Required LPN Classes in Delaware

The specific course work required in practical nursing programs can differ from institution to institution. However, there are some subjects that are almost always included in most programs. Typical LPN classes include Anatomy & Physiology, Basic Nursing Skills, Nutrition, Math for Nurses, Psychology and Pharmacology. Topics covered within these subjects prepare students with the knowledge base required to perform the work of a licensed practical nurse.

How to Become an LPN in Delaware

Start the process by researching available education programs to find one that suits your schedule and preferences. The next step is to enroll and complete an LPN training program that is approved by the Delaware Board of Nursing. Most LPN programs take roughly one year to finish. Upon successful completion of all course requirements you are eligible to challenge the NCLEX-PN exam. After passing the test you can register with the state of Delaware as a licensed practical nurse and begin searching for employment.