South Carolina LPN Programs

Browse our list of state approved LPN certification programs

Nursing is a very practical and psychologically rewarding field to enter into. The reward is both emotional and financial, because nurses receive excellent pay and also get to help those in need as their primary job function. Millions of baby boomers are retiring and many have enough money to pay for visits from independent nurses, which creates excellent in-home care jobs for LPNs. Many current nurses are over the age of fifty and will soon be entering retirement, so hospitals will need to hire more nurses in order to fill the job openings. In spite of the recession, the long-term job outlook for a hard working nurse with a professional attitude is very good.

Practical nurses are trained in providing essential health care services and perform much of the footwork that would consume too much of doctors’ costly time. It takes one year of education to become a licensed practical nurse, but doctors must complete an eight-year degree program to practice. The difference means that nurses are cheaper to employ and more available than doctors, and hospitals could not function without them. While most nurses cannot prescribe restricted medicines, they can perform daily care and offer over-the-counter medicine in prescribed dosages. Nurses give patients their initial interview and measure height and weight before the doctor arrives.

Many practical nursing programs require incoming students to be certified in CPR, which includes rescue breathing and the use of a defibrillator, and the least expensive way to obtain this certification is through the American Red Cross. Before enrolling, the student must also complete an orientation and pass a medical and criminal background screening.

LPN training programs consist of everything from human anatomy to measuring drug dosages (basic math). Beginning students must learn about physiology and memorize vocabulary related to the body and other medical terminology. Many practical nurses become medical transcriptionists because they understand the terms and how they relate to medical practice. In later classes, students learn first aid and the advanced treatment of patients. Virtually all practical nursing programs require some amount of in-hospital training where students get to work with medical equipment and actual patients.

Nursing involves taking care of patients and delivering medicine, so as one could imagine, precision is highly valued. Aside from technical skills and knowledge of health conditions, nurses should also carry themselves with dignity and professionalism. Patients do not want to receive care from a person who does not seem to take their job seriously. Being a practical nurse demands a high level of accountability and professional integrity.

List of LPN Programs in South Carolina (SC)

South Carolina LPN Schools

Our directory lists all South Carolina schools that currently offer approved practical nursing programs. The South Carolina 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 South Carolina

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 South Carolina

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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina as a licensed practical nurse and begin searching for employment.