The Council of Practical Nurse Programs of New York State is a body that exists for the purpose of ensuring that prospective LPNs in the State of New York are able to have access to all of the information required to enter the profession in that state. specifically the Council of Practical Nurse Programs of New York State offers useful insight into the most frequently asked LPN questions as well as providing a comprehensive account of what schools are available and where. A quick search of their website will reveal all of your options to you and thereby improve your chances of speedy success.
Information For LPNs
One of the main advantages of the Council of Practical Nurse Programs of New York State is that it provides essential information for LPNs. In order to make things easier for you, the prospective LPN students, a summary of that information is provided here. The main questions LPN students and prospective LPN students ask are the following:
- What are the roles and responsibilities of a licensed practical nurse (LPN)?
- What are the educational requirements necessary for the position?
- What types of programs are there?
- What is the approximate cost of an LPN education?
- Do I receive a license upon completion of the program?
- Will it be hard to find a job after I graduate?
- Is becoming an LPN a stepping stone to a career as a registered nurse (RN)?
- If I attend nursing school in New York State, can I accept work in another state?
On the Council of Practical Nurse Programs of New York State website you can find answers to all of these queries. To begin with, the jobs and responsibilities of an LPN nurse are extremely basic, but also extremely important. Under the supervision of a registered nurse, or RN, you will provide basic patient care and monitor vital signs. You will assist patients with washing and dressing and you will also perform a number of small clinical tasks. The locations vary significantly, from emergency rooms to doctor’s offices. You will also be required to have the appropriate personality for the job. This includes aspects such as compassion and attention to detail. In order to be an LPN you have to complete an LPN training program. These are offered through vocational schools and technical colleges, as well as several hospitals. Some high schools also offer programs that prepare you for a career as an LPN. It is important that this program is accredited by the appropriate bodies and approved by the New York State Board of Nursing. If it is not you will find that the qualification you complete is not worth anything. It is also interesting to note that you can take part in an LPN program that either focuses on normal, traditional classes or that is more flexible, offering evening or even online lessons. It is important that the program you attend gives you instruction in both the theory and hands-on aspects of nursing, as both are necessary in order to become licensed as an LPN in the state of New York. The Council of Practical Nurse Programs of New York State exists to ensure that you find the best school for you within this area. The cost of your LPN training will depend largely on the school that you choose to attend. Generally speaking costs range between $3,000 and $7,000. There are also a number of additional costs that you may have to pay. Consider, for example, the textbooks you may be required to buy as well as the fact that you may have to pay for accommodation if you live far away form the school. You will need to inquire about the cost at each specific school listed on the Council of Practical Nurse Programs of New York State’s website in order to do a comprehensive price comparison.
Once you have completed the program through your accredited school, your job is not done yet. In order to be licensed as an LPN in the State of New York, you must take and pass the NCLEX-PN examination which is the national licensing examination for all LPNs in the entire country. Passing this examination will lead to approval of your licensing application through the New York State Board of Nursing. Your license will need to be renewed once every few years by completing necessary continuing education units and/or displaying proof that you have worked a certain number of hours as an LPN. Finding a job after you have become licensed should not be difficult at all as there are many jobs available. In fact the nursing industry is one of the few industries that are constantly on the increase and is expected to grow more than any other industry in the next few years. This effectively means that there are more jobs for prospective LPNs. However there are a number of factors that play a role in the job opportunities that you may have in New York State. For example, you will find that in certain cities you can earn more than in others. This is something that you will have to research and analyze for yourself. Becoming an LPN can be seen as your first step on a journey to greater things. For example, many nurses treat their LPN qualification as a stepping stone to becoming a registered nurse, or RN. Once you are a registered nurse you can then go on to specialize in a particular field and so on. The options are limitless if you only apply yourself to your education. The Council of Practical Nurse Programs of New York State is dedicated at helping you make the first step in your nursing career as effortlessly and quickly as possible. You can become a nurse in other states if you qualify as an LPN in New York. All you will need to do is study the requirements for being a nurse in one of those states. If you meet the requirements, you can apply for licensure in that state. If you do not you can see what measure can be taken to become eligible for licensure in that state. You are by no means limited to working just in New York State if you attend school there.
Links
In addition to simply providing information that prospective LPNs can use to make their decision regarding their way forward, the Council of Practical Nurse Programs of New York State also provides a list of useful Internet links for existing LPNs:
- Allnurses : This is a Nursing Community for Nurses that can be used for finding out information about nursing as an LPN. In addition there is an excellent message board and forum through which you can meet and discuss nursing issues with others in a similar position to you.
- If you are looking for nursing supplies and equipment, All Heart is the supplier for you.
- Cybernurse is an expansive site with a lot of good information for prospective LPNs.
- New York State Nurses Association is “the nation’s oldest and largest state professional association for registered nurses. It also is New York’s largest union solely dedicated to promoting the interests of RNs and their patients”.
- NYS Office of Professions, Nursing provides info on licensing and other regulations.
- Last but not least, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing is a “not-for-profit organization whose purpose is to provide an organization through which boards of nursing act and counsel together on matters of common interest and concern affecting the public health, safety and welfare, including the development of licensing examinations in nursing”.
Regional Councils
In addition to general membership, there are also 8 regions which the Council of Practical Nurse Programs of New York State is divided into:
- Central
- Genesee
- Long Island
- Mid Hudson
- NYC Metro
- Northeast
- Northern
- Western
School Locator
The main aim of this organization is to ensure that you have access to the best LPN programs available. Consequently it comes with a comprehensive school locator for the state of New York that you can access by visiting this link. By clicking on the correct area of New York State you will immediately have access to the schools offered there, making your search and decision substantially easier. It is important to remember that becoming an LPN is only the first step in your career. Once you are an LPN there are many doors open to you, and the Council of Practical Nurse Programs of New York State even provide tips and information regarding LPN to RN programs on its website. This does not mean that you have to move on in your career. If you are happy as an LPN, then that is wonderful. It is just important that you know what your career options are within the nursing industry.
