Vocational Nurse Degrees


The amount of variety in the profession of nursing is endless. It is a profession that offers an incredible number of opportunities to its members. Likewise, there are a variety of ways that one can be trained to become a nurse. Nursing, as a profession, is unique in that there are multiple educational levels that are available to prepare an individual to start working. A Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN), also known as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) depending upon the state in which the license is issued, is the shortest educational program that one can complete to become a nurse.
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Educational programs that prepare students to sit for LVN/LPN licensure are readily available. They are typically offered by community colleges and technical schools. Educational program content is regulated by the corresponding State Board of Nursing. Entrance requirements for LVN/LPN include a high school diploma. Programs are 12 to 18 months in length, and are often geared towards working adults by offering weekend and evening classes. Tuition for LVN/LPN coursework usually starts in the $2,000 range. There are numerous scholarships, grants, loans, and tuition reimbursement plans that can be helpful in funding an education in nursing. College credits earned in LVN/LPN programs can be transferred to an associate's degree or undergraduate degree program if further education is desired.

Vocational Nurse Degrees offered by Top Nursing Schools

Bethel University

Minnesota.
Nursing Education; Nursing.

CDM Technical Training Institute

New Jersey.
Nurses Aide CNA; Nurse Assistant.

Concorde

California; Colorado; Florida; Missouri; Oregon; Tennessee; Texas.
Vocational Nursing; Vocational Nurse; Practical Nursing; Nursing; Nurse Aide Training.

Excelsior College

Online School.
Applied Nursing; Nursing.

Harrison College

Indiana.
Nursing.

Lincoln Technical Institute

Connecticut; Florida; New Jersey; Pennsylvania.
Nursing.

National American University Campus

Kansas; Missouri.
Nursing; Practical Nursing.

National College

Kentucky.
AS- Nursing.

Prism Career Institute

New Jersey.
Practical Nursing.

Rasmussen College

Florida; Minnesota.
Registered Nursing; Practical Nursing.

Robert Morris University

Illinois.
Nursing.

Summit Career College

California.
Licensed Vocational Nurse.

Sumner College

Oregon.
Practical Nursing.

Akron Institute

Ohio.
Nursing - RN.

American Career College

California.
Vocational Nursing.

Brown Mackie College

Indiana; Kansas; Kentucky; Ohio.
Practical Nursing; Applied Nursing.

Career Point College

Texas.
Nurse Aide.

CDI College

British Columbia; Quebec.
Practical Nursing; Nursing Assistant.

CDM Institute

New Jersey.
Nurses Aide CNA; Nurse Assistant.

Charter College

California.
Vocational Nursing.

Colorado Technical University

Missouri.
Practical Nursing.

Computer Career Center

New Mexico; Texas.
Practical Nurse; Vocational Nurse; Nurse Assistant/Home Health Aid.

Dover Business College

New Jersey.
LPN Licensed Practical Nurse.

ECPI College of Technology

Virginia.
Pratical Nursing.

Everest College

Arizona; California.
Nursing.

Fortis College

Arizona; Florida; Ohio; Utah; Virginia.
Practical Nursing; Nursing.

Herzing University

Florida.
Nursing - LPN To RN Bridge.

Kaplan College

California; Indiana; Nevada.
Nursing; Vocational Nursing; Nurse Assistant Training Program; Nurse Assistant; Practical Nursing.

Kaplan College KHE

Texas.
Nurse Aide; Vocational Nursing.

Kaplan University

Online School; Iowa; Nebraska.
Legal Nurse Consulting; Forensic Nursing; Legal Nurse Consulting - Accelerated; Forensic Nursing - Accelerated; Practical Nursing.

Keiser Career College

Florida.
Practical Nurse; RN Bridge Program.

Keiser University

Florida.
Nursing AS.

Medical Careers Institute

North Carolina; South Carolina; Virginia.
Practical Nursing; Registered Nursing.

MedTech College

Indiana.
Registered Nursing; Practical Nursing.

Mildred Elley

New York.
Practical Nursing.

New England Institute of Technology

Rhode Island.
Nursing.

Pioneer Pacific College

Oregon.
Practical Nursing.

Pittsburgh Technical Institute

Pennsylvania.
Practical Nursing.

Porter and Chester Institute

Not all programs offered at all campuses

Connecticut.
Practical Nursing.

Sanford-Brown College

Missouri.
Nursing.

Sanford-Brown Institute

Florida.
Nursing.

South College Asheville

North Carolina.
Applied Science - Nursing.

South Texas Vocational Technical Institute

Texas.
Nurse Assistant.

Southwestern College

Ohio.
Nursing.

Spencerian College

Kentucky.
Nursing; Practical Nursing.

Stenberg College

British Columbia.
Practical Nursing; Psychiatric Nursing; Nursing Unit Clerk.

Stevens-Henager College

Utah.
Nursing.

Tri-State Business Institute

Pennsylvania.
Practical Nursing.

Tri-State Institute

Alabama.
Practical Nursing.

University Canada west Academies

British Columbia.
Practical Nursing.

Vancouver Career College

British Columbia.
Practical Nursing.


Upon graduation from an accredited LVN/LPN program, students are then eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN). This test is commonly referred to as "state boards". Passing this exam is required to be licensed as an LVN/LPN in an individual state. Some nurses hold licenses and work in multiple states at one time. The state in which they are licensed will define their official title (LVN vs. LPN) and their scope of practice.

The role of the LVN/LPN in healthcare varies. Some geographic regions and areas of specialty in nursing utilize more LVN/LPNs than others. LVN/LPNs always function under the direction of an RN, MD, or dentist. LVN/ LPNs typically care for patients and supervise nursing aides or assistants. Performance of certain specific nursing tasks, such as intravenous (IV) medication and blood product administration, by LVN/LPNs is prohibited by some states. As a nurse it is important to be aware of any restrictions to one's scope of practice as outlined by the state that issued one's license. The institution that one is employed by is also likely to have specific policies regarding LVN/LPN job duties.

The demand for nurses is continuing to grow as healthcare technologies continue to advance and baby boomers continue to age. Job settings for LVN/LPNs often include physician offices, clinics, long-term care facilities, hospitals, and rehab centers. LVN/LPNs provide a vital portion of nursing care in our healthcare system. The educational preparation to enter the nursing profession as an LVN/LPN may be the quickest, but remains stringent with a strong emphasis on clinical practice. Training as a Licensed Vocational Nurse or a Licensed Practical Nurse is a great way to enter the healthcare profession.