Practical Nursing (LPN)

A Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) provides hands-on nursing care, working under the direction of healthcare workers such as registered nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and physicians. This can include monitoring patients’ health, administering basic care, reporting patients’ concerns and updating health records.

For more insight into the role of an LPN, check out our blog post: What Does an LPN Do? A Closer Look at These Versatile Caregivers.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects strong job growth for LPNs from 2020 to 2030; with a national projected job growth of 9%, which is much faster than average and translates to an estimated 65,700 new jobs.7

The National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) is a nationwide examination for the licensing of nurses and the NCLEX-PN^®3 is the exam that must be passed in order to start working as an LPN.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the mean annual wage for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses was $48,070 in May 2021.9 This means half of working LPNs earned more than that figure and half earned less. Your employer, years of experience and where you work will influence your salary. For example, the mean annual LPN salary in FL is $47,860 and the mean annual LPN salary in MN is $51,160.4

For more info on LPN salary, check out our blog post: How Much Do LPNs Make? And 5 Other Questions You Want Answered.

As an LPN, you can work in long-term care facilities, assisted living centers, in-home healthcare, clinics, outpatient/ambulatory care centers, rehabilitation centers and more.

To learn more about the opportunities available to you, check out our blog post: Where Do LPNs Work? 10 Healthcare Settings They Serve In.

Practical nursing refers to licensed practical nurses (LPNs) who provide hands-on nursing care, working under the direction of healthcare workers such as registered nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and physicians. This can include monitoring patients' health, administering basic care, reporting patient concerns and updating health records. Many LPNs work in assisted living or residential services rather than in hospitals.

Professional nursing, on the other hand, refers to registered nurses who typically have a greater variety of job opportunities in the work environment. RNs often supervise others and count on their critical thinking skills to perform assessments and make judgments about patient care. RNs are more likely to work in hospitals in a variety of roles.

To learn more about the differences, check out our blog post: Practical Nursing vs. Professional Nursing: Understanding the Differences.

At Rasmussen University, you can earn your diploma in as few as 12 months, and after you pass the NCLEX-PN^®, you're set to begin working as an LPN.1 With eight start dates per year, you can get started in our program when it works best for you.

Though this is not a fully online Practical Nursing program, it does include some self-directed assessments and online coursework as a means to save time and money. The program is largely hands-on and campus-based—where you’ll get career-focused training through onsite clinicals. Plus, in the greater Tampa metro area, you can choose between weekday or evening and weekend course options.

Completing a state-approved educational program (earning your Diploma at Rasmussen University) and passing the NCLEX-PN^® exam.

At Rasmussen University, we’re here to help. Support services include academic advising, tutoring, financial aid for those who qualify, 24/7 technical support and more.

Having accreditation means the University has met established quality standards as set by the accrediting body. Achieving accreditation tells the public that an entity meets industry expectations for quality, and students can have confidence that quality control checks have been carried out by a third party.

Unlike many other nursing schools, there is no prerequisite coursework and there are no wait lists at many campuses for qualified applicants. You only need to apply once and you can begin your LPN classes when it’s convenient for you with our eight start dates a year.