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Advantages of Practical Nursing

If you have always dreamed of becoming a nurse, starting a career in practical nursing may be the perfect choice for you. As a licensed practical nurse, you have the opportunity to help people and make a difference in their lives every day when you go to work.

There are many advantages of choosing a career in practical nursing, such as being able to start your career quicker, the opportunity to advance your nursing career, and enjoying more meaningful work.

Start Your Career Quicker

One of the top advantages for those who want to become a licensed practical nurse is the ability to start their career quicker. Most practical nursing programs are completed in 12 months, which means that you can finish school and graduate faster.LPN scaled e1633712999529
In comparison, many other healthcare degree programs take years to complete. Nursing programs at more traditional schools require years of general education classes before you are even accepted into nursing school, with many never being accepted at all.

At United, we designed our Practical Nursing program to be direct admission. This means that you don’t have to waste precious time and money taking years of general education classes. For those who are accepted into the Practical Nursing program at United, you will start your nursing classes immediately. Our direct admission policy allows you to get into your dream nursing career faster.

Advance Your Nursing Career

There is a positive job outlook for those who choose to pursue a career as a practical nurse. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there will be about 60,700 job openings for licensed practical nurses on average each year for the next decade in the United States. The growth rate for LPNs during the same time period is projected to be 9%, which means healthcare employers will need to hire even more LPNs in the future.

Starting your healthcare career as a licensed practical nurse gives you the opportunity for upward career mobility in the future. Since those choosing a career as an LPN are able to finish school so quickly and get started in their careers sooner, they gain valuable real-world experience that will be extremely helpful in any future educational pursuits.

For example, some people start their careers as an LPN and work for a couple years, and then go back to school to earn a degree in registered nursing. With LPN to RN bridge programs, this process can be even more streamlined. For those who want to go even further, there are also nursing master’s degrees that you could pursue.

Enjoy More Meaningful Work

Another top advantage of becoming an LPN is the opportunity to enjoy more meaningful and fulfilling work. When people are having health issues and interacting with healthcare professionals, this is when they need supported the most. As a nurse, you can offer your patients the kindness, compassion, and caring nature that will make a huge difference for them in tough moments.

Nurses not only get to provide comfort to their patients, but they also get to empower them and their families to take care of their health. For example, if a patient comes in with an open wound, as a nurse you will care for the wound and instruct the patient how to care for the wound themselves once they get home. By empowering the patient with information on how to correctly care for their wound at home, you are lessening the chance of complications like an infection.

United’s Practical Nursing Program

Our direct admission Practical Nursing program here at United offers students the ability to train for a new career as a licensed practical nurse and graduate in only 12 months. Students complete comprehensive nursing courses and are prepared to sit for the NCLEX-PN* exam.

While completing their practical nursing training, students learn a variety of hands-on skills including how to conduct physical assessments, care for wounds, perform IV therapy, monitor vital signs, collect medical specimens, and perform routine lab tests.

Upon graduation, practical nursing professionals have the opportunity to work in different types of healthcare facilities, such as hospitals, rehabilitation centers, clinics, doctor’s offices, and long-term care facilities.

We offer Practical Nursing programs at both our Irwin Campus and our Mt. Braddock Campus, so you can train for your new career closer to home. Contact us today to start your path to an exciting practical nursing career!

 

*Passing the NCLEX – PN exam is required to become a Practical Nurse.