The type of job an LPN does will vary, depending on the type of employer and the setting. An LPN in a hospital setting will have a different scope of practice as compared to the LPN in a home health care setting. Basically, the work of an LPN is to help treat people who are injured or sick and are under the supervision of a registered nurse or doctor. They perform many different activities, and LPN tuition ensures that they are more than capable of performing all their tasks with confidence and efficiency.
Many Licensed Practical Nurses opt to further their education and pursue a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing and Registered Nurse license, but because they already have a level of training, less time is needed to get their bachelor’s degree.
Make Sure Your College Offers What You Are After
You will have no trouble finding quality LPN schools on the Internet. Before you join any college or university for tuition, make sure that the facility is producing competent students with high pass rates. All the colleges offer a broad range of programs, both in the classroom as well as hand-on-training, and every state and college has their own set of rules that the facility must comply with.
The Board of Nursing makes sure that all schools are teaching the same thing. Students are taught the theories of nursing as well as gaining clinical experience. After the student successfully completes the program, they become eligible to take the NCLEX -PN exam. You will also need to determine if the college or school you want to attend offers more advanced programs in the field of nursing. You want to make sure that whatever branch you want to go into, the right certificate, diploma and degree courses are available.
Acceptance Criteria For Tuition
For most LPN tuition programs there will be certain acceptance criteria; but this also varies from college to college and state to state:
- you should have a high school diploma or GED
- some colleges require a goal statement
- two letters of recommendation – a personal and professional one
- resume
- all certifications
- college transcripts where applicable
- sometimes ACT testing scores are required
Apart from that, other checks are requested, including:
- urine drug test
- criminal background clearance
- TB and Hepatitis B vaccine
Types Of LPN Tuition
- LPN to BSN – Getting a BSN degree will ensure you are able to get better jobs and a wide area of setting in nursing. With a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, you will be able to take on more responsibilities. A BSN degree will take two years to complete after your LPN certificate. During this tuition you will need to do an internship and pass your nursing certification exam.
- Post graduate qualifications (MSN, PHD) – With your BSN complete, you may want to be able to teach others and for this you can enter an MSN program. MSN programs will take up to two years to complete. MSN programs can be completed full time or online at your convenience. other patients a sponge bath.
LPN Tuition Costs
Most LPN training programs take anything between one or two years to complete. The tuition is offered in vocation and community colleges. Tuition costs will be more expensive at a university than a community college for instance or if you do the course online. Many LPN’s are prepared to pay the extra cost because they like the idea of putting the name of the university down on their curriculum vitae.
The standard rate for LPN tuition will be anything between $10,000 to $25,000 in fees, bearing in mind that there are cheaper options, and schools operated and funded by the state are also known for offering lower tuition fees. Other expenses like accommodation, books, uniform as well as medical equipment will also need to be added in. Once you have graduated you will then need to get your licence, and for this an examination fee is required.
Some Of The Hidden Costs Of Tuition
With LPN tuition there will be costs beyond your actual tuition. Higher education is not cheap, so unless you are awarded a scholarship, you’ll be paying thousands of dollars a year for your education. The United States has thousands of nursing schools, colleges and universities spread across the different states, and the cost of your education will be influence by the institution you choose.
There are always compulsory non tuition fees payable on enrollment at certain colleges over and above your tuition fees. Charges for software, college trips and study resources which are applicable to your program will also need to be considered. For instance your college may want you to have medical accessories like a blood pressure cuff, scrubs as well as a stethoscope. Other costs which are not included in tuition fees include things like registration fees, application fees, lab fees, parking costs and book costs. Not only that if you have a child while you are studying, you may need to factor in the cost of a day care center or a nanny to watch your child. There are many LPN programs and they all have different tuition costs. There are colleges in some of the more affluent states that will ask you for about $20,000 in fees while other start at about $10,000.
The cost of schooling will also depend on the length of the program you are attending, and a private school that offers a four-year bachelor’s degree in nursing will be more expensive than a nursing community school offering the same program. The location of the school also plays a role in the amount of tuition, and it makes sense that if you are attending a school in another state, your tuition rates will be higher because you are paying for out-of-state tuition.
Community colleges often give low tuition rates; the tuition rate is strictly dependent on your college of choice, and if you fancy attending a private college, the tuition fees will be higher when compared to a public or state college. The fees you pay will also depend on the program you are pursuing, and in addition to standard tuition fees, you may also pay extra costs for clinical training. For your clinical training you may even need to invest in another pair of sturdier nursing shoes to wear while working clinical hours, simply because you will be spending a lot of time on your feet.
College tuition is on the increase and financing college tuition is not easy. For students who can’t pay for a four-year degree, an associate’s degree is an affordable option. The biggest consideration in how much your nursing degree tuition will cost is which education path you pursue. Do you intend doing a two-year associate degree in nursing, a three year diploma program or a four-year bachelor of science degree in nursing program?
Room and board rates are increasing too and out-of-state students have to pay different amounts for board depending on their meal plan as well as their room configuration. At some universities the cost of board added to the tuition fees amounts to $20,300.
Nursing School Tuition Savings
Nursing students everywhere need to take advantage of educational benefit programs which their employers offer. There are many healthcare organizations who recognize the advantages of providing tuition assistance or tuition reimbursement benefits for their employees who are wanting to further their careers by studying further. Studying for another nursing qualification is an excellent way to stay current in your field and to become more valuable to your employer.
Financial Aid For Tuition
For students who feel that the cost of LPN tuition is beyond their means, financial aid is available.Many nursing schools offer scholarships and grants, and for this, students will need to complete a form and meet all the requirements set out by the particular college and state. Make a point of checking with the professional association to find out if they offer nursing scholarships. Deserving students can apply for scholarships and grants which do not need to be paid back. A student loan, on the other hand, will need to be repaid month by month.
You can also consider applying for financial assistance. Federal Student Aid offers different options for students who cannot afford tuition. Students can complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to become eligible for financial help. It is a good idea to do your research at the college or university you are wanting to attend to find out about their awards and financing opportunities.
Conclusion
Many colleges are facing budget crises and are considering tuition hikes for their students. Parents and students are becoming desperate about the rising tuition costs and they are applying at lower cost colleges. There are colleges in the United States offering tuition free options for attending college. Some of them are need or merit-based but you need to make sure that you do your research because some of these tuition-free universities have strict admission policies.