LVN Education: Training as a Licensed Vocational Nurse

While most people on the street simply talk about “a nurse”, in professional circles the term LVN, or licensed vocational nurse is used. In Canada the term RPN, or registered practical nurse, is used. The course as developed for LVN education could be called a “foundation course”. This means that although it is a fast track qualification, allowing you to start working sooner than other students taking other courses, it still leaves room for further study and career advancement.

LVN education covers a wide range of subjects, ranging from basic subjects like chemistry, biology, nutrition and physiology, to more involved coursework such as emergency medical care, pregnancy, child growth and development. Possibilities for online study are available for the theoretical part of the course, at your own pace and at your own convenience, should you require the flexibility. The practical, or clinical portion of the education, needs to be obtained from a suitable healthcare facility. Due to the available knowledge base, and access to all facilities, hospital nursing schools tend to produce the most well trained nursing staff.

There are two pre-enrollment requirements for entering LVN education:

Firstly, you have to have a high school diploma, or be in possession of a GED.
Secondly, you will need to finish the Essential Medical Bioscience course. This requirement may be waived for those students with previous healthcare training, according to the discretion of the institution offering the course. The criteria may vary slightly as to what is acceptable, from one nursing school to the next.

Depending on your capabilities, and the time you have available to commit, completion of the program (which consists of four modules) may take anything from one to two years. After having completed the program, you only need to pass the NCLEX-PN exam, or National Council Licensure Examination to be allowed to practice as a licensed vocational nurse. There are some states with different licensing exams, and some of these may require some extra study. You will have to ascertain the requirements of the Nursing Board in your particular state.

All in all, LVN education still provides a fast track option to get your career up and running while students enrolled in other courses are still stuck in the classroom.