Prepare for a new career sooner than you think
Have you always dreamed of being in the health care field, helping patients with their basic needs during appointments and stays? Gain the fundamental knowledge about the nursing profession and health care system by becoming a vocational nurse.
Learn the Fundamentals of Patient Care
- Learn foundational skills to care for patients from birth to the elder years.
- Program includes NCLEX-PN review to help you prepare for licensure exam.
- Full-time 12-month or Part-time 20-month program options available.
Practical Nursing Diploma Program Overview
Train to become an important member of the health care team—and to qualify to pursue roles in a variety of health care settings. Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) provide basic care to patients under the supervision of registered nurses (RNs) and physicians.
As an LPN, you could do everything from helping feed new babies, changing bandages in acute care, keeping chemotherapy patients comfortable during treatment, and helping older patients dress. You’ll also update patient charts and communicate important information to the rest of the health care team.
Students can earn their diploma through the full-time day-time program in as few as 12-months or part-time on evenings and weekends in as few as 20-months.
Schedule Your Personal Nursing Program Tour
Think you’d love to work as a practical nurse? Schedule your virtual or in-person Career Planning Session with Concorde Kansas City today to learn if our program can help you get there!
**Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projected national growth in job openings for licensed practical/vocational nurses 2022-2032 https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/licensed-practical-and-licensed-vocational-nurses.htm Projections are national. Local job market demand may vary.
Curriculum
Concorde Kansas City’s practical nursing diploma teaches the knowledge and skills you need to prepare to serve patients with a wide range of conditions and needs. You’ll learn practical skills for taking vital signs, inserting catheters and more in the classroom. Then, you’ll apply those skills during clinical experience in a variety of real-world settings.
Nursing Learning Concepts
- Foundations of Nursing
- Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology
- Human Growth and Development
- Introduction to Medical-Surgical Nursing
- Mental Health Nursing Care
- NCLEX Review
- Pharmacology
End of Program Student Learning Outcomes (EOPSLO)
- Provide safe, caring and compassionate nursing care to diverse patients across the lifespan in various healthcare settings using evidenced based practice to improve outcomes.
- Function as a competent, entry-level healthcare provider applying leadership and management skills and embracing ethical and legal principles in the provision of culturally appropriate nursing care.
- Collaborate with members of the inter-professional healthcare team to provide optimal care for diverse patients and their families.
- Communicate effectively through verbal, nonverbal and technological methods with patients, families and members of the inter-professional healthcare team.
Career Outlook
Nurses are Key to a Health Care System
The nursing field is expected to continue to grow nationally, driven in part by projected growth in the population and aging baby boomer generation.
Growth is expected for a number of reasons, including and increased emphasis on preventive care; growing rates of chronic conditions, such as diabetes and obesity and demand for healthcare services from aging population. While people live longer, more people will retire, and this will include nursing professionals.
While the very population that needs nursing care grows, the gap in active nursing professionals will grow. A challenge that will drive additional demand for skilled nursing graduates.
How to Become a Licensed Practical Nurse
Licensed practical nurses must complete a state-approved practical nursing program, which typically takes about one year to complete (Concorde's programs typically are 13 months ). They also must pass a licensing exam following their PN training.
The ideal LPN is a natural at building relationships. They are empathetic, trusting, flexible, good listeners and energetic. Most LPNs struggle initially with elements of the job such as toileting or exposure to blood, but the satisfaction derived from their patient relationships quickly mitigates those issues. Concorde's practical nursing programs prepare students to successfully handle all these tasks in all kinds of work settings.
Duties of LPNs vary, depending on their work setting and the state in which they work. For example, they might reinforce teaching done by registered nurses regarding how family members should care for a relative; help to deliver, care for and feed infants; collect samples for testing and do routine laboratory tests; or feed patients who need help eating.
LPNs might be limited to doing certain tasks depending on the state where they work. For example, in some states, LPN with proper training can give medication or start intravenous drips, but in other states they cannot perform these tasks.
LPN work full-time and might be scheduled during the day, evening or night. The work environment is team oriented and fast paced, but highly compassionate and professional.
How Does it Feel to be a Practical Nurse
While the proximity to patient’s body functions and often-serious health issues may seem unpleasant, LPNs find the impact they have on patients' lives to be extraordinarily rewarding. They often become the closest companions and confidants to their patients and their families. LPNs are part of a very caring community which includes not only physicians and nurses, but rehabilitation and social therapists as well as aids and administrators.
The national demand for LPNs, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, will grow nationally by 5% percent between 2022-2032. As the baby-boom population ages, the overall need for health care services is expected to increase.
LPNs will be needed in residential care facilities and in home health environments to care for older patients. The career path for LPNs is varied. Many return to school for an Associate or Bachelor's Degree and pursue licensing to become Registered Nurses.
Registered Nurses often supervise LPNs, administer medications, perform diagnostic tests, record patient histories and symptoms, manage patients’ care plans, and consult more extensively with physicians. LPNs might also move into administrative roles in health care settings. Many experienced LPNs go into nursing education. Another option is to continue on after attaining a bachelor's degree and earn a master's in nursing. At that point, many go on to become nurse practitioners who see their own patients without supervision from a physician.
To enter the profession, one must attend and satisfy the requirements of a nursing program and take and pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for Practical/Vocational nurses.
Financial Aid
As part of our commitment to your success, Concorde ensures that you have access to comprehensive information and guidance in navigating the financial aid process. Concorde offers financial aid and scholarship programs to those who qualify.
Accreditation
The Missouri Board of Nursing has granted full approval to the Practical Nursing program. Missouri Board of Nursing: P.O. Box 656, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0656; 573-751-0681; www.pr.mo.gov/nursing.asp.
You may also be interested in the following programs
