A career as a licensed practical nurse (or LPN) can be very gratifying with an annual salary of $30,000 to $40,000. LPNs work under a doctor or nurse’s supervision, working in hospitals or medical facilities and giving skilled care to an array of patients. LPN training is done mainly through conventional school setting such as technical or community colleges and even adult education. However, due to the advancements in technology, a number of students are opting for online educational LPN programs.
There are many people who work and go to school so an online LPN program is quite beneficial for them. Stay at home moms and travelers can also benefit from an online LPN program. Why are they so beneficial? It allows a person the option to study when they want and attend classes when they find it’s best for them. These kinds of programs are very flexible, as it also reduces the need for commuting, which allows for more time to do assignments, reviews, papers and reports.
Sometimes, it’s the mere inability to get to an LPN program due to distance that makes choosing an Internet program so worthwhile. On top of that, using the Internet lets students stay in touch with each other (regardless of where they go to school) and learn about the newest nursing information using a variety of methods such as:
- Articles
- Blogs
- Chat rooms (online)
- Message boards
No doubt an education is pricey these days. An online program cuts the price down considerably because there’s no need to spend money on a dorm room, extra fees that come with the tuition and purchasing expensive books. On top of that, there’s no reason to commute and no need to spend money on gas. Online means courses can be taken through the following methods:
- Documented lectures
- Forums
- Instant messages
- Message boards
- Online chat rooms
- Teleconferences
- Video conferences
Another worthwhile advantage to online classroom instruction is the availability of the professor. There are many ways to get a hold of instructors including e-mails, instant messages and private messages. Of course, a big advantage is that all material presented to the student is saved and can be retrieved at a later date whenever necessary.
Online LPN programs can give students a hands-on approach to letting potential students intermingle with patients, helping them to learn the basic principles of the LPN profession. With the help of clinics, local hospitals and medical facilities, students can get the experience they need to obtain their license. Students who are in the LPN program and already have some professional medical background can take advantage of on-the-job training while working and taking LPN courses.
There are all kinds of possibilities when a person trains to become an LPN through the Internet. Best of all, students of the online classes persuasion are getting the same materials and curriculum as those who are learning through a conventional classroom setting. They’re using the same textbooks, submitting the same nursing assignments and getting the experience they need to get their training and degree. That makes them all equally competitive for LPN jobs.