According to statistics calculated by Forbes, New Jersey is the thirty-second best state for careers and business. Forbes also ranks New Jersey in the sixteenth spot for growth prospects. The state has an increasingly growing healthcare sector. The state is home to at least forty accredited and approved nursing schools that offer this program. O*Net OnLine (Occupational Information Network) estimated that licensed practical nurses (LPN) working in New Jersey earned an annual median salary that was $10,900 more than other LPNs working across America, in 2013.
Before enrolling one of the LPN programs in NJ, you must make sure that this program has been approved by the New Jersey Board of Nursing. In addition to this, the NJ nursing board also approves clinical affiliates.
Several recognized bodies such as the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, may accredit these LPN programs.
The Practical Nursing Program; What Does it Teach me?
A practical nursing program, more commonly known as a LPN training program, primarily focuses on teaching students how to:
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Work closely with and assist registered nurses
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Help the patients during their rehabilitation process
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Prevent various patient illnesses
Students with full time enrollment in a practical nursing training program may complete it in one to two years.
These programs include practical sessions in addition to classroom lectures. The curriculum has been designed to teach the students how to perform several duties. These include:
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Recording and documenting information
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Maintaining and establishing interpersonal relationships
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Solving issues and making decisions
Several abilities that the students are expected to develop before graduating from the program include:
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Understanding how sensitive a problem is
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Inductive reasoning
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Deductive reasoning
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Time management
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Efficiently monitoring a patient’s health status
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Critical thinking
Additionally, LPN training programs also prepare students to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN). Passing this examination is required in order to acquire a license and work professionally.
Students study various topics such as:
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Basic nursing techniques
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First aid
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Psychological care
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Human anatomy
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Physiology
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Nutrition and diet
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Pediatric care
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Fundamentals of pharmacology
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Geriatric care
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IV therapy
Admission Requirements
You can apply to a practical nurse training program only after you have acquired a high school diploma. Admission requirements may vary a little from program to program, but generally require students to complete prerequisite courses. These courses may include:
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Biology
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Human Anatomy
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Mathematics
Other requirements include:
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Passing a background check that normally includes a drug test
Some nursing schools may require you to hold a CPR certification or a certified nursing assistant certification from a recognized accreditation body.
Career Statistics for LPNs Working in New Jersey
O*Net OnLine stated that in 2012, 14,760 individuals were working as LPNs in NJ. The network projected that this number would grow by 22 percent by 2022.
O*Net OnLine also reported that the top 10 percent of LPNs working in this state earned more than $62,100 in 2013.