Pennsylvania is the 6th most populous U.S. state. Erie, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Allentown are some of the prominent cities in the state. The state offers a number of opportunities for higher education, allowing students with diverse backgrounds to pursue their educational and professional goals. The colleges and universities in the state offer degrees and certificates in a range of fields including engineering, nursing, education, engineering and more. Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) programs are also offered in the state of Pennsylvania. LPNs work under registered nurses (RNs) and provide basic health care services to patients and the injured. They also monitor patients’ health, report patients’ status to RNs and keep medical records.
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Healthcare and Pennsylvania Economy
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LPN Programs in PA
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Admission Requirements
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What courses are covered in the LPN programs?
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Financial aid for nursing students in Pennsylvania
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Career outlook for LPNs in Pennsylvania
Health care is an integral part of Pennsylvania’s economy. According to the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council, the health care and social assistance sector was the state’s leading employer in 2005. Health care and social assistance jobs comprised 12.8% of Pennsylvania’s total jobs (2005). Just like many other healthcare occupations, opportunities for RNs and LPNs are likely to grow between 2010 and 2020, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).^
A prospective nurse in Pennsylvania should consider whether he or she wants to be an LPN or RN. RNs provide basic nursing facilities to patients while LPNs assist them. There are a number of nursing schools in Pennsylvania that offer LPN programs geared to equip students with the skills and knowledge essential to applying for LPN positions.
Focusing on the foundational knowledge on nursing care practices, LPN programs include classroom based instruction, alongside clinical experiences, in order to provide students with hands on experience in the field.^
To enroll in the LPN programs in Pennsylvania, students must:
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Hold a high school diploma or GED equivalent
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Complete course prerequisites such as biology
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Have a valid certification as a certified nurse assistant
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Ranging from anatomy to nutrition, a variety of courses are included in the LPN programs, allowing students to develop skills and knowledge essential for LPNs. Common topics in these programs include:
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Pharmacology
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Structure & function of human body
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Microbiology
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Legal and ethical nursing issues
Completing this curriculum may enable students to provide safe nursing care in a number of healthcare settings and make use of information technology to support the planning of patient care. Students also find out how to provide nursing care to diverse patient populations.^
LPN students in the state can find a number of financial aid options through which they may get funding for their education. Nursing scholarships, grants as well as students loans are available to eligible students only. Some of the financial aid programs students may apply for are:
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Federal Student Loans
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Pell Grants
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The American Nursing Foundation Grants
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According to O*NET OnLine, there were about 38,220 LPNs in Pennsylvania in 2010. Between 2010 and 2020, the state is likely to require 1,450 LPNs per year, which shows an increase of 11%. The median annual pay for LPNs in Pennsylvania (2013) was $42,880, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).^
The LPN salary in PA increased by 1% from 2010 to 2013. Employment levels for the LPNs have dropped by 3% in PA for the past 4 years.
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Year |
LPN Employments Count |
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2013 |
36060 |
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2012 |
35680 |
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2011 |
37040 |
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2010 |
37180 |
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
In 2013, LPNs earned a median annual income of $42,500 in PA or $20.45 per hour. The national median income of LPNs in 2013 was $41,920 or $20.15 per hour.