How to Become an LPN in West Virginia
Becoming an LPN in West Virginia will require you to jump through a number of hoops before you can be licensed. While there are standards that you must meet and education you must undertake, this is not an insurmountable task. In truth, the amount of work required to become an LPN in West Virginia is on-par with the rest of the country.
To make the process easier, it’s important to start out with the right information from the right sources. This way, you can more quickly attain your goal of becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse without too many issues.
LPN Job Description
Many states have different interpretations of what an LPN should do as part of a healthcare team and West Virginia is no different. According to Title 10 of the Legislative rules set forth by the State Board of Examiners, a LPN in West Virginia is limited mostly to reporting and general care duties for stable patients. They also may administer or assist with emergency treatments under the direct supervision of a registered nurse. They may also work unsupervised with stable patients who are not under any type of emergent status.
Much of what an LPN does in West Virginia falls under patient hygiene and reporting. A Licensed Practical Nurse will do rounds on stable patients to check for any changes in status, marking any necessary notes on the patients’ charts before moving on to their other duties. A Licensed Practical Nurse may also take notes of necessary nurse-to-nurse interactions to create a solid line of communication showing how patient needs are handled. Helping patients stay clean and healthy is also something that falls within the purview of LPNs in West Virginia. This can include helping patients with personal hygiene and making sure patient’s rooms are sanitary.
West Virginia LPN Job Outlook
The national nursing shortage that is hitting states all over the country has not passed over West Virginia. In West Virginia, the demand for LPNs is growing faster than the rate at which students are enrolling in LPN programs. This means that the job outlook for Licensed Practical Nurses in the state of West Virginia is very favorable. The job outlook looks even better for nurses who graduate from LPN programs after having already received a bachelor’s degree. Demand is especially high in private clinics and housing facilities working with the aged. Turnover is very low for LPNs in West Virginia, meaning that many nursing assistants have a lot of long-term job security.
LPN Education Requirements in West Virginia
Licensed Practical Nurse training in West Virginia is an ongoing process. To start, all potential LPNs must complete a state-certified LPN training program. This training program will cover many different aspects of nursing from theory to practical information. All training courses will have a mandatory clinical component where students will be required to attend clinic hours. LPNs must also become CPR certified and they must pass the NCLEX-PN exam in order to be licensed. To maintain licensing, LPNs in West Virginia need to take 30 hours of continued education every year.
LPN Salaries
A Licensed Practical Nurse in Charleston will find a median income of around $36,000 per year. Salaries will be higher in more densely populated urban areas than in smaller rural or suburban areas of the state. Jobs in private clinics will generally have higher initial pay rates for LPNs but the overall yearly benefits at state-owned facilities are often more attractive. Of course, this will vary greatly on a case-to-case basis depending on the facility in question.
LPN Schools in West Virginia
- Named a Best for Vets school by the Military Times in 2014.
- Has specialized in student-centered technology, business, criminal justice, health science, and culinary education for over 45 years.
- Makes it possible for students to earn a bachelor’s degree in 2.5 years or an associate’s in 1.5 years by providing a year-round schedule.
- Offers externships and clinical experience that help students prepare for life after they graduate.
- Has 10 campuses across the mid-Atlantic, plus online degree programs.
Programs:
- Practical Nursing - Diploma
- Medical Assisting - Associate's
- Nursing (RN) - Associate's
- 100% online programs at associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral level.*
- Transfer up to 90 credits into an undergraduate degree program.
- Up to 50% of your master’s degree can be transferred in to help maximize the credit you previously earned.
- *Excludes licensure, certification, and some doctoral programs
Programs:
- Master of Science in Nursing: Nursing Administration
- Master of Science in Nursing: Nurse Educator
- Flexible, online RN-BSN and MSN programs available
- RN-BSN program is designed to help registered nurses earn their bachelor’s in as little as 9 months
- Courses designed to expand on student’s prior knowledge and enhance their patient care skills
Programs:
- Master of Science in Nursing - Nursing Administration
- Nursing Degree Programs from Grand Canyon University's College of Nursing & Health Care Professions
- Degree Variety: GCU offers a full-spectrum of nursing programs including bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees, as well as post-master’s certificates.
- The baccalaureate degree in nursing and master's degree in nursing at Grand Canyon University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.aacn.nche.edu-accreditation).
- GCU provides a Christian environment that provides an opportunity for you to embrace a holistic approach to caring for patients: physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
- Depending on the degree you choose, you could take online, evening, or on-campus classes. Speak with an enrollment counselor to discuss your options!
Programs:
- Doctor of Nursing Practice with an Emphasis in Educational Leadership
- M.S. in Nursing with an Emphasis in Leadership in Health Care Systems (Bridge)
- Doctor of Nursing Practice
- Flexible, online and on-campus program available.
- Capstone projects and clinical practicums that can help prepare students for more career opportunities.
- Students learn from instructors with experience in the health care field.
- Programs include Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration, Bachelor of Science in Health and Wellness, Master of Health Care Administration, and more.
Programs:
- MS in Nursing
- Master of Science - DNP Path (Doctor of Nursing Practice)
- Master of Science in Nursing-Family Nurse Practitioner
- And more...
Programs:
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Established in 1897, Bradley University is a private, independent institution of higher learning in Peoria, Illinois. Inspired by our founder, notable philanthropist Lydia Moss Bradley, we pursue excellence in teaching, research, scholarship and service; and we celebrate leadership, integrity, diversity and collaborative learning. Today, we offer an impressive array of more than 130 undergraduate, graduate and continuing education programs across five colleges and the Graduate School.
Programs:
- Online Doctor of Nursing Practice - Leadership Track (MSN to DNP)
- Online Master of Science in Nursing (BSN to MSN-FNP)
- Online Doctor of Nursing Practice - Family Nurse Practitioner Track (BSN to DNP)
- And more...
Earn your graduate degree online with Northcentral University. We offer online programs focused on doctoral and master’s degrees in the schools of business and technology management, education, psychology and marriage and family sciences.
Programs:
- Doctor of Education - Nursing Education
- PhD - Addictions
- PhD - Gerontology
- And more...
At Kaplan University, we offer over 180 degree and certificate programs. With three different ways to learn, you can choose the format that works best for you:
- Study wherever you have an Internet connection, because almost all of our courses are 100% online, or
- Take campus-based classes(with day and evening options available), or
- Combine campus learning with online classes (blended).
Programs:
- MS in Nursing
- Master of Science in Nursing : Executive Leader
- Family Nurse Practitioner Graduate Certificate
- And more...
The University
With over 80 years of academic achievements, Jacksonville University is a traditional, longstanding institution consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of America's best colleges.
Programs:
- MSN Clinical Nurse Educator
- MSN Leadership in Healthcare Systems
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