Michigan seems to be divided into two – the UP (Upper Peninsula) of Michigan and the main part of the state. Dunes by the coast of Lake Michigan are one feature of the main portion of Michigan, while the Northwoods and clear water of Lake Superior define Michigan’s UP. If you are from either portion of the state of Michigan and would like to become a licensed practical nurse in Michigan, continue reading for information about the profession and its education. The first portion of this page talks about LPN educational programs, the second describes typical LPN duties, and the third provides information on licensing requirements in Michigan.

Information About LPN Schooling

Clinicals, labs, and classes make up LPN schooling programs in Michigan. Students may take other courses for general education requirements, like psychology and English, alongside courses that may teach information related to medical dosing, patient nutrition, and other things like pharmacology which are specifically geared towards nursing. Nursing classes will comprise the bulk of classroom work, though. Because LPNs will learn practical skills in nursing classes, labs will usually accompany some of them. With instructor supervision, students may attempt and practice the skills they have been studying on other classmates or on a model. Students can then use these skills in real-life scenarios through clinicals, which meet in a medical setting about once a week. In clinicals, students start to take on the role of an LPN, usually starting out with lighter responsibility and building upon it as they advance through their courses. In summary, students receive both theoretical and practical education that allows them to learn both the skills necessary for LPN work as well as a taste of an actually LPN job.

Typical Job Tasks for LPNs in Michigan

Hospitals, nursing homes, doctor’s offices, and private care settings are all examples of where LPNs may work (although there may be more than what’s listed here). Their job duties are as wide a range as the locations they work, and duties may very by location, but there are some fairly typical job functions that can be categorized into direct care, monitoring of a patient’s health status, and other specialized tasks. Bathing and dressing the patient, assisting with personal hygiene, changing bandages, and cleansing wounds all fall under bedside care. The major tasks of patient health status monitoring include assessing and documenting blood sugar, blood pressure, blood oxygen levels, pulse, weight, and temperature, along with any other vital signs. It can also include communicating to the doctor any concerns or comments the patient has about the care he or she is receiving and his or her overall health. An LPN may be also need to (dependent on location) administer medication orally or via injection, supervise assistants and aides, and complete paperwork (like insurance billing). Finally, if special schooling and possibly certification has taken place, some LPNs can assist with dialysis and IV therapy.

Michigan LPN Licensing Information

Licensing to be an LPN in Michigan takes a certain process and requirements; some of those follow for general licensing, but other scenarios (such as foreign-educated nurses) are not covered. For information on licensing in certain situations or for potential answers to any questions, visit the Michigan Board of Nursing website

Applicants for licensed practical nurses who have graduated from an LPN schooling program must apply with the Bureau of Health Care Services, Health Professions Division. As part of the application process, applicants are required to have their fingerprints taken and have a criminal background check performed on them. They must also pay a fee, and the in-state school they graduated from must send a Michigan Nursing School Certification Form to the nursing board. Applicants who graduated from a school outside the state of Michigan must have the school send final official transcripts to the nursing board. Lastly, all applicants must complete and succeed on the NCLEX (also known as the National Council Licensure Exam) for Practical Nursing. If the test is not passed, the applicant may be able to take it again.

The NCLEX is essentially a computerized exam that asks questions based off of the response chosen for the previous question. Each examinee is allotted about six hours for the test, and each person may be asked a different range of numbers from more than 200 to less than 100, depending on answers chosen. Examinees are graded not against each other, a minimum percentage of right responses, or a lowest amount of  right responses, but against a preset standard located inside the program.

Michigan LPN Schooling: Colleges

There are a number of schools in Michigan that offer programs for practical nurse education. The following are colleges where a person may be able to find practical nursing programs.

Alpena Community College
665 Johnson St, Alpena, MI 49707
(989) 356-9021

Baker College
1050 W Bristol Rd, Flint, MI 48507
(810) 766-4000

Glen Oaks Community College
62249 Shimmel Road, Centreville, MI 49032
(269) 467-9945

Grand Rapids Community College
143 Bostwick Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 234-4000

Jackson Community College
2111 Emmons Rd, Jackson, MI 49201
(517) 787-0800

Kalamazoo Valley Community College
6767 W O Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49009
(269) 488-4400

Kellogg Community College
450 North Ave, Battle Creek, MI 49017
(269) 965-3931

Kirtland Community College
10775 N St Helen Rd, Roscommon, MI 48653
(989) 275-5000

Lansing Community College
210 W Shiawassee St, Lansing, MI 48933
(517) 483-9700

Lake Michigan College
2755 E Napier Ave, Benton Harbor, MI 49022
(269) 927-1000

Lake Superior State University
650 W Easterday Ave, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783
(906) 632-6841

Macomb Community College
44575 Garfield Rd, Clinton Charter Township, MI 48038
(586) 445-7999

Mid Michigan Community College
1375 S Clare Ave, Harrison, MI 48625
(989) 386-6622

Monroe County Community College
1555 S Raisinville Rd, Monroe, MI 48161
(734) 242-7300

Montcalm Community College
2800 College Dr, Sidney, MI 48885
(989) 328-2111

Mott community College
1401 E Court St, Flint, MI 48503
(810) 762-0200

Muskegon Community College
221 Quarterline Rd, Muskegon, MI 49442
(231) 773-9131

Northwestern Michigan College
1701 East Front Street, Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 995-1000

Oakland Community College
22322 Rutland Dr, Southfield, MI 48075
(248) 233-2700

Southwestern Michigan College
58900 Cherry Grove Rd, Dowagiac, MI 49047
(269) 782-1000

West Shore Community College
3000 N Stiles Rd, Scottville, MI 49454
(231) 845-6211

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