As a New England state that has a significant maritime industry, Connecticut surprisingly does not have any actual oceanfront property, just beachfront on the Long Island Sound. If you happen to reside in this northeastern state and also happen to be seeking information on LPN programs and licensing in Connecticut, continue reading; this page may have some of the information that you’ve been seeking!
The information on this page is organized into different sections to allow for easier reading. Information on general LPN schooling programs is included in the first section; the second section contains a description of general LPN job duties. The third section has some information regarding LPN licensing information in Connecticut, and the last section lists various schools that may have LPN schooling programs.
LPN Courses: Fundamental Information
In Connecticut, LPN schooling is like that for registered nursing. General education courses may be included, like psychology or composition, but the main section of the course will be nursing courses. Other medical classes may also be part of an LPN program. Labs may also be included with many of these courses to teach practical skills alongside the theoretical knowledge, which may help students prepare for their clinicals, if they are available. If available, clinicals take place at a hospital or other medical setting and allow LPN students to practice their skills in the real world. Generally, students will have light duties as they begin their clinical duties with a patient, and the responsibilities may increase, proportional to the skills and knowledge of a student over the duration of the program.
General Job Duties for LPNs in Connecticut
The tasks required of an LPN in Connecticut are many and varied. LPNs perform practical nursing skills under the supervision of a physician or registered nurse, such as bedside care, patient status reports, specialized tasks, and other duties. Bedside care tasks can include giving baths, dressing patients, helping patients with personal hygiene, changing bandages, and cleaning wounds. Patient status tasks can include monitoring vital signs, such as blood sugar, blood pressure, height, weight, and temperature; talking with the patient about his care and concerns; and reporting to supervisory medical staff about the patient’s status and concerns. Specialized job duties that LPNs may perform, provided that they have been educated in them, include working with IVs, assisting with dialysis, administering medication via IV, and working with catheters. LPNs may also perform other miscellaneous job duties, and in some situations, may be able to administer medication orally or via injection. Often, LPNs’ duties may vary according to job location; for instance, LPNs who work in an assisted living facility might have significantly different duties than an LPN working in the NICU. LPNs may work in a diverse range of medical settings from hospitals to private care facilities, and even home care settings.
Basic LPN Licensing Information for Connecticut
Connecticut has several requirements for those wanting to be licensed as LPNs; following is information regarding those requirements. Because this information may not be entirely comprehensive, check with the Connecticut Department of Public Health Practical Nurse Licensure Page for a more detailed look.
An LPN applicant in Connecticut must complete a practical nursing program that consists of at least 1,500 hours of theory; 50% of those hours must be in direct observational or direct supervised client care experience. The Department of Public Health must receive an official transcript directly from the school that the LPN student graduated from in order to verify the student’s graduation, and the student must pay the appropriate application fees. The LPN applicant must also successfully complete a licensing exam; LPN applicants that have completed this exam may practice as a “graduate nurse” for a maximum of 90 days, until the exam results are received and the applicant is given or refused a license.
The name of the test that prospective LPNs are required to take is called the NCLEX-PN (which is an acronym for National Council Licensure Examination, Practical Nursing). The NCLEX-PN exam taken on a computer and questions may vary among test takers. Each exam is unique, as a result, and exams may consist of a couple hundred questions or less. Students are measured according to various defined standards, and each examinee is allowed a no more than six hours to complete the exam. If the exam is passed successfully, the student may be issued an LPN license by the state of Connecticut if all other requirements are met.
Connecticut: Community Colleges & Schools
Below are various community colleges and schools throughout the state of Connecticut that may (you’d need to contact them to be sure) have LPN programs and educational courses.
Capital Community College
950 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103
(860) 906-5000
Gateway Community College
20 Church St, New Haven, CT 06510
(203) 285-2000
Manchester Community College
60 Bidwell St, Manchester, CT 06040
(860) 512-3000
Naugatuck Valley Community College
750 Chase Pkwy, Waterbury, CT 06708
(203) 575-8000
Northwestern Connecticut Community College
2 Park Pl, Winchester, CT 06098
(860) 738-6300
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