In the City of Brotherly Love, tourists may be drawn to the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, two foundational attractions of American history. But residents of Philadelphia may be more drawn to Fairmount Park, seeking solace and respite from the busy city life by enjoying the world’s largest landscaped urban park. At this moment, however, you may be seeking information about becoming an LPN in Pennsylvania and LPN programs in Philadelphia. If that’s true, you may find some various answers to the different questions you may have.

In the first section, a basic description of an LPN schooling program is provided. In the second section, a look at LPN job duties is presented. The third section covers some information about Pennsylvania’s various requirements related to LPN licensing, and the final section has a list of various programs and educational institutions in Philadelphia that might offer LPN courses or programs.

Studying to be an LPN: General Information

Programs that teach a person to be an LPN in Philadelphia may look a lot like RN programs, but LPN programs do not cover as much material as RN programs. In fact, some LPN programs may be used as a stepping stone to eventually becoming an RN. In some programs, taking a few general education courses might be a requirement, such as psychology or English composition. Most of the classes will be nursing classes, however. Classes that an LPN program may cover topics such as mother-child nursing, nutrition information, as well as mental health information, medical dosing techniques and theory, and pharmacology. Some classes may also have labs; in a lab, students may practice skills in a supervised setting, which they can then take and use in the real world. Many LPN programs include clinicals, which may also be referred to as the “real-world” experience. Clinicals may be on a single day per week or multiple days per week, alongside classes, and students may be assigned one or more patients to work with throughout the day, performing skills and duties typical of LPN work. Responsibilities may start out light at the beginning of clinicals and become greater as students progress through the LPN program and grow more knowledgeable.

Common LPN Job Duties/Functions

LPNs in Philadelphia work in a profession that affords a lot of variety from day to day.
Some of their many job tasks may include things like bedside care, checking on patients, and other different duties. When performing bedside care, LPNs may bathe the patients, clean injuries, and change bandages. To monitor a patient’s status, LPNs may record vital signs such as height, blood pressure, body temperature, pulse, blood sugar, as well as a patient’s weight. They may also discuss various topics with a patient, such as their concerns and health, and then communicate this information to the physician in charge, as well as medical team members involved with the patient’s health. Other tasks that an LPN may be asked to complete might include giving patients medicine (although this may depend upon state regulations and other factors), completing paperwork, and supervising other staff. If an LPN has special schooling, they may also be asked to work with IVs or catheters or assist with dialysis. Duties may also vary according to location. LPNs may work in nursing homes, hospitals, in-home-care services, private homes, clinics, and doctor’s offices which may include general practitioners, as well as specialists.

Information about LPN Licensing in Pennsylvania

To be licensed as an LPN in Philadelphia and the state Pennsylvania in general, students have to graduate from a board-approved LPN program that offers at least 1500 hours of education/experience and is at least 12 months long. Applicants need to be at least 18 years old and be in good moral standing; they must also have completed their education at the high school level or equivalent (such as a GED). If a person who wants to become an LPN has a criminal history, they may have to send their criminal history records to the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing from Pennsylvania or the applicant’s resident state, as well as each state that an offense occurred in.

The nursing program director must send the nursing education completion verification form (NEV) directly to the Board office; the applicant must complete the application and send in the appropriate fees. At the same time, the applicant must also register for the NCLEX exam and pay appropriate fees for that exam or test. If the LPN applicant is approved to take an exam, they will be able to set up an exam date. The applicant may also receive a Temporary Practice Permit (TPP); this permit is good for one year or until exam or test results are received that show a failing score. If the student passes the exam and has met all other necessary requirements, they will receive the Pennsylvania LPN license.

The exam is called the NCLEX-PN, which stands for National Council Licensure Examination – Practical Nursing. This test is typically given on a computer that varies its questions according to the examinee’s responses. The examinee is typically measured against a preset standard, instead of being measured against minimum number of correct responses or against other individuals taking the test. Because of the varying nature of the exam questions, the examinee may be have to complete fewer than 100 questions or possible more than 200 questions. The examinee taking the test may be allowed as much as six hours to finish the exam. It’s important to understand that the various details presented on this page might not be entirely accurate or current, even though an effort is made to publish helpful information. For the most accurate and current information on licensing as an LPN in Pennsylvania, visit the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing’s website.

Pennsylvania Nursing Schools

The schools listed below might offer programs for people interested in practical nursing. To be sure, contact the schools directly if you’re interested in getting additional information.

Community College of Beaver County
1 Campus Dr, Monaca, PA 15061
(724) 480-2222

Altoona Technology Center
1500 4th Ave, Altoona, PA 16602
(814) 946-8450

Bucks County Community College
275 Swamp Rd, Newtown, PA 18940
(215) 968-8000

Clearfield County Technology Center
1620 River Rd, Clearfield, PA 16830
(814) 765-5308

Community College of Philadelphia
1700 Spring Garden St, Philadelphia, PA 19130
(215) 751-8000

Crawford County Technology Center
860 Thurston Rd, Meadville, PA 16335
(814) 724-6024

Greene County Technology Center
60 Zimmerman Dr, Waynesburg, PA 15370
(724) 627-3106

Harrisburg Area Community College
1 Hacc Dr, Harrisburg, PA 17110
(717) 780-2300

Indian County Technology Center
441 Hamill Rd, Indiana, PA 15701
(724) 349-6700

Lackawanna County Technology Center
3201 Rockwell Ave, Scranton, PA 18508
(570) 346-5955

Lancaster County Technology Center
1730 Hans Herr Dr, Willow Street, PA 17584
(717) 464-7050

Lawrence County Technology Center
750 Phelps Way, New Castle, PA 16101
(724) 658-3583

Lehigh Carbon Community College
4525 Education Park Dr, Schnecksville, PA 18078
(610) 799-2121

Northern Tier Center
120 Center Ln, Towanda, PA 18848
(570) 265-8111

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College
101 Community College Way, Johnstown, PA 15904
(814) 262-6400

Westmoreland County Community College
145 Pavilion Ln, Youngwood, PA 15697
(724) 925-4000

York Technology School
2179 S Queen St, York, PA 17402
(717) 741-0820

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