Licensed Practical Nurse/Licensed Vocational Nurse

 

Career Description

Licensed practical nurses (LPN) provide bedside care to patients and perform various nursing duties. Under the direct supervision of registered nurses and physicians, licensed practical nurses assume the responsibilities of taking vital signs, observing patients and seeing to their comfort, collecting specimens for laboratory tests, administering medications, dressing wounds, starting IVs and, in some cases, supervising nursing aides or assistants.

Academic Requirements

Entrance to a practical nurse educational program may require a high school diploma or its equivalent, although a diploma definitely is recommended. Of the nearly 1,100 state-approved training programs, most are offered through vocational-technical schools and community or junior colleges. After a one-year educational program, graduates must pass the NCLEX-PN examination.

Schools

Bolivar Technical College
417/777-5062

Boonslick Technical Education Center (Boonville)
660/882-5306

Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center
573/334-0826

Columbia Career Center
573/214-3800

Cox College of Nursing and Health Sciences (Springfield)
866/898-5355

East Central College (Rolla Campus)
636/583-5193

Eldon Career Center
573/392-8060

Franklin Technology Center (Joplin)
417/625-5269

Hannibal Career & Technical Center
573/221-4430

Hillyard Technical Center (St. Joseph)
816/671-4170

Kirksville Area Technical Center
660/665-2865

Lebanon Technology and Career Center
417/532-9141

Moberly Area Community College - Mexico Campus
573/582-0817

Nevada Regional Technical Center
417/448-2090

Nichols Career Center (Jefferson City)
573/659-3238

North Central Missouri College (Trenton)
800/880-6180

Northwest Missouri State University (Maryville)
800/633-1175

Ozarks Technical Community College (Springfield)
417/447-7500

Pike-Lincoln Technical Center (Eolia)
573/485-2900

Rolla Technical Center
573/458-0160

Sikeston Career & Technology Center
573/471-5442

South Central Career Center (West Plains)
417/256-6152

State Fair Community College (Sedalia)
660/530-5800

Texas County Technical Institute - Branson
417/239-1500

Texas County Technical Institute (Houston)
417/967-5466

Warrensburg Area Vocational Technical School
660/747-2283

Waynesville Technical Academy
573/774-6106

View Nursing Schools in Missouri

Professional Associations

National
American Nurses Association
Discover Nursing
National Association for Practical Nurse Education and Service Inc.
National Federation of Licensed Practical Nurses Inc.
National League for Nursing

State
Missouri Nursing Coalition
Missouri Professional And Practical Nursing Student Loan Program
Missouri State Board of Nursing

Additional Information

Learn More About Nursing
Read Personal Accounts of Current Nurses