As baby boomers near retirement, the need for skilled nurses is increasing at a rapid rate. This is especially true in Lexington, Kentucky, with multiple medical facilities recruiting licensed practical nurses (LPNs) through sign-on bonuses and high wages to fill positions. While a career in health care can be personally and financially rewarding, it does require advanced planning.
Instructions
1. Graduate from a 1- or 2-year LPN program at a college or university in Kentucky. There are over 20 educational institutions in the state of Kentucky that offer LPN programs. Many are community colleges or technical schools, and some are located near Lexington. Most programs admit only for August or January entry, thus it is important that you find out the application deadline for the schools you are interested in attending and apply early.
2. Complete a 120-hour clinical internship. Before you can get your license as an LPN from the state of Kentucky, you must complete a clinical internship that consists of at least 120 hours of hands-on experience. Many of the educational LPN programs provide this as part of their coursework, but you should ask about it before applying for admission to a specific school.
3. Apply for an official LPN license after finishing school and the 120-hour internship. Submit verification of your 120 clinical hours and an official copy of your transcript if you attended an LPN program out of state. Individuals graduating from an LPN program in Kentucky automatically have their names forwarded to the state board of nursing by the nursing education staff at their schools, thus eliminating the need for a transcript.
4. Submit the form for a criminal background check to be conducted. The form you fill out when completing the application is your request that the check be done. If you choose to do this online, the information from your background check will be automatically forwarded to the Kentucky Board of Nursing (KBN). However, if you do a paper application instead, your background check results will be sent to you, and you must include them when submitting your application.
5. Get a provisional license. If you have submitted your application materials and are only waiting on the national exam to become fully licensed, the state of Kentucky can provide you with a provisional license. This allows you to serve in an LPN capacity at a medical facility until you have the results of your test.
6. Register for the national exam. The NCLEX-PN is the national test administered to practical nurses across the United States, and it is a requirement of licensing in Kentucky. You must register for the test through Pearson Vue, and this can be done online or by calling (866) 496-2539. There is a $110 registration fee for the exam.
7. Take and pass the NCLEX-PN. If you fail the test, you must retake it to become a licensed practical nurse in Lexington, Kentucky. If you have a provisional license, it will be revoked, which means you will not be able to serve as an LPN until you pass the test and are officially licensed.
Tags: background check, Lexington Kentucky, provisional license, state Kentucky, clinical internship, Kentucky must
