Alaska, AK - LPN to RN Nursing School Program
Why Take an LPN to RN in Alaska?
Becoming a Registered Nurse is the next step for working LPNs wishing to further their career. As the biggest group of health care professionals in the US, RNs make significantly more money—an average of $77,000 (according to BLS.gov) per year—and hold much more responsibility than LPNs. They oversee and manage Licensed Practical Nurses and lesser trained caregivers such as Certified Nursing Assistants, assess patient needs and create and modify a plan of care based on their assessments. While around 3 out of every 5 RNs works in a hospital, job opportunities from doctor’s offices to long term care facilities and public settings such as schools and community centers are also plentiful. In addition, RNs can be community educators with regards to public health. From occupational and mental health to anesthesia, radiology, rehabilitation, and beyond, the opportunity for specialization extends to all areas of health care.
Alaska LPN to RN Programs
LPN to RN programs usually last around a year and are available both online and in a classroom setting. Prerequisites include current certification as an LPN and often a year of experience working as an LPN. Required courses build upon those taken during LPN training and include math, chemistry, biology, English, communications, sociology, and, of course, a bulk of nursing specific course work. And, because LPN to RN training in Alaska adds another year of specialized nurse courses as well, it is possible to receive an Associate Degree of Nursing.
An LPN to RN program in Alaska culminates with the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses, or the NCLEX-RN. The Alaska Board of Nursing charges $324 to take the test—broken down into a $50 application fee, a $215 license fee, and a $59 fingerprint fee—before the $200 test fee charged by national exam administrator Pearson Vue. Successful applicants are placed on the state nursing registry and eligible to practice as a Registered Nurse in Alaska as soon as they receive their passing results.
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