Minnesota LPN Nursing Programs and Schools

How to Become an LPN in Minnesota

Before applying to an LPN training program in Minnesota, at least five prerequisite courses are required. Entry is competitive based on grades so it is advisable to do well. LPN training takes about a year once accepted into a college of nursing, and focuses largely on practical skills necessary to care for patients. After studies are complete, students take the final exam: the National Counsel Licensing Examination-Practical Nursing (NCLEX-PN). The test costs $200 to take through national examiners Pearson Vue, and there is a $50 application fee paid to the Minnesota Board of Nursing. The test is a licensure examination, and is passed by around 85 percent of graduates in their first attempt, allowing students to begin work as an LPN in Minnesota.

Minnesota LPN Salary, Hours and Duties

There is plenty of room for new nurses to enter the workforce in Minnesota, where the average salary for an LPN in the city is around $43,000 per year (according to BLS.gov) before typically excellent benefits. Most Minnesota LPNs find employment in hospitals—close to eighty percent of them—but jobs are also available in retirement homes, doctor’s offices, and other health care institutions. Daily tasks revolve around directly caring for patients, monitoring patient status, giving them medicine, feeding patients, and reporting back to Registered Nurses to adjust a plan of care. Although a normal work week entails around 40 hours on the job, their hours may vary significantly from a normal nine-to-five schedule. After all, many patients need care around the clock.