Nursing Degrees: The Associate of Applied Science Degree in Practical Nursing (AAS)
LPNs are trained professionals who have made integral contributions to direct patient care for generations. Even though the most common gateway into the practical nursing occupation is satisfactory completion of a state-approved diploma/certificate practical nursing program, this piece is going to discuss another academic option called the associate of applied science degree in practical nursing.
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The licensed practical nurse (LPN), also referred to as a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) in the American states of Texas and California, is a highly valuable healthcare member of staff who has acquired basic nursing education, received training as a generalist nurse, and obtained occupational licensure to render routine care to medically stable patient populations with predictable outcomes. LPNs have been part of the US healthcare system for generations.
Be cognizant that the LPN's scope of practice is completely subject to the state board of nursing in which professional practice occurs. This means that some state boards of nursing (BONs) enable LPNs to practice within the sphere of extremely broad scopes of practice, while other state BONs employ very restrictive scopes of practice that place considerable limits on the skills that LPNs are authorized to perform.
A person who is interested in training to become a licensed practical nurse may opt for one of two stimulating academic paths. Associate's degree programs and diploma/certificate programs are the two main ways in which an individual shall gain entry into the practical nursing profession in the US. While the most frequent pathway into the practical nursing occupation is successful completion of an approved diploma/certificate practical nursing program, this option was discussed in great detail in a previous piece of writing. Expressly, this piece is going to shed more light on the associate of applied science degree in practical nursing, also known in California and Texas as the associate of applied science degree in vocational nursing.
The less common educational route to a practical nursing career is satisfactory completion of a state-approved program that results in conferral of the associate of applied science (AAS) degree in practical nursing. In fact, many members of the public and a small number of nursing professionals are unaware that some LPNs possess associate's degrees. These associate's degree programs are usually offered at community colleges, regional state universities, vocational schools and technical colleges. AAS degree programs in practical nursing tend to be more prevalent in certain geographic regions such as the Midwest, Intermountain West, and West Coast.
The associate of applied science degree in practical nursing delivers a well-rounded education with a slightly wider breadth than the diploma/certificate program. Prior to being granted the legal title of 'LPN,' graduates of associate's degree programs must achieve a passing result on the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN), the national exam that leads to professional licensure as a practical nurse.
Practical nursing students who are enrolled in associate's degree programs attend classes at the different types of schools recorded in a preceding paragraph. In addition to a high school diploma or GED, successful completion of specific prerequisite courses is typically necessary for admission into an associate's degree practical nursing program. Moreover, the admissions process can be competitive if the practical nursing program receives more applications than available seats.
Most practical nursing programs instruct students in the following focus areas
Nursing Fundamentals
Medical-Surgical Nursing (Child / Adult)
Clinical Practicum / Hands-On Nursing Skills
Geriatric Nursing
Psychiatric / Mental Health Nursing
Maternal / Postpartum / Obstetric Nursing
Pediatric Nursing
Medical Terminology
Pharmacology
All students in practical nursing associate's degree programs are required to amass several hundred hours worth of hands-on skills training, also known as clinical practicum. Practical nursing clinical rotations take place in various healthcare settings such as acute care hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, doctors' offices, group homes, and extended care facilities. Clinical practicum time is deliberately designed to provide students with valuable experiences through patient encounters and hands-on procedural skills such as vital sign checks, medication administration, wound care, injections, urinary catheter insertions and oxygen therapy.
The vast majority of associate's degree programs are approximately two years in length. Click on the link below to view the layout and curriculum of the associate of applied science (AAS) degree in practical nursing at North Seattle College:
