Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement All States require L.P.N.'s to pass a licensing examination after completing a State-approved practical nursing program. A high school diploma is usually required for entry, but some programs accept people without a diploma. In 1997, approximately 1,100 State-approved programs provided practical nursing training. Almost 6 out of 10 students were enrolled in technical or vocational schools, while 3 out of 10 were in community and junior colleges. Others were in high schools, hospitals, and colleges and universities.
Clinical practice is usually in a hospital, but sometimes includes other settings.
L.P.N.'s should have a caring, sympathetic nature. They should be emotionally stable because work with the sick and injured can be stressful. As part of a health care team, they must be able to follow orders and work under close supervision. However, L.P.N.'s seeking positions in hospitals may face competition, as the number of hospital jobs for L.P.N.'s declines. The number of inpatients, with whom most L.P.N.'s work, is not expected to increase much.