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 1991, approximately 1,200 State-approved programs provided practical nursing training. Trade, technical, or vocational schools offered almost half of these programs, while community and junior colleges provided more than a third. Some were offered 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. Job Outlook Job prospects for L.P.N's are expected to be excellent, as employment grows much faster than it has in the past. Because of this growth, the number of new graduates needed will be well above the number graduated in recent years.