If you’re considering a healthcare career, nursing might be a great place to look. When you consider the amount of time and money that it could take to get a degree in nursing, you may want to look toward becoming a licensed practical nurse (LPN).
LPN programs in Oklahoma usually take only one year or at most two, at most and LPNs are in high demand in the US, and precisely in Oklahoma.
In this article, we’ll help you find the perfect program that works for you by ranking the best LPN programs using a data-driven methodology that is focused on affordability, reputation, academic quality and also the program offerings which are the metrics we feel matter most to students, looking to choose this career path.
To learn more about these programs and to see the list of the very top LPN programs in Oklahoma, read on.
What Do Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) Do?
Practical nursing is one of the most valued jobs in the healthcare industry due to its involvement in the treatment of patients.
While the doctors do well to diagnose and prescribe medications, the practical nurses are tasked with administering the daily medication of patients as well as being responsible for several other activities like the collection of samples, taking of vital readings, making of patients’ beds, and generally assisting the patients.
Due to their extensive and indispensable roles, the job of a licensed practical nurse is considered to be very demanding, just as much as it is satisfying and profitable.
Job Outlook For Licensed Nurse Practitioners (LPNs) in Oklahoma
According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics(BLS), a 9% increase in the available jobs for licensed practical nurses (LPNs) has been projected through the year 2029.
Individuals in Oklahoma, who seek to meet this growing demand are advised to apply for state licensure by a nursing program that has been approved by the state board of nursing.
In Oklahoma, LPNs earn approximately $19.84 every hour, which adds up to an annual salary of approximately $41,260.
What is An LPN Program?
A licensed practical nurse program provides the necessary professional support, hands-on training, and also the practical experience required for students to pursue excellent careers as licensed practical nurses.
It aims to aid nursing students in passing the National Council Licensure Examination-Practical Nurse (NCLEX-PN), which is an essential test that must be passed in order to earn LPN certification and start practising as a licensed practical nurse.
What Should You Expect From a Practical Nursing Program?
LPN programs usually take one to two years at most, to complete. This degree is most often offered in community colleges, although some hospitals also offer them. Students should expect to learn the following during the training:
- How to help patients with their activities of daily living (ADL) like eating, bathing, etc.
- Measurement and monitoring of the vital signs of patients like temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, etc.
- Very basic nursing care like control of infections and treatment of wounds.
- Collection of samples required for different tests and performance of routine tests.
- How to properly calculate dosages, properly administer injections and also note the side effects of different medications.
- How to effectively communicate with patients, their family members and other members of the team of healthcare professionals.
- Provision of ethical and compassionate care to patients in different healthcare settings.
- The required critical thinking skills as well as nursing processes like the assessment of patients, diagnosis, intervention, planning and evaluation.
LPN Program Curriculum
LPN programs have a robust curriculum which is delivered in a fast-paced and intense format and this curriculum includes content focused on the following areas:
- Human Anatomy and Physiology
- Nursing Assessment
- Pathophysiology
- Infection Control
- Nursing Theory
- Nutrition and Food Safety
Human Anatomy and Physiology
Students will be taught about the main systems of the body which work together in order to give and maintain life.
They’ll also be taught about the structure and function of the body system, the cells, tissues and organs as this would help them understand exactly how the human body responds to injury and illness.
Nursing Assessment
This deals with the collection and evaluation of information about the current and future care needs of patients as well as the documentation and also communication of this information collected to other members of the healthcare team.
Students are taught how to incorporate evidence-based practice as well as the application of critical thinking skills during the nursing process to bring out and guide a plan of care.
Pathophysiology
Students will be taught how to recognize the different physiological changes which occur because of common disorders and how to assist in treating chronic and acute diseases.
They’ll also be trained on how to communicate with doctors as well as other healthcare professionals concerning how patients’ conditions are evolving.
Infection Control
Students will be taught about the standard precautions involved in nursing care like personal protective equipment, guidelines on sterilisation and disinfection, proper hand hygiene, proper equipment handling, and correct response protocols after being exposed to infectious material.
Nursing Theory
Students are taught to understand the reasoning behind the actions of nurses, the effects of each intervention on patients, and also how to apply the theories of nursing for the improvement of patient outcomes.
Nutrition and Food Safety
Students are taught the importance of the basics of nutrition so that they’ll be able to pass their knowledge about healthy food choices to patients.
This is of utmost importance to patients that have chronic health conditions like obesity, heart diseases, and diabetes
Accreditation
Students are advised to consider only fully accredited LPN programs in the state.
These accredited schools/programs are held to very high academic standards and are also re-evaluated regularly to guarantee consistency.
Organisations including the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), and also the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) are some of the most recognized accrediting bodies.
Students are also advised to check with the Oklahoma Board of Nursing to be sure that their program of choice has board approval.
Admission Requirements for LPN Programs in Oklahoma
Each of the LPN programs in Oklahoma state is bound to have its peculiar admission requirements, but the common ones include:
- The completion and submission of admission applications before the deadline.
- An in-person interview by the faculty/staff
- An official high school transcript with a date of graduation or a GED equivalency
- Satisfactory scores by the student in pre-entrance exams
- The completion of all prerequisite courses
Tuition and Costs
The total cost (all necessary costs) of a practical nursing program in Oklahoma state can be broken down into certain key areas like compulsory school fees, tuition fees and necessary materials (eg. textbooks and other important supplies).
Indirect expenses like transportation fees or hostel fees when applicable should also be factored in by the students. There are financial aid opportunities, widely available in the state which would aid students who are worried about paying school fees.
For example, the tuition for the LPN program at Metro Technology Centres in Oklahoma City, for those in the state, costs around $3,360.
The books required cost about an additional $500 and supplies will cost the students an estimated sum of $1,500.
The List of LPN programs in Oklahoma
These are the schools where you will find LPN programs in Oklahoma.
- The Francis Tuttle Technology Center
- Tulsa Technology Center
- Moore Norman Technology Center
- The Springlake campus of Metro Technology Centers
- Mid-America Technology Center
- Gordon Cooper Technology Center
- Indian Capital Technology Center
- Autry Technology Center
- Western Technology Center
- Meridian Technology Center
- Tri-County Technology Center
- Canadian Valley Technology Center
- Southern Oklahoma Technology Center
- Pioneer Technology Center
- Northeast Technology Center
- Platt College
- Kiamichi Technology Center
- High Plains Technology Center
- Great Plains Technology Center
- Wes Watkins Technology Center
- Caddo Kiowa Technology Center
- Chisholm Trail Technology Center
- Red River Technology Center
- Mid-Del Technology Center
- Indian Capital Technology Center
10 Top Schools With LPN Programs in Oklahoma
In no particular order, here are ten of the best schools that offer LPN programs:
Mid-America Technology Center:
About School: The school was opened in 1971 with 17 schools. It was one of the first colleges in the district of Wayne. It currently offers 24 courses in diverse fields and aims to promote the local community through the impartation of quality education and industrial skills to its students.
Location: The school is located in Wayne, Oklahoma, and the contact address is; P.O. Box H, Wayne, Oklahoma 73095
About the Program: The program only takes ten months to complete and is handled by very experienced tutors. It offers students a chance to earn a practical nursing diploma. It gets students qualified to take the NCLEX-PN examination. There is a pre-entrance examination which every student has to take in order to gain acceptance into the program (there is a $40 fee for the exam.)
NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 100.00 %
Tuition- The program costs $3,000 in total and an upfront payment of $2,032 is required.
Tulsa Tech
About School: Tulsa Tech is a school in Tulsa, that runs a practical nursing program which prepares adult learners for a profitable, hands-on healthcare career.
Location: The school is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Contact address; 6111 East Skelly Drive, Tulsa, OK 74147.
About the Program: Students have the option of a 12-month daytime program option or a 15-month evening option. Both programs comprise 1,463 hours of instruction, and this includes labs, classroom theory, and clinical experiences.
NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 85.94%
Tuition: The tuition cost of the program is estimated to be around $7,300.
Indian Capital Technology Center: Sallisaw
About School: The Sallisaw Campus of Indian Capital Technology Center(ICTC) is a public college which awards certifications and diplomas in different streams.
The college is also known for implementing strong anti-discrimination policies together with workable financial aid programs, that help in the attraction of aspirants from all spheres, regardless of their colour, financial background or religion.
Location: The school is located in Sallisaw, Oklahoma. Its contact address is; 401 East Houser Industrial Boulevard, Sallisaw, OK 74955
About the Program: ICTC gets students ready for healthcare careers through the practical nursing program it provides. It takes 11 months of full-time study to complete the program.
NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 90.26%
Tuition; The tuition is $1.50 per clock hour for in-district students
Western Technology Center
About the School: West Technology Center, which is located in Burns Flat, Oklahoma is home to practical nursing. Here, students are well groomed in the profession through its well-detailed program.
Location: This school is located in Burns Flat, Oklahoma. Its contact address is; 621 Sooner Drive, Burns Flat, OK 73624
About the Program: The curriculum for this course includes courses like pharmacology, concepts of nursing, Intravenous Therapy skills, and so many others. The time taken to complete this course is 1500 clock hours.
The program typically takes about 13 months to complete and once the students have graduated, they are automatically eligible to sit for the NCLEX-PN examination.
NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 78.09%
Tuition: The tuition fee for the program is $2 per credit hour.
Great Plains Technology Center
About the School: Great Plains Technology Center, which is located in Lawton, affords students the tools that they require to become successful LPNs through the practical nursing program that they offer.
Location: The school is located in Lawton, Oklahoma. Its contact address is: 4500 West Lee Boulevard, Lawton, OK 73505
About the Program: The program is a full-time, traditional course which commences in June of each year and also has a “Dayflex” option that starts in August and February. The program offers 1,463 hours of instruction in its entirety.
NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 87.96%
Tuition: The tuition for this program costs $5,033.
Northeast Technology Center- Kansas:
About the School: Northeast Technology Center, which is located in Kansas, has been serving the local community for more than 20 years. Together with 6 full-time courses, the college also offers a lot of short-term courses to aid students in choosing their career paths.
It also offers both financial aid and online classes in order to lure more students who may have geographical and/or financial constraints.
Location: The school is located in Kansas, Oklahoma. Its contact address is 450 North Highway 59, Kansas, OK 74347.
About the Program: The Practical Nursing Program offered by Northeast Tech’s Kansas campus prepares the students for a profitable career in practical nursing. It’s a 1463-hour program that is open to those who hold a high school diploma or GED only. The program combines classroom and laboratory skills with actual on-the-job experience in clinical settings
NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 93.43%
Tuition: To get the full details, check the website
Autry Technology Center
About the School: Autry Technology Center is a school that strongly believes that practical nursing is a very integral part of the healthcare industry.
Location: It is located at West Willow Road, Enid, Oklahoma. Its contact address is; 1201 West Willow Road, Enid, OK 73703
About the Program: To gain entrance into this program, applicants have to submit to a background check and drug screening, and are also fully responsible for the costs which are associated with those tests. Total class hours for the program are 1463 hours, and there are also available, flexible options for people who need to schedule their education around work, and so on. Upon completion of this program, individuals would be qualified to take the NCLEX-PN examination.
NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 100%
Tuition: For tuition fees, click this
Canadian Valley Technology Center: Chickasha
About the School: Canadian Valley Technology Center’s Chickasha campus is known to offer a wide range of short-term and full-time courses, which includes an LPN program that prepares students for a role under the direction of a registered nurse or a physician.
Location: The school is located at Michigan avenue, Chickasha, Oklahoma. Its contact address is 1401 Michigan Avenue, Chickasha, OK 73018.
About the Program: The program takes about 24 months to complete, and it combines classroom instruction with real patient experiences at different healthcare locations within the local community.
NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 97.50%
Tuition: For full details, check the Website
Mid-Del Technology Center
About the School: Mid-Del Technology Center (MDTC) is located in Midwest City, Oklahoma, with an additional campus on Tinker Air Force Base The school was established as a vocational centre in 1965 and was aimed at the provision of industrial skills to the community students
Location: The school is based in Midwest City, Oklahoma. Its contact address is;
About the Program: This practical nursing program takes just 1463 hours to complete and covers the core medical technology, physiology and anatomy, and also long-term care aid. This program combines proper classroom work with actual clinical experiences. It can be completed in just 12 months. Students are admitted in August every year, and they finish the program by June, the following year.
NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 97.91%
Tuition: To get access to the full tuition details, click this Link .
Kiamichi Technology Center: Hugo
About the School: The Hugo Campus of Kiamichi Technology Center, strives to create a vibrant learning environment to promote the personal and professional growth of individuals. It offers many full-time courses and also has a strong anti-discrimination policy.
Location: It is located in Hugo, Oklahoma. Its contact address is; P.O. Box 699, 107 South 15th Street, Hugo, OK 74743.
About the Program: it is a full-time, 11-month program that commences in July of every year. Applicants are to take pre-examinations and have to get satisfactory scores in order to gain admission into the program. The program lasts a total of 1508 hours. The application fee for the program is non-refundable.
NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 100%
Tuition: To get full details about the tuition fees and other costs, click This.
How long is the LPN program in Oklahoma?
In Oklahoma, the program typically requires 1500 clock hours to complete and is usually completed in about 14 months or less.
What is the number 1 nursing school in Oklahoma?
It is the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City.
What places pay LPNs the most?
The State that pays the wages to their LPN consultants based on the statistics in the US, is Connecticut, followed by Rhode Island, the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, and then Alaska.
How do I get my LPN license in Oklahoma?
All practical nursing candidates, regardless of their education, will need to show evidence of possessing a high school diploma or GED.
They are also required to pass the NCLEX-PN. Board approval is also needed. All candidates should submit the application for the license by examination to the Oklahoma Board and also include the compulsory $85 fee.