Licensed practical nurses are valued members of the patient care team. Their one-on-one interactions with clients require competence and compassion to care for those in physical and emotional distress. LPNs make good use of their observational, critical thinking, communication, management, and decision-making skills throughout their interactions with patients, their families, registered nurses, physicians, and other members of the health care team. The Nurse Practice Act along with workplace policies defines LPNs scope of practice. In nursing homes, they may take a lead role, supervising CNAs and other unlicensed staff. Their duties may include administrative tasks, such as keeping records and scheduling appointments, in physicians’ offices. LPNs in home health care may prepare meals and demonstrate how to perform basic nursing tasks to family members. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 5 percent growth in employment opportunities for LPNs through the year 2032.
Florida State College at Jacksonville
The Practical Nursing program at Florida State College is a limited-access program that prepares students for entry-level employment. Graduates are eligible to take the NCLEX-PN for state licensure to care for patients in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and other health care facilities. The course curriculum is approved by the Florida Board of Nursing and adheres to the core competencies of the Florida Department of Education. Following the didactic theory in the classroom, students must complete the clinical rotations in multiple clinical settings to obtain hands-on experience under the supervision of an experienced course instructor. The curriculum will cover 1,350 clock hours including classroom theory and clinical externship. Course modules include Basic Healthcare Worker, Nurse Aide and Orderly (Articulated), Nurse Aide and Order (Articulated) Lab/Clinical, Practical Nursing I, Practical Nursing II, and Practical Nursing III. Classes meet on the North campus Tuesday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm for 12 months. Beginning Fall 2024, classes will meet at the Nassau Campus from Tuesday through Thursday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm for 15 months.
Admission criteria:
- A high school diploma or equivalent
- Obtain admission to the Florida State College
- Submit a completed application by the established deadlines
- Submit TABE scores or documentation of exemption
- Submit a completed physical exam report
- Provide documentation of current CPR certification – adult, child and infant through American Heart Association approved Basic Life Support Course for Health Care Providers
- Take and pass the HESI A2 admission assessment with a minimum score of 75%
- Complete a satisfactory criminal background check and drug screen
Tuition and fees for the program are $3,942. Books and supplies cost an additional $1,800.
- Website: https://www.fscj.edu/home
- Address: 4501 Capper Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32218
- Phone: (904) 766-6500
- NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 94%
Jersey College
Jersey College’s LPN Program prepares students for a successful, entry-level career in the healthcare industry. The program is a combination of coursework and clinical experiences to develop well-rounded students. Graduates will possess the problem-solving, technical, and critical thinking skills needed to succeed on the job. Students can complete the program in just four 12-week terms – day and evening options are available. In the classroom, instructors begin with the foundational courses and advance to complex areas, such as mental, pediatric, and maternal nursing. Students develop clinical skills through hands-on opportunities in the school’s lab followed by real-world experiences in hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes. The open curriculum lets students enter and exit at key intervals. Course modules Introduction to Health Care, Human Anatomy and Physiology, Fundamentals of Nursing, Fundamentals of Nursing Practicum, Pharmacology, Adult Nursing I, Adult Nursing Practicum, Mental Health Nursing, Geriatric Nursing, Maternal and Newborn Nursing, Pediatric Nursing, Adult Nursing, and Adult Nursing Practicum. The entire program offers a total of 1,501 contact hours. Graduates are eligible to take the state licensure exam and may also enroll in a bridge program to pursue advanced nursing.
Admission criteria:
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Must have a high school diploma or GED equivalency
- Present proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent residency
- Submit a completed application for admission
- Demonstrate satisfactory skill levels in reading and math – must obtain a minimum of 75% on the reading and math admission exam
- Attend an admission interview
- Make an advanced program deposit for tuition and fees
- Present evidence of good physical health and documentation of fitness to work in healthcare
- Provide documentation of immunization – Mantoux test, Tetanus, Hepatitis B, MMR, Varicella, seasonal flu shot
- Provide proof of current BLS for Health Care Providers certification from the American Heart Association
- Meet the nursing program technical standards
The cost of the program is $25,720. It includes tuition, books, nursing kit, background check fee, application fee, registration fee, and uniform.
- Website: https://www.jerseycollege.edu/
- Address: 8131 Baymeadows Circle W, Jacksonville, FL 32256
- Phone: (904) 733-3588
- NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 96%
Concorde Career Institute
Concorde’s PN program emphasizes a hands-on curriculum to equip students with the skills they need to serve as effective members of a health care team. Course instructors cover didactic and clinical instruction in the areas of pharmacology, nursing fundamentals, obstetric nursing, medical-surgical nursing, mental health nursing, and pediatric nursing. Students also cover foundational courses such as anatomy, physiology, laws and ethics, communication skills, and trends and issues in nursing. Through the engaging clinical sessions, students are exposed to various health care settings where they develop critical thinking and other skills required for success as a practical nurse. The diploma program covers 1722 contact hours or 67 semester credits in 50 instructional weeks for full-time students and 80 instructional weeks for part-time students. Course modules are Basic Foundations in Nursing and Nursing Practice, Personal and Vocational Concepts, Introduction to Medical-Surgical Nursing, Medical-Surgical Nursing, Family Health Nursing & Transition to Practice, Career Path Success, and Clinical Practice.
Admission criteria:
- Attend an admission interview and campus tour
- Complete all the admission documents including the Enrollment Agreement and disclosures
- Take and pass the entrance assessments. Obtain a score of 17 on the Wonderlic SLE or 70 on the HESI A2
- Provide proof of graduating from an accredited secondary institution. Acceptable documentation of high school graduation or equivalent is required
- Must be at least 18 years of age at the time of the clinical externship
- Provide a health certificate, immunization records, and results of a TB test
- Must be able to read, speak, and write English
- Must be a citizen or permanent resident of the U.S.
- Consent to a criminal background check and drug screen
The cost of the program is $34,356. It includes tuition, application fee, textbooks, and supplies. Financial aid is available through Federal loans for qualifying students.
- Website: https://www.concorde.edu/
- Address: 7259 Salisbury Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32256
- Phone: (904) 725-0525
- NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 100.00%
First Coast Technical College
The Practical Nursing program at First Coast Technical College offers a sequence of courses to give adults the technician knowledge and skills to function as a Licensed Practical Nursing and pursue further education and careers in the Health Science cluster. The curriculum covers 1,350 contact hours of theory and practical instruction. Course modules include Practical Nursing Foundations I, Practical Nursing Foundations II, Medical Surgical Nursing I, Medical Surgical Nursing II, and Comprehensive Nursing and Transitional Skills. Graduates will demonstrate knowledge of the healthcare delivery system, understand bloodborne diseases, assist with restorative activities, provide patient-centered care for the geriatric population, use appropriate written and oral communication in care, apply the principles of infection, administer medication, care for pre-operative and post-operative patients, and care for pediatric and maternity patients.
Admission criteria:
- Official sealed high school or GED transcripts. An associate degree can be sent in lieu of high school or GED transcripts
- Apply for Federal Student Aid
- Take an admissions assessment – based on the review of official transcript
- Schedule and take the TEAS. Must obtain a minimum adjusted total individual score of 55% or higher
- Complete a background check
- Pass a mandatory drug screen
- Submit a report of a physical exam and documentation of immunization – PPD or chest x-ray., Hepatitis B, Influenza, MMR, Varicella, and Tdap
The cost of the program is $8,672.23. It includes tuition, uniform, watch with a second hand, white nursing shoes, ATI TEAS review manual, graduation pin, Florida Board of Nursing Fingerprinting, NCLEX-PN exam, and liability insurance.
- Website: https://fctc.edu/
- Address: 2980 Collins Avenue, St. Augustine, FL 32084
- Phone: (904) 547-3282
- Fax: (904) 679-3551
- NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 94.44%
St. John’s River State College
The practical nursing program at St. John’s River State College is approved by the Florida Board of Nursing. The curriculum covers 1,350 hours of nursing coursework required for students to gain the knowledge and skills to qualify for entry-level positions in nursing. Course topics include practical nursing foundations, medical surgical nursing, and comprehensive nursing and transitional skills. Graduates will be eligible to apply for the State Board Examination for Licensed Practical Nursing. New students are admitted every Fall semester. Classes meet Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The clinical rotations are scheduled at facilities within the tri-county area. The duration of the program is 12 months.
Admission criteria:
- Meet the requirements for admission to SJR State
- Must submit official high school transcripts or equivalent
- Complete the TABE placement test – unless exempted or have credit for College Composition and Intermediate Algebra
- Must complete the A2 HESI Assessment Exam by the end of the application period with a minimum English Language composite score of 70% or better
- Must submit a completed application to the practical nursing program
- Must have an overall high school of college GPA of 2.0 or better
- Applicants must have completed the SJR State CNA program will be given preference
- Must sign a consent and waiver to perform a criminal background check and drug screen
- Must attend a nursing student orientation online
- Must complete an annual physical examination verifying acceptable health status
- Must have liability/malpractice insurance
Tuition costs $82.50 per credit hour for resident students and $324.25 for non-residents.
- Website: https://www.sjrstate.edu/
- Address: 5001 St. Johns Avenue, Palatka, FL 32177
- Phone: (386) 312-4200
- NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 78.57%
Florida Gateway College
The Practical Nursing program at Florida Gateway College is designed to prepare students for nursing employment in the healthcare sector. The curriculum covers a total of 1350 clock hours of nursing courses. Course topics include basic nursing, body structure and function, basic nutrition, human development across the life span, medical surgical nursing across the life span, maternal infant nurisng, and transition to practice. Graduates will be prepared to contribute to the health and well-being of patients through direct patient care, administration of medication, and medical treatments. They will be eligible to apply to take the state licensure exam to become a licensed practical nurse. Classes meet Monday through Thursday from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. The duration of the program is 12 months. New students are admitted in the spring semester.
Admission criteria:
- Must apply for admission to FGC
- Must take the TABE and score at least an 11 in Math, English and Reading
- Must complete the TEAS with a score of 55% proficiency or higher
- Must clear the Level II background and 10 panel drug/alcohol screen
- Must submit an application to the practical nursing program
- Must write a four paragraph essay based on the prompts provided
- Provide copies fo health care related licenses or certificates
- Must submit two letters of reference
- Must have a high school diploma or GED
- Must pass a criminal background check and drug screen
- Must complete an annual physical exam with required immunizations
- Must have basic CPR card from BLS Provider card from the American Health Association
- Must provide a copy of health insurance card
The program cost of $6,521.55 includes tuition costs for three semesters, lab fees, nursing entrance exam, books, supplies, background screening, CPR exam, physical exam, uniforms, personal health care, state board application fee, and NCLEX fee.
- Website: https://www.fgc.edu/
- Address: 149 SE College Place, Lake City, FL 32025
- Phone: 386-752-1822
- NCLEX-PN Pass Rate: 78%
How Long is the LPN Program in Jacksonville, FL?
State approved practical nursing programs in Jacksonville cover a minimum of 1,350 contact hours of theory and hands-on instruction to prepare students for the role of a practical nurse. The average completion time for full-time students is 12 months and 18 months for part-time students.
How Much Does The LPN Program Cost in Jacksonville?
The practical nursing programs at public colleges in Jacksonville costs an average of $8,400 for tuition online. The cost of the program at private colleges is approximately $27,800.
How Much Does An LPN make in Jacksonville?
Licensed practical nurses in Jacksonville earn a median annual wage of $44,640 at the entry level. Experienced practical nurses earn an average wage of $50,582 annually.
What Is The Job Outlook for LPNs in Florida?
According to the Board of Nursing, there are not enough LPNs for Florida’s growing and aging population who are need of extended care. LPNs function as the primary licensed care providers in home health and long-term care settings. There are several reasons for the shortages, including retirement of existing provides, low licensure passage rates of practical nursing graduates, and limited openings in existing nursing programs. The takeaway here is that the outlook is positive for those who complete a practical nursing program and pass the licensure exam. Employers are willing to pay more to attract top talent to fill positions in long-term care.