LPN School in Alaska - AK

If you're trying to become a licensed practical nurse in Alaska, you've got some big advantages, and some potential drawbacks. The demand for LPN's in Alaska is much higher than in the rest of the US, and is expected to grow in the near future, according to the state’s Board of Nursing.

When you enroll, you can expect to spend about a year going through the program if you can attend full time, and longer if you can't. It's pretty common for prospective LPN's to attend only part time, so most programs are set up to deal with that quite easily.

While attending, you'll probably find your time pretty evenly split between classes on patient care, basic medical practices, your legal responsibilities, and time spent in a clinic or hospital.  While working as an LPN in training you can expect to operate under the direction of a registered nurse.

Continuing Education for LPNs in Alaska

Satisfying continuing education requirements in Alaska is a little different from most states. Instead of simply having mandatory hour requirements, they specify three conditions, two of which must be met for you to be eligible to renew your license.
You’ll need to make sure you do two of the following:

• Earn 30 hours of continuing education 'contact hours' by taking part in classes, study groups, and seminars hosted or put on by an educational body approved by the board.
• Spend 30 hours in 'un compensated professional activities,’ i.e. working for free. This would include peer teaching, volunteering, presenting at schools and the like.
• You can work for at least 320 hours during a renewal period.

There are still stipulations as to what sort of activities, and providers, the board approves of. You’ll want to contact the program leaders, or request the information from the Alaskan Board of Nursing, to make sure you are doing activities for which you can get credit.

Through comprehensive training programs, aspiring LPNs in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and Sitka, Alaska may be able to prepare themselves for the possibility of employment in some of the largest hospitals and healthcare facilities in the state including Providence Alaska Medical Center, Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, Alaska Regional Hospital, and Central Peninsula Regional Hospital.