According to the North Carolina Board of Nursing, 21,625 LPNs were licensed in the state as of December, 2011. Most LPNs in North Carolina work in long-term care. They also work in hospitals, medical offices/clinics, and home health/hospice. The counties of Cumberland, Forsyth, Guilford, and Mecklenburg have the most LPNs. The three-year first time pass rate for LPNs taking the NCLEX is very high, ranging from 86 to 100 percent.
According to a recent workforce analysis by the North Carolina Hospital Association (NCHA), the healthcare and social assistance sector is now the state's largest employment sector. Hospitals alone employ nearly 190,000 people, and 46 percent of those positions are in nursing. The LPN turnover rate is higher than the RN turnover rate in hospitals, but the NCHA postulates that some of those LPNs are furthering their education and becoming RNs. Not only do RNs earn nearly $20,000 more per year in North Carolina according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, but the career opportunities are expanded as well.
Programs to Consider
Carolinas Healthcare System (Charlotte). LPNs may apply for advanced placement in the school's Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in nursing program. The program takes about two years to complete. Some graduates move directly into a BSN program while working as an AAS-prepared RN. Classes include behavioral health, and maternal-neonatal health.
Durham Technical Community College. LPNs may qualify for advanced placement in the AAS in nursing program at Durham. The fully accredited program takes five semesters to complete. The classroom portion of the program is taught during the day. Clinical experience may include day and some evening rotations at facilities throughout the area.
Winston-Salem State University. This is a BSN program for LPNs and associate degree RNs. LPNs with a year of clinical experience can challenge three beginning nursing classes. Those with at least three years of specialty experience can challenge adult nursing I, gerontology, clinical health nursing, and child health nursing. Without challenges, the program is four years.
Alamance Community College (Graham, NC)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LPN with advanced standing
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Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College (Asheville, NC)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: Advanced Placement for LPNs
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Beaufort Community College (Washington, NC)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: Licensed Practical Nurses Entering the Associated Degree Nursing Program
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Blue Ridge Community College (Flat Rock, NC)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LPN to RN program
Accreditation: NLNAC accredited
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Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute (Hudson, NC)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: Associate Degree Nursing Program Advanced Placement Option
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Carolinas Healthcare System (Charlotte, NC)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LPN to ADN
Accreditation: NLNAC accredited
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Central Carolina Community College (Sanford, NC)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: Advanced LPN-to-ADN Program
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College of the Albemarle (Elizabeth City, NC)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LPN to ADN
Accreditation: NLNAC accredited
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Craven Community College (New Bern, NC)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: Associate Degree Nursing Transition program
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Davidson County Community College (Lexington, NC)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LPN-ADN option
Accreditation: NLNAC accredited
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Durham Technical Community College (Durham, NC)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LPN to ADN Program
Accreditation: NLNAC accredited
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Fayetteville Technical Community College (Fayetteville, NC)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: Transition Program for LPN
Accreditation: NLNAC accredited
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Gaston College (Dallas, NC)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LPN to RN Alternate Schedule Option
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Isothermal Community College (Spindale, NC)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: Advanced Placement
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Johnston Community College (Smithfield, NC)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LPN to ADN
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Lenoir Community College (Kinston, NC)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LPN TO ADN TRANSITION
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North Carolina A & T State University (Greensboro, NC)
Program Types: LPN to BSN
Program Name: LPN to BSN
Accreditation: NLNAC accredited
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Pitt Community College (Greenville, NC)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LPN to Associate Degree Nursing
Accreditation: NLNAC accredited
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Richmond Community College (Hamlet, NC)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LPN to ADN
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Rockingham Community College (Wentworth, NC)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LPN Advanced Placement (leading to Associate Degree Nursing)
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Sampson Community College (Clinton, NC)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: Advanced Placement (Transition to the Associate Degree Nursing)
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Sandhills Community College (Pinehurst, NC)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: Associate Degree in Nursing advance placement (ADN-AP)
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Stanly Community College (Albemarle, NC)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: Associate in Applied Science - Returning LPN
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Vance-Granville Community College (Henderson, NC / Louisburg, NC)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE TO ASSOCIATE DEGREE NURSE COMPLETION TRACK
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Wayne Community College (Goldsboro, NC)
Program Types: LPN to ADN
Program Name: Associate Degree Advanced Standing
Accreditation: NLNAC accredited
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Winston-Salem State University (Winston-Salem, NC)
Program Types: LPN to BSN
Program Name: LPN-BSN Program Option
Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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