You asked for general information regarding licensed practical nursing (LPN) programs in Connecticut. You also wanted to know why they are offered in vocational-technical high schools rather than community colleges.

LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSING IN CONNECTICUT

Only vocational-technical schools, private schools, hospitals, and colleges are eligible to offer LPN programs in Connecticut. According to state regulations, the Connecticut nursing board, with the consent of the DPH commissioner, must approve programs preparing a graduate for licensure as an LPN (DPH Regs. § 20-90-46).

State regulations further provide that the curriculum of an approved practical nurse educational program must integrate theory and clinical practice and provide skills for safe practice in the following areas: (1) elementary principles of physical-biological and behavioral sciences; (2) fundamentals of nursing; (3) medical- surgical nursing; (4) maternal and child health nursing; and (5) geriatric nursing. Additionally, the program must be 230 days in length (DPH Regs. §20-90-55(b)). OLR Report 2001-R-0079 provides a detailed discussion of nurse licensure requirements.

Students who complete an approved LPN program are eligible to sit for the practical nursing licensing examination. Connecticut uses the examination produced by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCLEX-LPN test. )

The examination includes those subjects determined by the Department of Public Health (DPH), with the advice and consent of the board. An applicant passing the examination must be licensed by DPH (CGS § 20-96).

Currently there are 14 state approved practical nurse programs in Connecticut. Eleven of these programs are located in high schools in the Connecticut regional vocational-technical school system. Costs for LPN programs offered by the vocational-technical schools are currently listed as $ 3,100, plus fees and expenses, such as books and uniforms. The remaining programs are offered through the New England Technical Institute, where tuition currently exceeds $ 18,000, excluding fees and expenses. Both the public and private programs offer financial aid. All LPN programs require a high school diploma or GED, an interview, and an entrance examination.

According to the director of nursing programs at Capital Community Technical College, LPN programs have never been offered in the community technical colleges. However, she expressed that the community and technical colleges have a continuing interest in offering LPN programs, as it would make it easier for students who wish to make the transition to registered nurse or other health careers. As LPN programs are not credited, LPN’s must enroll in transition classes to received advanced placement credits for their LPN training.

The regional vocational-technical high schools offer several trade programs for adults. A consultant for LPN programs in the vocational-technical schools could not provide the exact date on which the school system began to offer LPN programs. He estimates that it was at least as far back as 1976, but maybe earlier. According to the representative, the question of moving the LPN programs to the community and technical colleges has been discussed several times over the years.

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