Pursuing Your LPN License in the Denver Area – A 2023 Guide
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) programs prepare students for a critical first role in healthcare delivery. As an LPN, you’ll provide important routine care and assistance that keeps hospital floors and medical offices running smoothly. With Denver’s aging population driving healthcare job growth, becoming an LPN offers stability and abundant openings for ambitious, compassionate professionals.
But you may be wondering – how do I choose the right LPN program to launch my career? With many quality options in a city like Denver, finding the best fit is key.
In this detailed guide, we’ll compare the area‘s top LPN programs on factors like curriculum quality, hands-on training, career support services, and graduate outcomes. We‘ll also overview admissions, financing, nursing role demand, and everything else you should consider in selecting the perfect program for you.
Let‘s get started!
An LPN Career in Denver – Why It’s an Exciting Choice
With Denver‘s population over age 65 projected to grow by almost 30% in the next five years alone, we need more dedicated and skilled LPNs to deliver compassionate care, especially in:
- Hospital medical-surgical units and clinics
- Assisted living communities
- Home health settings
- Hospice organizations
And as a new LPN, you can earn a strong starting salary – recent BLS data shows metro Denver LPNs making a median wage of over $50,000 annually. Combine that with Colorado‘s low cost of living compared to the national average, and you’ll be in a comfortable financial position while making a real difference through meaningful work.
LPN programs also open doors to career advancement. Many graduates choose to continue their studies to become Registered Nurses (RNs), Nurse Practitioners (NPs) or move into healthcare administration roles. Starting as an LPN lets you begin working with patients quickly, while creating a foundation for lifelong learning and growth.
Now let’s explore the top Denver area schools where you can train for this promising and stable nursing career.
Arapahoe Community College – Globally-Focused Nursing Education
With roots dating back over 50 years as Colorado’s first community college, globally-focused Arapahoe Community College (ACC) offers an LPN program blending academic rigor, cutting-edge simulation technology, and creative thinking required in modern healthcare environments.
The 12-month Certificate of Practical Nursing gives students a proven path to pass the NCLEX-PN licensure exam through:
- Solid academic foundation – Coursework covers core nursing concepts from medical terminology to pharmacology
- Replication of hospital settings – ACC’s nursing simulation labs feature computerized manikins, replica hospital rooms, and equipment like EKG machines and code carts
- Local clinical rotations – Students complete over 400 hours of patient care training across community clinics, long-term care facilities, and leading Front Range hospitals
- Small cohort model – With deliver classes capped at 24 learners, faculty provide individualized coaching, skill review, and career mentoring
This interdisciplinary approach produces graduates ready to thrive in traditional and emerging healthcare roles. ACC LPN alumni praise the program’s compassionate instructors who connect lessons to real patient cases and experiences.
Many choose to continue their education through ACC’s bridge to Registered Nursing – credits transfer seamlessly allowing graduates to become RNs in as little as one additional year of study.
With ACC’s LPN program cost below $7,000 including textbooks and uniforms, it’s also one of the most affordable options, making financial aid go further for those who qualify.
Bottom line? ACC LPN graduates have achieved sterling 89% first-time pass rates on the national license exam over the past decade – clear evidence of a program focused on student outcomes.
Pima Medical Institute – Hospital System Partners Fueling Hands-On Learning
Pima Medical Institute operates LPN programs at their Aurora and Colorado Springs area campuses, each strategically positioned to leverage strong hospital partnerships into student success.
Pima’s Certificate of Practical Nursing can be completed in just 10 months of accelerated study – one of the shortest program timelines available. Graduates still earn the complete 750+ clinical education hours mandated for state licensing through:
- Coursework integration – Lab practice and simulations augment lectures starting on day one
- Early patient care exposure – Students rotate through hospital clinics just weeks into the first semester
- Specialization options – Tailor clinicals and externships to focus areas like pediatrics, cardiology and orthopedics
- Hiring pipeline relationships – HealthONE, UCHealth and regional VA health networks source early talent through Pima’s LPN program
This experiential approach ensures students build skill and confidence through repeated practice in settings mirroring their future workplaces.
Pima also assembles classes of peers passionate about launching healthcare careers, leading to tight bonds and long-term networking that supports professional growth.
Standout student outcomes have followed – Pima LPN alumni have achieved an 87% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX-PN licensure exam over the past 5 years.
With dedicated financial aid advisors, flexible financing options make Pima’s accelerated LPN program accessible too. If you’re eager to kickstart your nursing career quickly, their year-round enrollment model lets you get started sooner.
Visit Pima Medical Institute today to discuss how their LPN program can put you on the fast-track to a rewarding healthcare profession.
Emily Griffith Technical College – Learn from Denver’s Most Experienced Public Nursing Faculty
Emily Griffith Technical College in Downtown Denver offers a proven pathway to LPN licensure, taught by the city’s most seasoned public nursing faculty.
As an open enrollment college designed to serve diverse learners, Emily Griffith’s PNG 1130 Practical Nursing program breaks down barriers to make nursing careers attainable through:
- Competency milestones – Students complete skill benchmarks, not credit hours or grades
- Flexible pacing options – Part-time evening schedules fit around life responsibilities
- One-on-one remediation – Instructors provide individual skill coaching sessions
- Peer tutor supports – Near-peer guides assist with lessons and study habits
This individualized approach combined with Emily Griffith’s culture of caring ensures every student receives what they need to grow into competent, job-ready nursing professionals.
The program’s NCLEX-PN first-time pass rate has reached 92% in recent years – a testament to nursing faculty guiding graduates to excel on this critical licensing exam.
Emily Griffith also maintains strong partnerships with major health systems, securing clinical rotation access at top Denver hospitals and clinics. Graduates consistently secure LPN positions at these same institutions – a pipeline for advancement later in their careers.
As Denver‘s most affordable LPN program at just over $5,000 including textbooks, Emily Griffith opens doors for diverse nursing talent. Over 85% of graduates received financial assistance last year through Federal Pell Grants, VA benefits, local foundation and state grant programs.
If you’re looking for a supportive LPN learning community focused on unlocking every student’s potential, Emily Griffith Technical College is the right choice.
Schedule a tour today to learn more about their transformative approach to nursing education.
Pickens Technical College – State-of-the-Art Simulation Labs Expand Student Capacity
Located on a dedicated 150,000 square foot campus near Denver International Airport, Pickens Technical College leverages brand new simulation technology and teaching spaces to increase LPN program capacity – welcoming 40+ additional students per intake.
That means more aspiring nurses can access their proven 10-month Practical Nursing pathway preparing graduates to provide essential care in roles like:
- Long term care and assisted living nurses
- Private practice MA/LPNs
- Home health LPNs
- Hospice care team LPNs
Program features facilitating skill mastery include:
- High-fidelity SIMS – Lifelike manikins replicate pulses, breathing, medications administration and more
- Dedicated nursing department faculty – Instructors hold 2+ specialized certifications beyond nursing licensure
- Interdisciplinary training clinics – Students run on-campus health clinics treating community members
- relationships – Partners like HealthONE and Centura embed student externs into hospital units
This comprehensive approach propels graduate success. Pickens LPN alumni have scored as high as 95% on first-attempt NCLEX-PN pass rates over the past decade.
Pickens nursing graduates also secure LPN employment at rates exceeding 92% within six months – significantly above Colorado‘s average for Practical Nursing programs. Many grads land in acute care hospital roles right away, building foundations for their long-term career growth.
As a public technical college, Pickens offers Colorado residents affordable LPN training under $10,000 total. We encourage prospective students to connect with Financial Aid Specialists on options to make this short-term program accessible.
Visit Pickens Technical College to learn more about their state-of-the-art practical nursing program facilities, high student outcomes, and expanding opportunities in this in-demand healthcare field.
Choosing the Right LPN Program For You
As you evaluate Practical Nursing schools in Denver and surrounding cities, focus on the fit and program attributes driving student success. Academics and affordability matter, but look deeper – where will you gain the most focused preparation and support for passing the NCLEX-PN and excelling as a compassionate nurse?
Here are key considerations as you research schools:
- Hands-on training options – Look for established on-campus nursing simulation labs and facilities along with ample patient care exposure through externships and clinicals
- Instructor qualifications – Programs with seasoned faculty and low student-teacher ratios offer more individual skill-building and career mentoring
- Graduate outcomes – Proven licensure exam pass rates and job placement statistics validate program quality
- Student support services – From academic assistance to counseling and graduate career aid, key resources ensure you complete your program poised for success
Comparing metrics in these areas will help you determine the nursing school best equipped to help you pursue this fulfilling career.
You’ll also want to explore logistics like class schedules compatible with your timeline and commitments outside school. Don’t hesitate to connect with admissions leaders at your top choice institutions who can answer all your questions about program specifics.
The most important step? Make sure you apply EARLY during open enrollment periods. Clinical rotation and lab capacity fill up quickly at top nursing schools. You’ll want to complete all necessary paperwork and compliance steps for timely consideration.
Get Ready to Launch Your Nursing Career in Denver!
Are you excited to get started on your journey to become a Licensed Practical Nurse? Denver offers high-quality programs, strong industry outlook, and abundant openings ready for compassionate professionals like you to fill.
As you conduct your research, feel free to reach out with any other questions about comparing program options in the Mile High City. I’m always glad to help prospective nurses find the education path positioned to unlock their greatest potential.
Here’s to an incredibly bright future ahead! Let me know how I can help you take that first step towards a career caregiving for your community.