Mississippi’s Licensed Practical Nurses

If you live in Mississippi and want to become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), now may be a good time to get into the career field. With as little as one year of education and a passing score onthe NCLEX-PN exam, you could become licensed to be an LPN in Mississippi. Some LPNs in this state can practice nursing in surrounding states as well as their home state.

Practical Nurses train to help Registered Nurses (RNs) and doctors perform patient care duties, such as cleaning wounds, bathing patients and recording their vital signs. LPNs don’t train as extensively as RNs, so LPNs take instructions from RNs and doctors regularly. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 38 percent of LPNs work in nursing homes and 16 percent work in hospitals, making these the two highest work environments for Practical Nurses.

How to Become an LPN

First, you need to graduate high school or earn your GED before entering an LPN training program. In Practical Nursing education classes, you’ll learn the skills needed to work as an LPN. After graduating with a certificate or diploma in Practical Nursing, nurses can take the nationally issued NCLEX-PN exam and gainlicensure through the state of Mississippi.

Practical Nursing Educational Programs in Mississippi

You should complete an LPN program, which takes at least one year, at a school approved by the Mississippi Board of Nursing. Here are a few popular Practical Nursing schools in Mississippi:

• Hinds Community College (HCC). This public school with a 12-month LPN program has locations across the state, including campuses in Jackson, Rankin and Vicksburg, which offer an LPN undergraduate certificate. Graduates of this school’s LPN program are eligible to take the NCLEX-PN exam and apply for state licensure.
• Mississippi Delta Community College (MDCC). This school offers a Practical Nursing program that takes three semesters to complete. Prerequisites include submitting entrance test and ACT scores, proof of high school diploma or GED and personal references, among other requirements.

The LPN Licensing Processes

The Mississippi Board of Nursing grants licenses to nurses throughout the state. Practical Nurse licensing can be gained by endorsement, in which LPNs who currentlyhold licensure from another state may transfer their credentials to Mississippi.

The more common form of licensing is by exam, in which Mississippi LPNs can apply for Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) licenses, allowing them to practice in more states than just the home state of Mississippi. Surrounding states where those with NLC licenses may work include Kentucky, West Virginia and Tennessee. Other surrounding states are currentlypending the approval of NLC participation.

Practical Nurse Salary and Career Outlook

While there is not a high demand for LPNs in Mississippi, Practical Nurses from this state are able to practice in other surrounding states using their NLC license. In 2016, the Projections Managing Partnership (PMP) reported 9,130 LPNs working in the state of Mississippi, with an average of 670 job openings per year. The demand for Mississippi LPNs, however, is expected to grow only 2.8 percent by the year 2026.

The mean salary for LPNs in Mississippi in 2017 was reported at $17.92 per hour or $37,280 annually by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

The Future for Mississippi LPNs

By far, the Mississippi city with the most LPNS employed in 2017 was Jackson. The next closest LPN employment areas were the Northeast and Southeast Mississippi nonmetropolitan areas. Practical Nurses in the Gulfport and Northeast Mississippi nonmetropolitan areas were paid the highest in the state in 2017, with mean incomes over $19 per hour. However, the Southwest nonmetropolitan area had the highest employment rate per 1,000 jobs for LPNs.

With so many job opportunities for LPNs within Mississippi and a growing demand for them outside the state, you should consider Practical Nursing if you are interested in a healthcare career. Plus, Mississippi LPNs have flexible careers, being able to work both in and outside the state

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FAQs

How much do licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses earn in the state of Mississippi?

According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in the state of Mississippi made an average of $39,020 per year in 2019. Entry-level licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses earned around $30,140 and some experienced professionals earned salaries as high as $49,430.

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