Virginia Highlands Community College LPN, RN Nursing Programs in Abingdon, Virginia

Virginia Highlands Community College, like many community colleges, likely offers pathways to becoming a nurse through both Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and Registered Nurse (RN) programs. The LPN program is generally a certificate or diploma program designed to provide students with the essential skills and knowledge needed to provide basic nursing care under the supervision of registered nurses or physicians. The RN program is an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program, which is a more comprehensive program that prepares graduates to administer medications, develop care plans, and manage patient care. Both programs typically involve classroom instruction, laboratory practice, and clinical rotations in local hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare settings. It’s common for community colleges to offer flexible scheduling options, and LPN programs often act as a foundation for those who wish to pursue an RN degree through an LPN-to-RN bridge program, allowing them to build upon their existing knowledge and experience. Graduates of both programs are eligible to take the NCLEX exam, the national licensure exam for nurses.