Licensed Practical Nurses

Career summary

Licensed practical nurses may also be called licensed vocational nurses.

Licensed practical nurses work under the direction of a doctor or registered nurse (RN).

Most LPNs provide basic bedside care to patients. They take vital signs such as temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and respiration. They discuss health care with patients and listen to their concerns. They also help to maintain patient records.

LPNs observe patients and report any negative reactions to treatments or medications. They collect blood and other samples from patients for testing. In some work settings, they perform routine lab tests. They prepare patients for more complex tests and exams and explain how procedures work and answer questions.

LPNs answer patient calls. They monitor patients and provide basic care such as changing bandages and inserting catheters. They treat patients for bedsores, apply dressings, and assist with meals. They also apply hot water bottles and ice packs.

In nursing homes and other care facilities licensed nurses help patients bathe, brush teeth, and get dressed. They may help evaluate the needs of residents and assist others in developing care plans.

In private homes LPNs may prepare meals. They may also teach simple nursing tasks to family members.

In doctors' offices and clinics, LPNs often make appointments, keep records, and perform other clerical duties. They also set up exam or treatment rooms.

In some states, licensed practical nurses may give medications to patients. They may also start intravenous (IV) fluids.

In all settings, experienced LPNs may supervise nursing assistants and aides.

Related careers

This career is part of the Health Science cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Athletic Trainers
• Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
• Dental Assistants
• Dental Hygienists
• Emergency Medical Technicians
• Medical Assistants
• Nursing Assistants
• Occupational Therapist Aides
• Occupational Therapist Assistants
• Orderlies
• Physical Therapist Assistants
• Physician Assistants
• Psychiatric Aides
• Psychiatric Technicians
• Radiologic Technologists
• Registered Nurses
• Social and Human Service Assistants
• Surgical Technologists

Military careers

• Medical Care Technicians

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to licensed practical nurses.

• Take patients' vital signs, such as pulse and blood pressure.
• Give basic care and treatments, such as taking temperature and dressing wounds, under the direction of doctors or registered nurses.
• Answer patients' calls, observe them, and report negative reactions to medication.
• Collect blood and other samples for testing.
• Perform routine laboratory tests.
• Prepare patients for exams and tests. Explain all procedures to them.
• Feed patients and record food and liquid intake and output.
• Assist patients with personal care, such as bathing, dressing, and personal hygiene.
• Set up treatment rooms and necessary equipment.
• Work with doctors, nurses, and other medical staff to oversee patient progress.
• May administer prescribed medications or start intravenous (IV) fluids.
• May help deliver, care for, and feed infants.
• May supervise nursing assistants and aides.
• May help evaluate patients' residential needs and develop care plans.
• May schedule appointments, keep records, and perform other clerical tasks.
• May prepare meals and teach family members simple nursing tasks.
• Record important information about patients in their charts.

Common work activities

Licensed practical nurses perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Assist and care for others
• Document and record information
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Get information needed to do the job
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Evaluate information against standards
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Teach others
• Coordinate the work and activities of others
• Perform for or work with the public
• Perform activities that use the whole body
• Process information
• Develop and build teams
• Guide, direct, and motivate others
• Resolve conflicts and negotiate with others
• Use computers
• Communicate with people outside the organization
• Coach others
• Inspect equipment, structures, or materials
• Handle and move objects
• Schedule work and activities
• Analyze data or information
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people
• Develop goals and strategies
• Explain the meaning of information to others
• Provide advice and consultation to others
• Perform administrative tasks
• Think creatively

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, licensed practical nurses:

Interpersonal relationships

• Have a high level of social interaction with patients.
• Communicate by telephone and in person on a constant basis. They also communicate by letters and memos, but less often.
• Often deal with people who are unpleasant or discourteous due to their injuries or illness.
• Are substantially responsible for outcomes and results. Good care means patients heal faster.
• Are substantially responsible for the health and safety of their patients.
• May on occasion be placed in conflict situations with patients or family members.
• Almost always work as part of a group.
• Sometimes must deal with patients who may be physically violent or aggressive.

Physical work conditions

• Are often exposed to diseases or infections when interacting with patients.
• Always work indoors.
• Work very near others. They are in close contact with patients throughout their shift.
• Sometimes wear safety attire, such as gloves or masks.
• Are sometimes exposed to contaminants.
• Sometimes are exposed to loud sounds and distracting noise levels, such as from medical or cleaning equipment.
• May have to get into awkward positions when moving patients.

Work performance

• Must be very exact in their work. Errors could seriously endanger patients' health.
• Make decisions that affect their employer, patients, and coworkers on a daily basis. They often have to make quick decisions without consulting another nurse or doctor first.
• Set nearly all their daily tasks and goals for the day without consulting a supervisor first. The needs of patients often dictate their work.
• Abide by strict daily deadlines.
• Repeat the same tasks, such as giving medications and making notes in patient charts.

Hours/travel

• May work part time or full time. Most work full time.
• Work a set schedule.
• May work days, nights, weekends, and holidays.

Physical demands

Licensed practical nurses frequently:

• Stand for long periods of time.
• Walk or run for long periods of time.
• Repeat the same movements.
• Use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.

It is important for licensed practical nurses to be able to:

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand the speech of another person.
• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
• Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.
• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for licensed practical nurses to be able to:

• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
• Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
• Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
• Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.
• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• Bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.
• Coordinate movement of several parts of the body, such as arms and legs, while the body is moving.
• Keep or regain the body's balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
• Choose quickly and correctly among various movements when responding to different signals.
• React quickly using hands, fingers, or feet.
• Make fast, repeated movements of fingers, hands, and wrists.
• Use muscles for extended periods without getting tired.
• Use muscles to jump, sprint, or throw objects.
• Move arms and legs quickly.
• Adjust body movements or equipment controls to keep pace with speed changes of moving objects.
• Determine the distance between objects.

Skills and abilities

Licensed practical nurses need to:

Communicate

• Read and understand work-related materials.
• Understand spoken information.
• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Understand written information.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Write clearly so other people can understand.

Reason and problem solve

• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Recognize the nature of a problem.
• Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.
• Develop rules that group items in various ways.
• Think of new ideas about a topic.
• Make sense of information that seems without meaning or organization.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Manage the time of self and others.
• Check how well one is learning or doing something.
• Go back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information without becoming confused.
• Motivate, develop, and direct people as they work.

Work with people

• Look for ways to help people.
• Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.
• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.
• Teach others how to do something.
• Use several methods to learn or teach new things.
• Solve problems by bringing others together to discuss differences.
• Persuade others to approach things differently.

Perceive and visualize

• Identify a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in distracting material.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Licensed Practical Nursing

Other programs of study to consider

• Advanced Nursing
• Pre-Nursing

Training

To work as a licensed practical nurse, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent;
• complete a practical nursing program; and
• have a license.

Education after high school

You can get practical nursing training at a professional-technical school or two-year college. A few high schools and hospitals also offer this training.

Most practical nursing programs take one year to complete. They include classroom study and supervised clinical practice (patient care). Classroom study includes anatomy, physiology, nutrition, and first aid. As part of your patient care studies, you learn to administer drugs to patients.

Work experience

You can volunteer in a nursing home or other medical setting to gain practical experience. Work experience as a nursing aide is also very helpful.

On-the-job training

While you are a student, you get clinical work experience in a hospital or clinical setting. You work under the supervision of an experienced nurse.

Military training

Some branches of the military train people to be medical care technicians. Training lasts seven to 52 weeks, depending on your specialty. Additional training occurs on the job.

Helpful high school courses

You should take a general high school curriculum that meets the state's graduation requirements. You will be required to take both math and science classes to graduate.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Anatomy and Physiology
• Health Education
• Introduction to Health Care
• Nursing
• Safety and First Aid

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

LPNs should have a caring, sympathetic nature. Employers prefer to hire LPNs who have a strong desire to help others and a genuine concern for patients' welfare. Because work with the sick and injured can be stressful, employers look for LPNs who are emotionally stable. The ability to follow orders and work under close supervision are also important. Applicants must have passed the state licensing exam to qualify for LPN positions.

Employers also look for applicants who are dependable and have strong patient assessment and critical thinking skills. Certification in Basic Life Support (BLS) and/or CPR is often required of applicants.

Tips

Volunteer to work in a hospital. It's the best way to network and gives you an opportunity to show your interest in serving people to a potential employer. Paid jobs as a nursing assistant or orderly are also available. Courses in English, writing, and other communication skills are considered helpful for gaining entry to and advancing in this field. Courses in math, biology, chemistry, and physics are important. Willingness to work with diverse groups is a plus. The ability to be flexible and a willingness to learn are also important.

Costs to workers

Many licensed practical nurses join a professional association and pay dues. Costs for comfortable shoes and uniforms vary depending on one's personal preference. Additional expenses include continuing education reference books to keep up with changes in the field.

#Pulled in CTW info 2/2/11, cj. Saw numerous job listings mentioning need for CPR or BLS certification so added 3/28/14 cj.

Licensing/certification

Licensed practical nurses must be licensed by the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission. Licensing requirements include:

• being 18 years old;
• a high school diploma or equivalent;
• graduation from an approved nursing program;
• answering personal data questions;
• passing a written national examination;
• enrollment in Nursys national nursing database and completion of related survey; and
• seven hours of HIV/AIDS education.

There is a state license application fee of $85. The annual renewal fee is $85.

Nurses must show proof of 531 hours of active nursing and 45 hours of continuing education every three years when they renew their license. If licensed practical nurses have not yet enrolled in and completed the survey for the Nursys national database, they must do so when they renew their license.

For more information on additional licensing requirements, contact:

Washington State Department of Health
Nursing Care Quality Assurance
Customer Service Center 
PO Box 47864
Olympia, WA 98504
360.236.4700

#Updated POB #; rest of info ok, 3/12/13 cj. No changes 5/6/14 lh. Checked licensing info; updated POB, rest ok, 3/28/14 cj. updated fees 1/21/15 lh no change 1/25/16 lh. Updated fees 11/1/17 cj. Added info about Nursys enrollment and survey 11/29/17 as is requirement as of 1/1/18 cj. Added personal data ?'s; unable to confirm fees so left as is; rest ok, 4/16/18 cj. Licensing info ok, 4/15/19 cj.

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

Wages vary based on the LPN's experience. Wages also vary by area of the country and employer. For example, LPNs who work in home health care services tend to earn more than those who work in doctors' offices.

Benefits also vary by employer. Most full-time LPNs receive typical benefits. These include paid vacation, sick leave, and health insurance. Part-time LPNs rarely receive benefits.

Employment and outlook

State Outlook

#Between 2014 and 2024, it is estimated that for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses there will be 76 openings annually due to new positions and 229 openings annually from workers leaving this career.

#Updated outlook 06.16 sd

There is a demand for qualified applicants in the state. This trend is expected to continue. Opportunities will grow due to a combination of factors: the increase in outpatient care centers, the expansion of health services as a result of new medical techniques and drugs, and an aging population. Most job growth is expected to occur in residential care facilities, physician’s offices, home health care agencies, and clinics.

#Info still seems accurate so left as is, 4/16/18 cj.

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

Major employers:

• Nursing and personal care agencies
• Hospitals
• Doctors' offices
• Home health care agencies

National outlook

Demand for this occupation will be very strong. Nursing homes and other care facilities will offer the most new jobs for LPNs. In part, this is because the number of elderly people in need of long-term care is rising. In addition, there is an increasing number of patients released from the hospital who have not recovered enough to return home.

Fast growth is also expected in home health care services. This is in response to two factors. One, the number of older people with disabilities is growing. Two, people prefer to be cared for in their own homes. In addition, technological advances will make it possible to bring more complex treatments into the home. This is true for doctors' offices and clinics as well, where more complicated procedures can now be performed. As a result, employment of LPNs is expected to grow quickly in doctors' offices, clinics, and emergency medical centers.

Job openings will also occur as people retire. Job prospects will be best for those willing to move to rural and other underserved areas of the country.

Other resources

American Nurses Association 
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 400
Silver Spring, MD 20910
800.274.4262
301.628.5000

Explore Health Careers: Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse 

Health Occupation Students of America 
548 Silicon Drive, Suite 101
Southlake, TX 76092
800.321.HOSA

National Association for Home Care & Hospice 
228 Seventh Street SE
Washington, DC 20003
202.547.7424

National Student Nurses' Association 
45 Main Street, Suite 606
Brooklyn, NY 11201
718.210.0705

Nursing 
From Johnson & Johnson

Washington Center for Nursing 
1101 Andover Park West, Suite 105
Tukwila, WA 98188
206.787.1200

Washington State Nurses Association 
575 Andover Park West
Suite 101
Tukwila, WA 98188
206.575.7979
800.231.8482

References

Career cluster

• Health Science

Career path

• Social

O*Net  occupation

• Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses (29-2061.00) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 3 - Medium preparation needed. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations.

DOT occupation

• Nurse, Licensed Practical (079.374-014) 

Strong Interest Inventory

• Licensed Practical Nurse

Holland occupational cluster

• Social/Realistic/Conventional

COPSystem

• Service Professional