Licensed practical nurses provide much of the same care to patients as other medical professionals, except they work under the supervision of registered nurses and physicians. They provide care for people who are sick, disabled, or injured. A majority of the work provided by licensed practical nurses is known as bedside care, or care given to patients who are confined to a hospital bed.

Some of the daily tasks of licensed practical nurses include taking patients' vital signs, administering medication and immunizations, monitoring catheters, and dressing wounds. They also assist patients with tasks such as bathing and dressing. It is crucial that LPNs consistently monitor patients for any changes in their health status. Any observed changes must be reported to a physician or registered nurse.

Typically, licensed practical nurses work full time or 40 hours per week. Most of the establishments that they are employed by have patients who need round-the-clock care, so LPNs may be required to work evening, weekend, and holiday shifts.

Career Specializations

According to the United States Department of Labor, most LPNs are generalists and will work in any area of healthcare. The only specialization that a licensed practical nurse might have would be due to the type of facility at which they work. This varies from doctors' offices and hospitals to home care and nursing homes. (BLS)

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Degree Levels

• Licensed Practical Nurse Vocational Program: 1 year to complete

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Education and Certification Requirements

Individuals who wish to pursue a career as a licensed practical nurse must first apply and be accepted to a vocational program. This program will take an average of one year for the student to graduate. The vocational training must be state-approved in order for students to proceed and earn their certification as a licensed practical nurse, which they must obtain in order to start working.

LPN training is a mixture of both practical on-site applications and traditional classroom courses. Students will cover all basic nursing concepts that will help them through their career; this includes anatomy, pediatrics, nutrition, first aid, and medical-surgical nursing, among many other concepts. Once students have graduated, they must become certified through The National Council Licensure Examination. This exam will be taken on a computer and cover four main areas that students have covered during their licensed practical nurse program. These areas include safe and effective care environment, health promotion and maintenance, psychosocial integrity, and physiological integrity.

People who are interested in pursuing a career as a licensed practical nurse must be an all-around caring individual. They should be sympathetic to their patients and be emotionally stable. It is also important that they be observant and conscious of changes in their patients at all times.

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Salary Information

Because licensed practical nurses only operate at one degree level, the salaries that they earn are largely dependent on the experience they have. On average, new licensed practical nurses who have just graduated will be making an average of $29,000 per year. As their experience increases and they gain more experience, LPNs are able to earn a salary of approximately $56,000 per year. (BLS)

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Job Outlook

According to the United States Department of Labor, the job outlook for licensed practical nurses is quite promising. The industry as a whole is predicted to grow an additional 21 percent throughout the 2008-2018 decade. The best job opportunities are for those individuals who have completed their licensed practical nursing program and are applying for jobs in home healthcare and nursing care facilities.

The reason for the employment growth and demand for licensed practical nurses is primarily due to the high demand for health care services as well as the increasing aging population. Due to many medical advances in this past decade, people are living longer, which is increasing the amount of care they need. Elderly people experience a higher risk of injuries, complications, and illness. (BLS)

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Related Careers

Emergency medical technicians, also known as EMTs, respond to 911 calls and assist in emergency situations. They often work alongside police officers and fire fighters. There are many different protocols that they must follow each time they answer a call.

Nurse practitioners work in many different settings such as clinics, hospitals, doctors' offices, and schools. They help treat and care for patients and counsel patients' families regarding the best ways to help the patient at home. They perform daily duties such as taking tests to the lab, reviewing medical history, taking vital signs, and administering vaccinations and medication.

Certified nursing assistants provide direct care to their patients under the supervision of the medical staff. They perform duties such as helping patients eat and bathe, take vital signs, and help patients out of their bedrooms.

Medical assistants work in many different medical establishments to provide both clinical and administrative duties. There are many different types of medical assistants, as they have the opportunity to specialize in different areas such as administrative, clinical, optometric, and ophthalmologic. The specific roles of a medical assistant vary depending on the type and size of the medical establishment at which they work.

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