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Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) (also known as Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) in Texas and California) work under the direction of physicians and registered nurses (RNs) in caring for people who are disabled, ill, injured, or convalescent.
LPNs comprise a category of nurses distinguishable from other nursing professionals in a number of ways. Although there are many titles associated with the nursing profession, nurses generally fall into the following categories: Registered nurses (RNs) and Nurse Practitioners, LPNs, and Certified Nursing Assistants. In terms of training and responsibilities, LPNs fall in the middle of these categories. Following is a summary of the general duties associated with each category:
LPN Job Characteristics
LPNs work in a variety of health care settings, including hospitals, clinics, and in private homes. Those in hospitals and nursing care facilities work a 40-hour week, but because patients need round-the-clock care, some LPNs work nights, weekends, and holidays. They are often required to stand for long periods and assist patients in moving in their beds, standing, or walking. In doing so, they are subject to back injuries. They are also subject to hazards caused by caustic chemicals, radiation, and infectious diseases. The occupation can often be a stressful one due to heavy workloads and the need to deal with patients who are often confused, agitated, or uncooperative.
In order to be a good LPN, an individual should have a caring, sympathetic nature. Emotionally stability is very important due to the stress involved in working with the sick and injured. Other important qualifications include the ability to be observant, and to possess good decision-making and communication skills. As part of a health-care team, LPNs are required to follow orders and work under close supervision.
An aging registered nurse workforce, coupled with a shortage of new nurses, is giving rise to a deeper involvement of LPNs into the patient care setting. According to an article by Patricia A. Kenney, MSN, RN; Maintaining Quality Care during a Nursing Shortage Using Licensed Practical Nurses in Acute Care (PDF), the LPN has historically "been used in staffing mixes to alleviate nursing shortages." The article goes on to cite a national trend "to provide additional training and education to licensed and unlicensed assistive personnel to perform various procedures that include medication administration."
LPN Training and Schools
All states require LPNs to complete a state-approved practical nursing program. Prerequisites for these programs usually include a high school diploma or its equivalent, although some programs accept candidates without a diploma and others are part of a high school curriculum. Most nursing programs last about one year and are offered by vocational or technical schools or community or junior colleges. Sometimes programs are available through high schools, hospitals, and universities. After completion of the program, graduates must pass an examination known as the NCLEX-PN in order to become licensed. As of 2006, there were more than 1,500 state-approved training programs available.
Most practical nursing programs include a combination of classroom study and supervised clinical patient care. Classroom study covers basic nursing concepts and care-related subjects, including anatomy, physiology, medical-surgical nursing, pediatrics, obstetrics, psychiatric nursing, and the administration of drugs, nutrition, and first aid. Clinical practice usually takes place in a hospital setting but may include other types of patient environments.
The NCLEX-PN licensing exam is developed and administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. The exam is computer-based and varies in length. Four major categories are covered:
There are numerous LPN-to-RN training programs, through which LPNs can advance in their profession to become registered nurses. In many employment settings, including nursing homes, LPNs can also advance to become charge nurses overseeing the work of other LPNs.
Resources for Licensed Practical Nurses and Licensed Vocational Nurses
Major Employers of Licensed Practical Nurses
As of 2006, there were almost 750,000 licensed practical nursing jobs in the United States according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics (USDL BLS). Of these, 26% worked in hospitals, another 26% in nursing care facilities, and 12% in physician’s offices. The remainder worked for home health care services; employment services; residential care facilities; community care facilities for the elderly; outpatient care centers; and Federal, State, and local government agencies. About 19% worked part time.
The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a faster than average growth rate in LPN and LVN jobs through the year 2016. This projection is attributable to the anticipated long-term care needs of an increasing elderly population along with a general increase in demand for health care services. Job prospects through the next decade will vary by industry but are expected to be very good overall, with the best opportunities in nursing care facilities and home health care services and the most competition occurring in hospital jobs. USDL BLS projects over 850,000 LPN and LVN jobs by the year 2016.
Recent advances in technology have spawned a significant trend towards procedures which were once performed only in hospitals now being performed in physicians’ offices and in outpatient care centers instead. Accordingly, employment of LPNs is projected to decline in traditional hospitals, but to correspondingly grow faster than average in most settings outside of hospitals. This trend will be partially mitigated by the expectation that many hospitals will begin assigning a larger share of nursing duties to LPNs.
Home health care settings are projected to encompass a larger share of LPN employment throughout the next decade. Agencies responsible for home health care will be offering a large number of new jobs for LPNs in response to an increasing number of older people with functional disabilities, consumer preference for home care, and technological advances which allow increasingly complex treatments to be brought into the home.
Nursing care facilities are another setting where LPN employment is expected to grow faster than average, due to the growing number of people who are aged and disabled and in need of long-term care. Adding to the need for nursing home LPNs will be an increasing number of patients who have been discharged from the hospital but who have not recovered enough to return home.
Median annual earnings of licensed practical nurses were $37,940 in May 2007. The middle 50 percent of the LPN population earned between $32,310 and $45,300. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $27,370, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $52,160. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of licensed practical nurses in May 2007 were as follows:
Licensed Practical Nurses Terminology
CLT - Clinical Laboratory Technicians provide clinical information for disease prevention, medical diagnosis, and treatment of patients by processing specimens and performing laboratory tests.
CMA - Certified Medical Assistants perform administrative and clinical tasks to keep the offices of physicians, podiatrists, chiropractors, and other health practitioners running smoothly.
CNA - Certified Nurse Assistant
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association
LPN - Licensed Practical Nurse
NCLEX - National Council Licensure Examination measures the competencies needed to perform safely and effectively as a newly licensed, entry-level registered nurse.
NCSBN - The National Council of State Boards of Nursing provides leadership to advance regulatory excellence for public protection.
NLC - The Nurse Licensure Compact allows a nurse to have one license (in his or her state of residency) and to practice in other states, subject to each state's practice law and regulation.
RN - Registered Nurse
WHO - World Health Organization is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system and is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters.
Schools for Licensed Practical And Licensed Vocational Nurses are listed in the column to the left.
The Top Cities tab shows employment statistics for Licensed Practical And Licensed Vocational Nurses by major metro area.
The Top Industries tab shows which industries have the most jobs for Licensed Practical And Licensed Vocational Nurses, along with salary data by industry.
The Find Schools tab lets you search for schools by field of study, degree level, and location.
These schools offer particularly quick info upon request, and we have written detailed profiles for each (click school names to see the profiles).
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We have some additional detailed pages at the state level for Licensed Practical And Licensed Vocational Nurses. These pages include maps focused on the particular state, among other details.
Numbers in parentheses are counts of relevant campus-based schools in the state; online schools may also be available.
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