All About Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
Position Description Care for ill, injured, or convalescing patients or persons with disabilities in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, private homes, group homes, and similar institutions. May work under the supervision of a registered nurse. Licensing required.
A Day in the Life of a LP or LV Nurse
- Wash and dress bodies of deceased persons.
- Prepare patients for examinations, tests, or treatments and explain procedures.
- Evaluate nursing intervention outcomes, conferring with other healthcare team members as necessary.
- Clean rooms and make beds.
- Prepare or examine food trays for conformance to prescribed diet.
- Administer prescribed medications or start intravenous fluids, noting times and amounts on patients’ charts.
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Qualities of a LP or LV Nurse
Below is a list of the skills most Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses say are important on the job.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Types of Licensed Practical or Licensed Vocational Nurse
- Pediatric Licensed Practical Nurse (PEDIATRIC LPN)
- Clinic Licensed Practical Nurse (CLINIC LPN)
- Charge Nurse
- Clinic Nurse
- Private Duty Nurse
Job Opportunities for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
In the United States, there were 724,500 jobs for Licensed Practical or Licensed Vocational Nurse in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 12.3% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 88,900 new jobs for Licensed Practical or Licensed Vocational Nurse by 2026. The BLS estimates 62,700 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for LP or LV Nurse are Arizona, Colorado, and Utah. Watch out if you plan on working in Kansas, Wisconsin, or Maine. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
LP or LV Nurse Average Salary
The typical yearly salary for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses is somewhere between $33,680 and $62,160.

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses who work in Rhode Island, Alaska, or Massachusetts, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $38,230 |
Alaska | $58,250 |
Arizona | $54,090 |
Arkansas | $39,570 |
California | $56,200 |
Colorado | $51,210 |
Connecticut | $56,970 |
Delaware | $52,860 |
District of Columbia | $53,370 |
Florida | $44,400 |
Georgia | $41,690 |
Hawaii | $50,930 |
Idaho | $44,280 |
Illinois | $51,080 |
Indiana | $44,310 |
Iowa | $42,820 |
Kansas | $43,240 |
Kentucky | $41,920 |
Louisiana | $39,480 |
Maine | $45,610 |
Maryland | $53,650 |
Massachusetts | $58,990 |
Michigan | $49,040 |
Minnesota | $47,020 |
Mississippi | $37,930 |
Missouri | $42,580 |
Montana | $43,770 |
Nebraska | $43,160 |
Nevada | $57,140 |
New Hampshire | $52,510 |
New Jersey | $56,290 |
New Mexico | $47,560 |
New York | $48,770 |
North Carolina | $44,610 |
North Dakota | $46,410 |
Ohio | $43,430 |
Oklahoma | $41,260 |
Oregon | $53,240 |
Pennsylvania | $48,120 |
Rhode Island | $59,130 |
South Carolina | $40,890 |
South Dakota | $38,630 |
Tennessee | $40,120 |
Texas | $46,990 |
Utah | $48,130 |
Vermont | $49,720 |
Virginia | $44,850 |
Washington | $55,420 |
West Virginia | $36,770 |
Wisconsin | $45,290 |
Wyoming | $46,790 |
What Tools do Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Word processing software
- Microsoft Windows
- Spreadsheet software
- MEDITECH software
- Scheduling software
- Google Drive
- Medical procedure coding software
- Epic Systems
- Inventory tracking software
- Healthcare common procedure coding system HCPCS
- Medical condition coding software
- Electronic medical record EMR software
- Diagnostic and procedural coding software
- PointClickCare
- Prescription processing software
How to Become a LP or LV Nurse
Individuals working as a Licensed Practical or Licensed Vocational Nurse have obtained the following education levels:

What work experience do I need to become a LP or LV Nurse?

Where do Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses Work?

Below are examples of industries where Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses work:

References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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