What Does it Take to Be a Licensed Practical or Licensed Vocational Nurse?
Career 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
- Measure and record patients’ vital signs, such as height, weight, temperature, blood pressure, pulse, or respiration.
- Supervise nurses’ aides or assistants.
- Apply compresses, ice bags, or hot water bottles.
- Observe patients, charting and reporting changes in patients’ conditions, such as adverse reactions to medication or treatment, and taking any necessary action.
- Record food and fluid intake and output.
- Assemble and use equipment, such as catheters, tracheotomy tubes, or oxygen suppliers.
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LP or LV Nurse Needed Skills
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.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Private Duty Nurse
- Office Nurse
- Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
- Licensed Practical Nurse, Clinic Nurse (LPN, Clinic Nurse)
- Pediatric Licensed Practical Nurse (PEDIATRIC LPN)
LP or LV Nurse Job Outlook
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. There will be an estimated 62,700 positions for LP or LV Nurse per year.

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.
How Much Does a LP or LV Nurse Make?
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses make between $33,680 and $62,160 a year.

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 & Technology 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 do I Become a LP or LV Nurse?
What education or degrees do I need to become a Licensed Practical or Licensed Vocational Nurse?

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

Who Employs Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses?

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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