What is a Licensed Practical or Licensed Vocational Nurse?
LP or LV Nurse Definition 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.
LP or LV Nurse Responsibilities
- Make appointments, keep records, or perform other clerical duties in doctors’ offices or clinics.
- Administer prescribed medications or start intravenous fluids, noting times and amounts on patients’ charts.
- Observe patients, charting and reporting changes in patients’ conditions, such as adverse reactions to medication or treatment, and taking any necessary action.
- Apply compresses, ice bags, or hot water bottles.
- Evaluate nursing intervention outcomes, conferring with other healthcare team members as necessary.
- Collect samples, such as blood, urine, or sputum from patients, and perform routine laboratory tests on samples.
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What a LP or LV Nurse Should Know
These are the skills Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses say are the most useful in their careers:
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
- Triage Licensed Practical Nurse (TRIAGE LPN)
- Clinic Licensed Practical Nurse (CLINIC LPN)
- Home Health Care Provider
- Nursing Technician
- Charge Nurse
Job Outlook 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. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 62,700 job openings in this field each 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.
LP or LV Nurse Average Salary
The average yearly salary of a LP or LV Nurse ranges between $33,680 and $62,160.

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses who work in Rhode Island, Alaska, or Massachusetts, make the highest salaries.
How much do Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses make 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 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
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
Becoming 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?

Where Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses Work

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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