All About Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
Job 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.
LP or LV Nurse Responsibilities
- Assemble and use equipment, such as catheters, tracheotomy tubes, or oxygen suppliers.
- Evaluate nursing intervention outcomes, conferring with other healthcare team members as necessary.
- Make appointments, keep records, or perform other clerical duties in doctors' offices or clinics.
- Prepare or examine food trays for conformance to prescribed diet.
- Set up equipment and prepare medical treatment rooms.
- Administer prescribed medications or start intravenous fluids, noting times and amounts on patients' charts.
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Skills Needed to be 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.
Other LP or LV Nurse Job Titles
- Nursing Technician
- Triage Licensed Practical Nurse (TRIAGE LPN)
- Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
- Private Duty Nurse
- Licensed Practical Nurse, Clinic Nurse (LPN, Clinic Nurse)
Are There Job Opportunities for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 724,500 jobs in the United States for Licensed Practical or Licensed Vocational Nurse. 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.
Salary for a LP or LV Nurse
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.
How much do Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses make in each U.S. state?
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
How to Become a LP or LV Nurse
What education or degrees do I need to become a Licensed Practical or Licensed Vocational Nurse?

How Long Does it Take to Become a LP or LV Nurse?

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses Sector

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses work in the following industries:

References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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