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All About Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses

Occupation 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.

List of LP or LV Nurse Job Duties

  • Supervise nurses’ aides or assistants.
  • Prepare or examine food trays for conformance to prescribed diet.
  • Assist in delivery, care, or feeding of infants.
  • Set up equipment and prepare medical treatment rooms.
  • Administer prescribed medications or start intravenous fluids, noting times and amounts on patients’ charts.
  • Provide basic patient care or treatments, such as taking temperatures or blood pressures, dressing wounds, treating bedsores, giving enemas or douches, rubbing with alcohol, massaging, or performing catheterizations.

What Every LP or LV Nurse Should Know

When polled, Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

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.

Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

  • Licensed Practical Nurse, Clinic Nurse (LPN, Clinic Nurse)
  • Office Nurse
  • Home Health Care Provider
  • Nursing Technician
  • Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)

Is There Going to be Demand 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. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 62,700 job openings in this field each year.

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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.

Average Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses Salary

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses make between $33,680 and $62,160 a year.

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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
  • Inventory tracking software
  • Epic Systems
  • Healthcare common procedure coding system HCPCS
  • Medical condition coding software
  • Electronic medical record EMR software
  • Diagnostic and procedural coding software
  • PointClickCare
  • MedicWare EMR

Becoming a LP or LV Nurse

Are there Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses education requirements?

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How many years of work experience do I need?

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Where Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses Are Employed

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

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References:

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More about our data sources and methodologies.

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