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.
Life As a LP or LV Nurse: What Do They Do?
- Apply compresses, ice bags, or hot water bottles.
- Wash and dress bodies of deceased persons.
- Collect samples, such as blood, urine, or sputum from patients, and perform routine laboratory tests on samples.
- Sterilize equipment and supplies, using germicides, sterilizer, or autoclave.
- Clean rooms and make beds.
- Prepare patients for examinations, tests, or treatments and explain procedures.
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LP or LV Nurse Needed Skills
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.
Other LP or LV Nurse Job Titles
- Clinic Nurse
- Licensed Practical Nurse, Clinic Nurse (LPN, Clinic Nurse)
- Charge Nurse
- Home Health Care Provider
- Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Is There Job 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.

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.
What is the Average Salary of a LP or LV Nurse
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.
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 |
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 to Become a LP or LV Nurse
Are there Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses education requirements?

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

Who Employs Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses?

The table below shows the approximate number of Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses employed by various industries.

References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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