What Are LPNs?
As frontline caregivers, licensed practical nurses (LPNs) are an important part of any health care team. LPNs typically manage basic patient care; although in some facilities, they can get extra training so they can perform more advanced tasks. In two states, California and Texas, the title for this position is licensed vocational nurse (LVN). LPNs and LVNs have the same training and responsibilities.
As the U.S. population ages, the need for LPNs will continue to grow, especially if they specialize in areas such as geriatrics.
LPN vs. RN
Registered nurses (RNs) and LPNs work together in various settings, such as acute care hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and community health.
The scope of practice for LPNs can depend on where they work. Their duties tend to focus on hands-on patient care, such as:
- Assessing patients to monitor their progress, watching for any problems, and reporting them to the RN in charge
- Documenting their findings in the medical records
- Taking vital signs (blood pressure, temperature, respirations, and pulse)
- Changing wound dressings
- Giving medications
- Help patients with activities of daily living, such as feeding, dressing, and mobility
- Help patients get out of bed, walk, and become more mobile
- Performing CPR if needed
In some facilities, LPNs are allowed to do more specialized tasks, such as starting IV lines and taking phone orders from a doctor. In some places, they might also have more advanced roles, such as managing nursing assistants and others and mentoring new staff.
RNs supervise LPNs and delegate work to them. RNs might do some of the LPN tasks, such as giving medications and documenting in the medical records, but they also have other duties that LPNs are not licensed to do. Some include:
- Leading emergency responses, such as Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support
- Giving chemotherapy drugs and blood products
- Giving medications through central lines
- Developing patient care plans
- Assessing and managing patients, ensuring their needs are met
- Admitting and discharging patients
RNs with advanced degrees can supervise other RNs, work in administration, or teach.
What Does an LPN Do?
Licensed practical nurses are qualified to handle many tasks that are necessary to keep patients comfortable while at the hospital or in other types of medical settings. LPNs handle tasks such as:
- Recording patients’ vital signs, such as blood pressure, temperature, and pulse
- Reporting patient status to RNs and doctors and adding it to patient charts
- Changing wound dressings
- Giving medications
- Feeding and bathing patients
- Following health care plans developed by an RN or a doctor
How to Become a Licensed Practical Nurse
If you want to become an LPN, you must have a high school diploma or GED, which is a must to get into an LPN program.
You can find LPN training programs at local community colleges and technical schools, and some area hospitals and high schools offer them as well. The programs usually take about 1 year to complete. While studying, you’ll have a combination of classroom courses on biology, pharmacology, nursing, and other subjects, along with supervised clinical experience. This gives you the opportunity to do practical work in a hospital or health care facility and gain hands-on experience. You must get satisfactory marks in your clinical experience as well as your classroom work to successfully complete the program.
At the end of your program, you must take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN). The exam is offered throughout the year at various locations. Passing this exam grants you an LPN license and allows you to begin working in your field. If you don’t pass the NCLEX-PN, you can take it again after 45 days.
Many LPNs go on to further their education. LPNs may get specific certifications to work in certain fields, such as IV therapy or neonatal care. They may also get further nursing education to become an RN. Many colleges offer bridge programs, considering the experience the LPNs already have.
What Conditions Does an LPN Treat?
LPNs can't diagnose any medical condition or prescribe any medication. However, they can handle most of the routine tasks of day-to-day medical care. Typically, they give medication and perform basic medical tasks such as changing bandages.
Reasons to See an LPN
In most cases, the LPN will not be the medical practitioner you are scheduled to see. Instead, they will be working as an assistant to the medical professional or doctor who has primary charge of your care. As a result, you may see an LPN in a variety of different medical facilities.
Where Do LPNs Work?
As an important part of the health care team, LPNs can work in a variety of settings with many different types of patients.
Nursing homes
Most commonly, LPNs are found in long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes and hospice care facilities. These are where people need the most day-to-day assistance. Here, LPNs help residents care for themselves, give medications, and monitor their health, reporting any changes to the supervising RNs or the residents’ primary care physicians, depending on the facilities’ protocols.
Home health care
Home care often involves having a nurse visit regularly. Typically, an RN/case manager assesses what type of nursing care the patients need and then an LPN is assigned. With home care, LPNs provide similar care to what they would in a nursing home or hospice center. They monitor their clients’ health and help them handle daily tasks that they cannot manage on their own.
General physician offices
LPNs can be part of the care team in general physician offices. An LPN may be the person who takes vital signs and settles patients in the examination room before the doctor comes in. They might also do other tasks, such as applying dressings.
General hospitals
LPNs are most frequently in charge of responding to patient requests, giving medications, taking care of wound dressings, and helping patients feel comfortable.
LPNs might also work in government offices, correctional facilities, psychiatric care units, or as travel nurses.
How Much Do LPNs Earn?
LPN salaries in the U.S. vary between states, but in general, the median salary for LPNs in the U.S. is around $59,000 per year or $28 per hour.
The state that pays the highest wages is Washington, at around $70,000 per year or $33 per hour. The next highest-paying state is California, while Mississippi pays the lowest — at around $45,000 per year or $21 per hour.
Regardless of the state, LPN salaries also vary by the type of facility they work in. For example, jobs in nursing and residential care facilities usually pay the most. Government jobs also tend to pay well.
Takeaways
Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) are an important part of the health care team, providing hands-on patient care. LPNs, called licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) in California and Texas, can work in many areas but are mostly found in skilled nursing facilities or hospice care facilities, as well as home care. LPNs are in demand all across the country. Many LPNs continue their education and study to become RNs.
LPN FAQs
How can I become an LPN?
To become an LPN, you must have a high school diploma or a GED. Once you have this, you can apply to attend an LPN program at a community or technical college. Some hospitals and high schools also offer LPN programs. After you successfully complete the program, which usually takes about a year, you write a licensing exam to be allowed to practice.
What are the typical job responsibilities of an LPN?
LPNs are frontline health care professionals who generally offer hands-on patient care. They can help patients with their daily care (dressing, feeding, and so on), give medications, change wound dressings, and more.
What is the career outlook for a licensed practical nurse?
The career outlook for LPNs is good. As people in the U.S. age and need more care, hospitals and other facilities will need LPNs to provide that care.
Can LPNs make nursing diagnoses?
Making a nursing diagnosis falls under the RNs’ scope of work. LPNs can't make a nursing diagnosis.
Should I become an LPN or RN?
Everyone has different career goals and levels of access to education. Many RNs first train and work as LPNs. This allows them to save money for school and to see if they like being a nurse. If you know your goal is to offer hands-on patient care, then the LPN program might be right for you. If your goals are to be allowed to manage patient care, make nursing diagnoses, and do more administrative work such as supervising or teaching, then you might be better off going for your RN license.