Are you a team player? Do you want a fun and rewarding career where you get to help people every single day?
If yes, then look no further. A career as a licensed practical nurses (LPN) may be the one for you. LPNs work under the direction of registered nurses and doctors to provide basic medical care.
In order to become an LPN, you must complete an approved educational program. These programs award a certificate or diploma and typically take about 1 year to complete.
As an LPN, you have the opportunity to continue on to become a Registered Nurse (RN) and further your career. The best part is that you can do so while working as an LPN. With this work experience plus your RN credentials, you’ll fast-track your success should you choose to move forward
| ID | Job Title | Gender | Age | Earnings | City & State | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33146 | Lpn | Female | 44 | $36,000 | Centralia, NY | 01/01/2010 |
| 33032 | Lpn | Female | 46 | $32,000 | Krebs, OK | 01/01/2010 |
| 32966 | Lpn | Male | 38 | $30,000 | lodi, OH | 01/01/2010 |
| 32758 | Lpn | Female | 35 | $50,000 | north branch, MN | 01/01/2010 |
| 32612 | Staff Nurse, ICU | Female | 30 | $55,000 | Louisville, MS | 01/01/2010 |
Licensed practical nurses (LPN) work under the direction of registered nurses and doctors to provide basic medical care. Such care may include changing bandages, inserting catheters, bathing patients, providing medication, insulin shots or giving topical treatments to patients.
LPNs tend to work in hospitals, residential care facilities, at peoples homes or in offices of physicians. However, they can also work in camps, prisons, psych wards and schools. Regardless of where they work, their typical duties include:
Licensed nurses serve as an essential intermediary between registered nurses, doctors and patients. They help ensure that hospitals and other settings run smoothly by working under registered nurses to reduce their workload.
Licensed nurses are also needed because they provide care to patients to ensure that they achieve a standard quality of life. As well as administering basic medical care, they also listen to the patients’ concerns and ensure that they are
Pros:
Cons:
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of licensed nurses is projected to grow 9 percent from 2019 to 2029, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. This growth in employment is expected because a the baby-boom population ages, the overall need for healthcare services is expected to increase.
Baby-boomers will create a demands for LPNs in residential care facilities and in home health environments to care for older patients. Furthermore, a number of chronic conditions, such as diabetes and obesity, have become more prevalent in recent years. LPNs will be needed to assist and care for patients with these conditions. In addition, many procedures that once could be done only in hospitals are now being done outside of hospitals, creating demand in other settings, such as outpatient care centers.
In order to become an LPN, you must complete an approved educational program, which includes classroom learning in subjects such as nursing, biology and pharmacology and supervised clinical experience. These programs award a certificate or diploma and typically take about 1 year to complete. They are commonly offered at technical schools and community colleges, although some programs may be available in high schools or hospitals.
With experience, licensed practical nurses may advance to supervisory positions. Some LPNs to other healthcare occupations. For example, an LPN may complete a LPN to RN education program to become a registered nurse.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for licensed practical nurses in the United States was $47,480 in 2019. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $34,560 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $63,360.
The top paying industry was nursing and residential care facilities, where the median annual salary was $48,840. This is followed by the government, where the median annual salary was $48,400. Next was home healthcare services ($48,130), hospitals ($45,500) and then offices of physicians ($43,620).
The level of autonomy and flexibility for a licensed nurses is neither particularly high nor low. Licensed nurses get to make some decisions over their patients care, but ultimately the patient will make the final decision. They also have to work under the supervision of registered nurses, further limiting their autonomy. They will also have some flexibility over how they plan their day , but as a whole they will have a schedule to stick to.
According to Zippia, the best states to be a licensed practical nurse, based on salary and total number of jobs available, were:
The worst states for licensed practical nurses, according to Zippia, are Kentucky, District of Columbia, Illinois, North Carolina and Virginia.
38% of licensed nurses in the United States were employed by nursing and residential care facilities. 15% were employed by hospitals, 13% by offices of physicians, 13% by home healthcare services and finally, 6% by the government.
Licensed nurses can work in a variety of settings. However, regardless of the setting, the work of a licensed nurse can be strenuous and draining. They will spend a lot of time on their feet and may have to list or move patients, which if not done correctly can lead to injuries.
Which personalities tend to succeed and thrive in Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) careers? Based on our research, there is a relatively strong positive correlation between the following personality types and Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) career satisfaction. This doesn’t mean that there aren’t many exceptions, of course, but if you fit into one of the following personality types then we suggest you give strong consideration to a career in Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN).
Licensed nurses are likely to be an ISFJ personality type. ISFJ’s, otherwise known as the ‘protector’, are empathetic, loyal and gentle. They look out for others and have a genuine interest in caring for others and keeping them safe. All of these are key qualities of licensed nurses, who must care for people day in, day out.
A career as a licensed nurse is pretty easy to enter. Therefore, the sense of accomplishment and mastery that licensed nurses feel is high to begin with. Similarly, throughout their career, licensed nurses will help patients each and every day, meaning the sense of accomplishment and mastery is likely to remain high. However, they are often always supervised by registered nurses, so there is a limit to the accomplishment and mastery.
It is undoubtable that the work of a licensed nurse is highly meaningful and makes a huge difference to the lives of many. Licensed nurses take the pressure off nurses and other medical professionals and help with the smooth running of healthcare services. They also ensure that patients are cared for correctly, making them key members of society.
Most licensed nurses will work full-time. They may also have to work evening and weekend hours. Based on this, it can provide a tricky life fit at times.
There are many qualities that you will need to thrived as a licensed nurse. These include:
Firstly, if you are not physically fit then you may struggle to keep up with the demands of job, which can involve lifting patients and/or standing up and kneeling down for periods of time. Those who are afraid of blood and gore may struggle as a licensed nurse. Similarly, those who do not thrive off spending a whole day interacting with other people will struggle in this career.
Licensed nurses will need skills and talents such as:
In order to become an LPN, you must complete an approved educational program, which includes classroom learning in subjects such as nursing, biology and pharmacology and supervised clinical experience. These programs award a certificate or diploma and typically take about 1 year to complete. They are commonly offered at technical schools and community colleges.
After completing a state-approved educational program, prospective LPNs can take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN). In all states, they must pass the exam to get a license and work as an LPN. For more information on the NCLEX-PN examination and a list of state boards of nursing, visit the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
LPNs may also choose to become certified through professional associations in areas such as gerontology and intravenous (IV) therapy. In addition, employers may prefer to hire candidates who are trained to provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Licensed practical nurses (LPN) work under the direction of registered nurses and doctors to provide basic medical care. Such care may include changing bandages, inserting catheters, bathing patients, providing medication, insulin shots or giving topical treatments to patients.
Over the coming years, the demand for licensed nurses is expected to increase. This will create many exciting opportunities for a rewarding career.
The best thing to do to become a licensed nurses is to get as much relevant work experience as possible. After this, you can start looking for jobs in your local area!
In order to become an LPN, you must complete an approved educational program. These programs award a certificate or diploma and typically take about 1 year to complete.
Licensed nursed will develop their skills through experience and on the job training. In some states, constant learning and skill development is required to keep licensure.
Have a question about Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) careers? If so, our mentors would love to help! Just click on a mentor’s profile below and then fill out the “Ask a Question” form on that page. Your question will then be emailed to the mentor, who can then email you a reply.
| ID | Job Title | Gender | Age | Earnings | City & State | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33146 | Lpn | Female | 44 | $36,000 | Centralia, NY | 01/01/2010 |
| 33032 | Lpn | Female | 46 | $32,000 | Krebs, OK | 01/01/2010 |
| 32966 | Lpn | Male | 38 | $30,000 | lodi, OH | 01/01/2010 |
| 32758 | Lpn | Female | 35 | $50,000 | north branch, MN | 01/01/2010 |
| 32612 | Staff Nurse, ICU | Female | 30 | $55,000 | Louisville, MS | 01/01/2010 |
