We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.

Licensed Practical Nurse

Save
March 29, 2024 Updated April 15, 2025 16 minute read

Licensed Practical Nurse: A Comprehensive Career Guide

Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), known as Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) in some states like California and Texas, are vital members of the healthcare team. They provide essential patient care under the direction of registered nurses (RNs) and physicians. Working in diverse settings, LPNs offer direct support, monitor patient health, and administer basic care, making a significant difference in the lives of patients and their families.

Embarking on a career as an LPN offers a unique blend of hands-on patient interaction and technical skill application. You'll find yourself performing critical tasks, such as taking vital signs, assisting patients with daily activities, and providing comfort. The opportunity to build relationships with patients and contribute directly to their well-being is often a deeply rewarding aspect of this profession.

Furthermore, the field provides a relatively quick entry into the nursing profession compared to becoming an RN, often requiring just 12-18 months of focused training. This pathway can be particularly appealing for those seeking a career change or a faster route into healthcare, offering stability and the chance for meaningful work.

Understanding the Role of a Licensed Practical Nurse

Defining the Licensed Practical Nurse

Share

Help others find this career page by sharing it with your friends and followers:

Salaries for Licensed Practical Nurse

City
Median
New York
$74,000
San Francisco
$72,000
Seattle
$73,000
See all salaries
City
Median
New York
$74,000
San Francisco
$72,000
Seattle
$73,000
Austin
$52,800
Toronto
$60,000
London
£26,000
Paris
€27,000
Berlin
€12,000
Tel Aviv
₪32,000
Singapore
S$12,000
Beijing
¥99,000
Shanghai
¥130,000
Shenzhen
¥217,200
Bengalaru
₹260,000
Delhi
₹180,000
Bars indicate relevance. All salaries presented are estimates. Completion of this course does not guarantee or imply job placement or career outcomes.

Path to Licensed Practical Nurse

Take the first step.
We've curated 24 courses to help you on your path to Licensed Practical Nurse. Use these to develop your skills, build background knowledge, and put what you learn to practice.
Sorted from most relevant to least relevant:

Featured in The Course Notes

This career is mentioned in our blog, The Course Notes. Read one article that features Licensed Practical Nurse:

Reading list

We haven't picked any books for this reading list yet.
Provides a comprehensive overview of dementia care, including assessment, treatment, and management. It is written by experts in the field and valuable resource for clinicians who are working with people with dementia.
This official publication from the World Health Organization provides a comprehensive overview of vital signs and their measurement, making it an authoritative resource for learners worldwide.
Provides a comprehensive overview of dementia, including its symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and caregiving. It is written by experts in the field and valuable resource for anyone who is caring for someone with dementia.
Challenges the traditional approach to dementia care and argues for a more holistic and person-centered approach. It is written by experts in the field and valuable resource for anyone who is interested in improving the quality of life for people with dementia.
Provides a comprehensive overview of dementia, including its symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and caregiving. It is written by an expert in the field and valuable resource for anyone who is caring for someone with dementia.
Provides a comprehensive overview of dementia, including its symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and caregiving. It is written in a clear and concise style and valuable resource for anyone who is caring for someone with dementia.
Provides practical advice and support for family caregivers of people with dementia. It is written in a clear and concise style and valuable resource for anyone who is caring for someone with dementia.
Provides practical advice and support for family caregivers of people with dementia. It is written in a clear and concise style and valuable resource for anyone who is caring for someone with dementia.
Provides a comprehensive overview of dementia, including its symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and caregiving. It is written by experts in the field and valuable resource for anyone who is caring for someone with dementia.
Provides a comprehensive overview of dementia, including its symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and caregiving. It is written by experts in the field and valuable resource for anyone who is caring for someone with dementia.
This concise guide covers the principles and practices of vital signs monitoring in various healthcare settings, making it well-suited for learners in nursing, medicine, and allied health professions.
Focuses on the interpretation and use of vital signs in the context of health and disease, making it relevant for learners looking to apply their knowledge of vital signs in a clinical setting.
Provides a comprehensive guide to the healthcare system for patients and families. It covers topics such as finding a doctor, understanding your insurance, and making informed decisions about your care.
Provides a comprehensive overview of healthcare ethics. It examines the ethical issues that arise in healthcare settings and provides guidance on how to resolve them.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the legal issues that healthcare administrators face. It valuable resource for healthcare administrators and attorneys who work in the healthcare field.
Provides a comprehensive overview of human resource management in healthcare. It valuable resource for healthcare administrators and human resource managers who work in the healthcare field.
Table of Contents
Our mission

OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.

Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.

Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.

Affiliate disclosure

We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.

Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.

Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.

© 2016 - 2025 OpenCourser