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Practical Nursing (LPN) |
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“Give a man a fish, feed him for a day; Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime.” |
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Nature of the Work Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), care for the sick injured, convalescent, and disabled under the direction of physicians and registered nurses. Most LPNs provide basic bedside care, taking vital signs such as temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and respiration. They also prepare and give injections and enemas, monitor catheters, apply dressings, treat bedsores, and give alcohol rubs and massages. LPNs monitor their patients and report adverse reactions to medications or treatments. They collect samples for testing, perform routine laboratory tests, feed patients, and record food and fluid intake and output. To help keep patients comfortable, LPNs assist with bathing, dressing, and personal hygiene. In states were the law allows, they may administer prescribed medicines or start intravenous fluid. Some LPNs help deliver, care for, and feed infants. Experienced LPNs may supervise nursing assistants and aides. |
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In addition to providing routine bedside care, LPNs in nursing care facilities help to evaluate residents’ needs, develop care plans, and supervise the care provided by nursing aides. In doctors’ offices and clinics, they also may make appointments, keep records, and perform other clerical duties. LPNs working in private homes may prepare meals and teach family members simple nursing tasks.
Working Conditions Most Licensed Practical Nurses in hospitals and nursing care facilities work a 40-hour week, but because patients need round-the-clock care, some work nights, weekends, and holidays. They often stand for long periods and help patients move in bed, stand or walk.
Employment LPNs held about 726,000 jobs in 2004. About 27 percent of LPNs worked in hospitals, 25 percent in nursing care facilities, and another 12 percent in offices of physicians. Others worked for home health care services, employment services, community care facilities for the elderly, public and private educational services, outpatient care centers, and Federal, State, and local government agencies. About 1 in 5 worked part time.
Job Outlook Employment of LPNs is expected to grow about as fast as average for all occupations through 2014 in response to long-term care needs of an increasingly elderly population and the general growth of health care services. Replacement needs will be a major source of job openings, as many workers leave the occupation permanently. Applicants for jobs in hospitals may face competition as the number of hospital jobs for LPNs declines; however, rapid employment growth is projected in other health care industries, with the best job opportunities occurring in nursing care facilities and in home health care services. Employment of LPNs in hospitals is expected to continue to decline. Sophisticated procedures once performed in hospitals are being performed in physicians’ offices and in outpatient care centers such as ambulatory surgical and emergency medical centers, largely because of advances in technology. Consequently, employment of LPNs in most health care industries outside the traditional hospital setting is projected to grow faster than average.
Earnings Median annual earnings of LPNs were $33,970 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $28,830 and $40,670. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $24,480, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $46,270.
- Information taken from the Occupational Outlook Handbook 2006-2007 |
