Licensed Practical & Licensed Vocational Nurses

social interests patient biological specimen medical supply treatment equipment customer family member blood pressure

Charge Nurse, Clinic Nurse, Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN), Pediatric LPN (Pediatric Licensed Practical Nurse)

What they do:
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.
On the job, you would:
  • Observe patients, charting and reporting changes in patients' conditions, such as adverse reactions to medication or treatment, and taking any necessary action.
  • Measure and record patients' vital signs, such as height, weight, temperature, blood pressure, pulse, or respiration.
  • Administer prescribed medications or start intravenous fluids, noting times and amounts on patients' charts.

Knowledge

Business

  • customer service
  • management

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

Math and Science

  • psychology
  • arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics

Health

  • medicine and dentistry

Skills

Basic Skills

  • keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions

Social

  • looking for ways to help people
  • changing what is done based on other people's actions

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Abilities

Verbal

  • communicate by speaking
  • listen and understand what people say

Ideas and Logic

  • notice when problems happen
  • make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information

Attention

  • do two or more things at the same time
  • pay attention to something without being distracted

Hand and Finger Use

  • hold or move items with your hands

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include helping people, teaching, and talking.

They do well at jobs that need:

  • Cooperation
  • Concern for Others
  • Attention to Detail
  • Dependability
  • Integrity
  • Self Control

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Medical software

  • eClinicalWorks EHR software Hot Technology
  • Epic Systems Hot Technology

Video conferencing software

  • FaceTime
  • Zoom Hot Technology

Electronic mail software

  • Microsoft Exchange
  • Microsoft Outlook Hot Technology

Education

Education: (rated 3 of 5)
some college or
certificate after high school
usually needed

Get started on your career:

Find Training
Find Licenses
Apprenticeship.gov

Job Outlook

Bright
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.
Local Salary Info
Find Jobs

Explore More

You might like a career in one of these industries:

See more details at O*NET OnLine about licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses.