Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) - Career Choices

Job Description:

Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), or Vocational Nurses, provide direct Patient Care in hospitals, clinics, doctors’ offices, nursing homes, long term care and rehabilitation facilities.

Their training is more than what is required for a Medical Assistant (MA) or Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), and less than what is required for a Registered Nurse (RN).

LPNs (and MAs) are licensed to pierce the patient's skin (CNAs are not).

LPNs work under the direction of Registered Nurses, and Physicians. 

These very important nursing positions provide basic bedside care to patients. 

In a hospital setting:

• Assist licensed practitioners with examinations, treatments, special tests and procedures.

• Obtain, carry out and follow physician orders, and assuring that orders are correctly charted.

• Administer medications, intravenous fluids, injections and treatments as required. Being responsible for ordering and maintaining medications from the pharmacy, ensuring continuity of medications to patients.

In a home healthcare or long-term healthcare setting:

• Make observations of residents, their conditions, and any changes. Charting in their records and notifying appropriate people, as needed.

• Assist with rehabilitation of patients in accordance with the medical care plan. 

• Maintain files/records for each resident. Set-up appointments, and complete appropriate paperwork.