Licensed Practical Nurse Job Description Sample & Template

Licensed Certified Nurse taking vitals of an elderly person.

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Table of Contents

  1. Future Job Prospects for Licensed Practical Nurses
  2. Licensed Practical Nurse Salary and Benefits
  3. Education and Training Requirements
  4. Licensed Practical Nurse Job Description Sample – Free Download

1. Future Job Prospects for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs)

  • A LPN provides care to patients in a medical setting such as a nursing home or rehabilitation facility, hospital, or clinic.
  • According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), these roles are expected to grow at a 16% rate nationally by 2024.

2. Licensed Practical Nurse Salary and Benefits

  • According to the BLS, the average wage for a LPN is $44,090 or $21.20 per hour.
  • These are usually full time roles with benefits, but can also be part-time or a temporary staffing.

3. Education and Training Requirements

  • High School Diploma or General Education Diploma (GED) required.
  • Certification from a postsecondary education institution such as a community college is required. These programs typically take one to two years.
  • Additional certifications and continued education throughout the career are required.
  • LPNs also must pass a state licensure exam.
  • Many LPNs seek an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in nursing as they climb the nursing career ladder.
Tip
Caffeine is not a long-term alternative to a good sleep schedule, and as a Licensed Practical Nurse, keeping your sleep schedule somewhat regular is important. Although hours may change and days can turn to nights, maintaining a consistent schedule will reduce mistakes in the workplace.

4. Licensed Practical Nurse Job Description Sample

Download This Job Description Template

We are seeking an experienced LPN to assist with routine patient care in our state-approved long-term care and rehabilitation facility. You will have excellent technical and clinical skills coupled with compassion for our patients.

You will monitor of vital signs while interacting with patients to discern how they are feeling. All patient contact will be recorded in our state-of-the-art Epic EMR. You will work closely with the rest of the clinical team to communicate any changes in health status, reporting directly to the RN or physician on duty. You will assist your team lead in diagnostic testing, medication delivery, IV and dressing changes, and patient education. You will also be responsible for monitoring equipment and flagging any issues that may arise.

The successful candidate will have graduated from an accredited practical or vocational nursing program and have a current state license. You will follow all clinical care protocols and state and federal guidelines under the law. You will participate in weekly case management meetings and will have exemplary interpersonal skills.

This full-time role will require monthly weekend rotations and periodic overnight shifts. We offer a competitive salary and the opportunity for advancement, as well as an educational stipend for continuing education. We prefer candidates with at least one year experience in a similar clinical care setting.

Responsibilities

  • Check basic vital signs on a patient including temperature, pulse, and blood pressure.
  • Handle daily patient care such as wound clean up and bandage changes, inserting and removing catheters, changing IVs, and other standard clinical tasks.
  • Helping patients bathe, dress, and go to the restroom.
  • Monitoring patient health by talking with them about how they are feeling, listening to their concerns, and answering any care-related questions that they may have.
  • Reporting patient status updates in a chart or electronic medical record (EMR).
  • Conducting routine laboratory testing and documenting the results.
  • Handing out medications as supervised by an RN or physician.

Required Skills

Educational

  • High School Diploma or General Education Diploma (GED) required.
  • LPN certification or diploma from an approved post-secondary program is required.
  • State licensure is also required.

Technical

  • Knowledge of clinical protocols that could include everything from wound care or IV removal to how to take vital signs.
  • Efficiently follows direction of physician or RN.
  • Knowledge of chemistry, psychology, pharmacology, biology and physiology.
  • Specialization in geriatrics or nutrition is helpful.
  • Strong advocate for best interests of patients.
  • Able to input data in an electronic charting system.
  • Skilled at physically moving patients.
  • Understanding of legal and medical issues, and the health care system, including insurance claims.
  • Proficient at mathematics.

Communication/Organizational

  • Exhibits compassion for sick or injured people and is able to provide emotional support when needed.
  • Excellent communicator.
  • Able to prioritize tasks.
  • Observant and thorough.
  • Organized and methodical.
  • Energetic and physically able to walk, bend and stay mobile during a full shift.
  • Comfortable with a clinical environment.
  • Concise writing and documentation skills with strong reading comprehension.
  • Respects patient confidentiality.
  • Good at following direction, yet able to think outside the box and spot patient issues before they escalate.
  • Emotionally stable, and very responsible.

Benefits

  • Full-time with benefits.
  • Part-time.

How to Apply

  • Apply by forwarding your resume along with a cover letter.