A Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) is a healthcare professional who provides basic essential care to patients under the supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN) or other healthcare practitioner. LPNs work closely with RNs to come up with patient care plans for each individual. They are qualified to handle many tasks that are necessary to keep patients comfortable while at the hospital or in other types of medical settings. LPNs have a limited scope of practice compared to RNs who have more responsibilities. Some of the specific job responsibilities of an LPN include:

• Checking vital signs and monitoring patient health
• Administering medication and treatments
• Assisting with patient feeding and providing between meal nourishment
• Assisting with menu planning and grocery shopping
• Assisting patients with activities of daily living
• Performing wound care, tracheostomy care, and Foley catheter insertion
• Observing the client’s medical condition and reporting observations to the RN Nursing Supervisor for direction
• Administering injections and finger sticks
• Providing client/family teaching related to diagnosis in accordance with maintaining the highest possible quality of life

LPNs can work in a variety of healthcare settings, including nursing homes, home healthcare, hospitals, physicians’ offices, military, correctional facilities, travel, and rehabilitation centers. To become an LPN, one must complete a one-year training program that involves a combination of classroom courses on biology, pharmacology, nursing, and supervised clinical experience.