Licensed Practical Nurse Job Description
The job of a Licensed Practical Nurse involves helping registered nurses and physicians take care of patients by performing routine nursing duties and clerical work. They find employment in clinics, government agencies, doctor’s offices, hospitals, nursing homes and other health care institutions. Some are employed by patients to help them recover from an illness at home.
Education/Experience Requirements for the job of a Licensed Practical Nurse: A successful candidate must complete at least 1 year Licensed Practical Nurse training and take courses in patient care, physiology, anatomy and laboratory procedures. Nurses are then required to pass the NCLEX-PN certification before applying for nursing jobs.
Skills of a Licensed Practical Nurse include but are not limited to: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, organizational and management skills, interpersonal skills, research skills and time management skills. He/she should also be highly detail oriented, caring, and work well on a team and under pressure.
Specific work elements of the job as a Licensed Practical Nurse include but are not limited to: Providing nursing care, such as assessing blood pressure, pulse, temperature or respiration rate; observing and monitoring patients; administering specific injections, vaccines or medication; recording accurate information of patient’s health or progress; sterilizing medical equipments; bathing patients and cleaning wounds; assisting fellow nurses and physicians with tests or procedures and supervising nursing aides, among others.
