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Licensed practical nurses (LPNs), or licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) in Texas and California, provide the patient care on a personal level. They usually report directly to physicians or RNs, and are generally responsible for taking vitals, they also prepare and give injections and enemas, monitor catheters, dress wounds, and give alcohol rubs and massages. Experienced LPNs may supervise nursing assistants and aides, and they often teach family members how to care for a relative or educate patients about good health habits.

Because they have frequent direct contact with patients, LPNs and LVNs are important in helping patients deal with their illness.

Most LPNs are generalists and work in all areas of health care. Some LPNs work in a specialized setting, such as a nursing home, a doctor’s office, or in home health care.

Find leading LPN to BSN degree programs.

AN LPN/LVN degree can be earned with about one year of schooling in a practical nursing program. There are currently about 1,200 accredited LVN/LPN programs in practical nursing in the U.S., including community colleges, vocational colleges, and online colleges.

In all 50 states and the District of Columbia, once the LVN/LPN student has graduated from an approved practical nursing program, he or she must then pass the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination), a national examination, in order to obtain a nursing license. Most states also have their own additional requirements beyond these national requirements. In addition to passing the NCLEX, for example, LVN/LPNs must be licensed by the state in which they will practice.

Although requirements vary from state to state, licensed LPNs and LVNs for the most part qualify for entry-level positions as staff nurses as well as many other positions. There are also numerous opportunities to move beyond these basic degree programs, as there are currently more than 674 accredited nursing programs that offer a four-year course of study culminating in a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, about 417 nursing schools currently offer master's degrees in nursing, and 93 schools that offer nursing doctoral degrees.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that employment opportunities for nurses of all varieties, including LVN/LPNs, is expected to grow "much faster than average for all occupations" during the upcoming decade.

According the U.S. Department of Labor, approximately 726,000 individuals were employed as LVN/LPNs in 2004. Nearly one-quarter of these worked in hospitals, another quarter in nursing care facilities, and about 12 percent in doctors' offices. The average annual salary for LVN/LPNs in 2004 was $33,970, with a range running from a low of about $24,500 to a high of over $46,000.

Once one has attained a nursing degree as an LPN or LVN, many choose a specific area of interest in which to specialize. Among the most popular specialty LPN/LVN careers:

LPN or LVN to RN
These college programs allow the LVN/LPN to obtain the more advanced degree. Here you can find leading LPN to BSN degree programs that are fully accredited and usually without a waiting lists.