Licensed Practical Nurse

Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) provide bedside care to people who are sick, injured or disabled in nursing home and hospital settings. They work under the direct supervision of a Doctor or a Registered Nurse. In this role, you assist everyone from patients to staff, so your duties run the gamut.

Out of all the hospital employees, patients rely on you, the Licensed Practical Nurse, the most to help them complete daily functions – things healthy people tend to take for granted like standing, walking, showering and going to the restroom. You have much more direct, intimate contact with patients than anyone else at the hospital, so it’s important to be emotionally sensitive, but physically strong when you’re a Licensed Practical Nurse. Lifting patients with mobility issues out of beds and into wheelchairs can take a toll on your body. Seeing patients under your care die can take a toll on your heart. Some Licensed Practical Nurses choose to work with babies exclusively instead of adult patients for this very reason.

LPNs also monitor vital signs, change dressings and give injections. You’ll be the first person to notice when a patient has an adverse reaction to a treatment or if their condition changes. It’s critical that you notice these details in a patient’s health and know when to report issues to Doctors and Nurses. Sometimes your eagle eye will lead to you helping Physicians determine the patient’s next course of treatment. When you’re not working with patients, you can be found in the lab conducting routine tests or cleaning lab equipment. You also provide administrative support, and complete insurance and referral forms.