LPN Job Description

Tap to Read ➤ Stephen Rampur

The LPN job description consists of important duties that are related to taking bedside care of a patient. This write-up centers on LPN duties and responsibilities, for those aspiring to become one.

There are many different career opportunities in the healthcare industry and a nursing job is one of them. Being a medical job, it is not affected by global financial crises, which is why it is almost always in demand.

Like any other profession, nurses are classified under different categories on the basis of their role and responsibilities. The two main types are Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and Registered Nurses (RNs).

Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs)

LPNs are certified healthcare professionals who are responsible for providing basic patient care, working under the supervision of physicians and RNs.

They provide services in all kinds of healthcare facilities such as private and public hospitals, offices of doctors, small healthcare settings, etc. In some states, these healthcare experts are also referred to as Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs).

LPN Job Description

An Overview Monitoring patient's health condition Catering to hygiene needs of the patient Assistance in patient's medical examination Guiding patient's family in aftercare

Supervised by A doctor or a registered nurse. Supervises CNAs (Certified Nurse Assistant) LPNs carry out their job duties under the supervision of either an RN or a doctor.

An LPN collects information from the patients that need to be admitted; regarding medical records, medical insurance details, and helps in completing other pretreatment formalities. An LPN records health details of patients; which usually comprises blood pressure, body temperature, respiration, and heartbeat rate among other vital signs.

He/she helps the patient prepare for medical examinations and takes test samples from patients. He/she administers medicines and injections prescribed by the physician to the patients.

If the patient has external wounds on his body, he/she dresses the wounds regularly for quick healing. Treating bedsores is also an LPN's responsibility. Giving body massages is also a part of an LPN's job responsibilities.

An LPN with a good amount of practical experience may be required to oversee the work done by Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs). After recording the medical condition of the patient, they inform the respective doctor about the same.

They take care of the sanitary requirements of patients; which consist of bathing, dressing them, and similar other tasks related to personal hygiene. They also feed the patients and monitor their food and liquid intake and output. Monitoring catheters is also their responsibility.

An LPN monitors the patients' health condition and reports changes in the same to the concerned doctor(s). Once the patient is about to be discharged from the hospital, an LPN informs the family members about the patient's regular medication requirements, the appropriate diet to follow, and gives them the guidelines for patient care.

These are the basic tasks in a typical LPN work day. The care and support they provide to the patient during their hospitalization period, is just as important as the medical care they receive.

LPN Salary Range

Classification by Years of Experience (Based on data from Payscale)

Less than 1 - 4 years: $26,000 to $52,000 5 - 9 years: $28,000 to $57,000 10 - 19 years: $29,000 to $58,000 20 or more years: Above $58,000

Classification by State

Pennsylvania: $47,070 Ohio: $42,340 Florida: $43,480 Virginia: $42,550 Georgia: $40,650 Note that the aforementioned pay ranges are approximate figures and are subject to change.

The job description of an LPN differs with varied healthcare institutions of employment. An LPN providing services in a big public hospital would generally have more duties than one who is employed in a small private medical care facility.