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Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses

It's a bright outlook for

This career will grow rapidly in the next few years.

Learn more about what they do.

Care for ill, injured, or convalescing patients or persons with disabilities in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, private homes, group homes, and similar institutions. May work under the supervision of a registered nurse. Licensing required.

Related: Acute Care Nurses Critical Care Nurses Nurse Practitioners Paramedics Registered Nurses

Industries: Health & Counseling

Summary
Details

Apply compresses, ice bags, or hot water bottles.
Wash and dress bodies of deceased persons.
Record food and fluid intake and output.
Answer patients' calls and determine how to assist them.
Assemble and use equipment, such as catheters, tracheotomy tubes, or oxygen suppliers.
Administer prescribed medications or start intravenous fluids, noting times and amounts on patients' charts.
Prepare patients for examinations, tests, or treatments and explain procedures.
Evaluate nursing intervention outcomes, conferring with other healthcare team members as necessary.
Prepare or examine food trays for conformance to prescribed diet.
Make appointments, keep records, or perform other clerical duties in doctors' offices or clinics.
Observe patients, charting and reporting changes in patients' conditions, such as adverse reactions to medication or treatment, and taking any necessary action.
Prepare patients for examinations, tests, or treatments and explain procedures.
Make appointments, keep records, or perform other clerical duties in doctors' offices or clinics.
Provide medical treatment or personal care to patients in private home settings, such as cooking, keeping rooms orderly, seeing that patients are comfortable and in good spirits, or instructing family members in simple nursing tasks.
Clean rooms and make beds.
Answer patients' calls and determine how to assist them.
Collect samples, such as blood, urine, or sputum from patients, and perform routine laboratory tests on samples.
Supervise nurses' aides or assistants.
Inventory and requisition supplies and instruments.
Measure and record patients' vital signs, such as height, weight, temperature, blood pressure, pulse, or respiration.
Work as part of a healthcare team to assess patient needs, plan and modify care, and implement interventions.
Provide medical treatment or personal care to patients in private home settings, such as cooking, keeping rooms orderly, seeing that patients are comfortable and in good spirits, or instructing family members in simple nursing tasks.
Inventory and requisition supplies and instruments.
Measure and record patients' vital signs, such as height, weight, temperature, blood pressure, pulse, or respiration.
Collect samples, such as blood, urine, or sputum from patients, and perform routine laboratory tests on samples.
Sterilize equipment and supplies, using germicides, sterilizer, or autoclave.
Provide basic patient care or treatments, such as taking temperatures or blood pressures, dressing wounds, treating bedsores, giving enemas or douches, rubbing with alcohol, massaging, or performing catheterizations.
Assemble and use equipment, such as catheters, tracheotomy tubes, or oxygen suppliers.
Make appointments, keep records, or perform other clerical duties in doctors' offices or clinics.
Observe patients, charting and reporting changes in patients' conditions, such as adverse reactions to medication or treatment, and taking any necessary action.
Administer prescribed medications or start intravenous fluids, noting times and amounts on patients' charts.
Evaluate nursing intervention outcomes, conferring with other healthcare team members as necessary.
Help patients with bathing, dressing, maintaining personal hygiene, moving in bed, or standing and walking.
Provide basic patient care or treatments, such as taking temperatures or blood pressures, dressing wounds, treating bedsores, giving enemas or douches, rubbing with alcohol, massaging, or performing catheterizations.
Set up equipment and prepare medical treatment rooms.

Management of Personnel Resources
- Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.
Instructing
- Teaching people how to do something.
Coordination
- Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
Management of Material Resources
- Managing equipment and materials.
Active Listening
- Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
Mathematics
- Using math to solve problems.
Equipment Selection
- Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.
Judgment and Decision Making
- Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
Social Perceptiveness
- Understanding people's reactions.
Operations Analysis
- Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
Systems Analysis
- Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
Monitoring
- Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
Programming
- Writing computer programs.
Operation and Control
- Using equipment or systems.
Systems Evaluation
- Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
Installation
- Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.
Writing
- Writing things for co-workers or customers.
Time Management
- Managing your time and the time of other people.
Technology Design
- Making equipment and technology useful for customers.
Troubleshooting
- Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
Management of Financial Resources
- Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.
Service Orientation
- Looking for ways to help people.
Operations Monitoring
- Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
Critical Thinking
- Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
Science
- Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
Negotiation
- Bringing people together to solve differences.
Quality Control Analysis
- Testing how well a product or service works.
Persuasion
- Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
Repairing
- Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
Reading Comprehension
- Reading work-related information.
Learning Strategies
- Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
Complex Problem Solving
- Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
Equipment Maintenance
- Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
Speaking
- Talking to others.
Active Learning
- Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.

Spatial Orientation
- Knowing where things are around you.
Manual Dexterity
- Holding or moving items with your hands.
Explosive Strength
- Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.
Dynamic Flexibility
- Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Far Vision
- Seeing details that are far away.
Oral Expression
- Communicating by speaking.
Problem Sensitivity
- Noticing when problems happen.
Speed of Closure
- Quickly knowing what you are looking at.
Selective Attention
- Paying attention to something without being distracted.
Control Precision
- Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
Gross Body Equilibrium
- Keeping your balance or staying upright.
Hearing Sensitivity
- Telling the difference between sounds.
Speed of Limb Movement
- Quickly moving your arms and legs.
Night Vision
- Seeing at night or under low light.
Glare Sensitivity
- Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.
Visual Color Discrimination
- Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.
Speech Recognition
- Recognizing spoken words.
Mathematical Reasoning
- Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
Written Expression
- Communicating by writing.
Gross Body Coordination
- Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.
Reaction Time
- Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.
Perceptual Speed
- Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
Peripheral Vision
- Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.
Stamina
- Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.
Category Flexibility
- Grouping things in different ways.
Memorization
- Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.
Flexibility of Closure
- Seeing hidden patterns.
Time Sharing
- Doing two or more things at the same time.
Written Comprehension
- Reading and understanding what is written.
Originality
- Creating new and original ideas.
Fluency of Ideas
- Coming up with lots of ideas.
Inductive Reasoning
- Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Keeping your arm or hand steady.
Response Orientation
- Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.
Static Strength
- Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.
Extent Flexibility
- Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Rate Control
- Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
Depth Perception
- Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
Sound Localization
- Noticing the direction that a sound came from.
Visualization
- Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
Finger Dexterity
- Putting together small parts with your fingers.
Dynamic Strength
- Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
Wrist-Finger Speed
- Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.
Trunk Strength
- Using your lower back and stomach.
Multilimb Coordination
- Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.
Speech Clarity
- Speaking clearly.
Near Vision
- Seeing details up close.
Auditory Attention
- Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
Number Facility
- Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.
Information Ordering
- Ordering or arranging things.
Oral Comprehension
- Listening and understanding what people say.
Deductive Reasoning
- Using rules to solve problems.

Chemistry
- Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
Administration and Management
- Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Mechanical
- Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Biology
- Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
English Language
- Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
Administrative
- Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
Economics and Accounting
- Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
Design
- Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Production and Processing
- Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Food Production
- Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
Computers and Electronics
- Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Engineering and Technology
- Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Philosophy and Theology
- Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
Public Safety and Security
- Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Sociology and Anthropology
- Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
Medicine and Dentistry
- Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Therapy and Counseling
- Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
Foreign Language
- Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
Law and Government
- Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Sales and Marketing
- Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
History and Archeology
- Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
Psychology
- Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Geography
- Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
Education and Training
- Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Fine Arts
- Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
Communications and Media
- Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
Telecommunications
- Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Customer and Personal Service
- Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Personnel and Human Resources
- Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
Mathematics
- Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Physics
- Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
Transportation
- Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Building and Construction
- Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.

Education

Postsecondary certificate

Work Experience

No work experience

Training

No on-the-job training

Education and Training Opportunities

Washington Annual Salary

79700/yr

Washington Hourly Wage

38.32/hr

Currently Employed

8,730

Yearly Projected Openings

800

Social: People interested in this work like activities that include helping people, teaching, and talking. They do well at jobs that need:

Cooperation
Concern for Others
Attention to Detail
Dependability
Integrity
Self Control

Abdominal binders
Analgesic infusion sets or kits
Apnea monitors
Blood transfusion filters or screens
Canes
Capillary or hematocrit tubes
Cardiac output CO monitoring units
Cervical collars or neck braces
Clinical trapeze bars
Continuous passive motion CPM devices
Crutches
Desktop computers
Dial calibrated intravenous flowmeters or regulators
Dispensing pins or needles
Electrocardiography EKG transmitters or telemetry devices
Electrocardiography EKG units
Electronic blood pressure units
Electronic stethoscopes
Enema kits
Extremity restraints
Full body restraints
Glucose monitors or meters
Head or neck traction supplies
Hematology analyzers
Hemodialysis units
Hypodermic needle
Intermittent positive pressure breathing IPPB machines
Intravenous infusion pumps for general use
Intravenous or arterial extension tubing
Intravenous or arterial infusion bags or containers
Intravenous or arterial tubing adapter or connector
Knee therapeutic brace or support
Lancets
Leg traction supplies
Medical acoustic stethoscopes
Medical gas cylinders or related devices
Medical or surgical suction or vacuum appliances
Medical oxygen masks or parts
Medical oxygen tubing or connectors
Medical syringes without needle
Medical ultrasound or doppler or pulse echocardiograph or echocardiograph units for general diagnostic use
Mercury blood pressure units
Mobile medical services automated external defibrillators AED or hard paddles
Nasogastric tubes
Nebulizers
Needleless intravenous injection syringe sets or injection cannulas
Needleless vial or bag withdrawal cannulas or adapters or decanters
Notebook computers
Orthopedic traction hardware or weights
Ostomy appliances
Oxygen therapy delivery system products
Patient care beds for specialty care
Patient controlled analgesia infusion pumps
Patient lifts
Patient shifting boards
Patient stabilization or fall prevention devices
Perfusion oxygen or hematocrit saturation monitors
Peripherally inserted central catheters PICC
Personal computers
Pulse oximeter units
Respiratory monitoring kits
Restraint straps or buckles or supplies
Restraint vests and jackets
Spirometers
Surgical drains or drain sets
Suture removal kits or trays or packs or sets
Tablet computers
Therapeutic heating or cooling blankets or drapes
Tourniquets
Tracheostomy tubes
Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation units
Tuberculin syringes
Urinary catheterization kits
Vacuum blood collection tubes or containers
Vascular or compression apparel or support
Walkers or rollators
Walking braces
Wheelchairs
Winged infusion needle set