What Do Medical Licensed Practical Nurses Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for medical licensed practical nurses?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what medical licensed practical nurses do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Medical Licensed Practical Nurses Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about medical licensed practical nurses by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Medical Licensed Practical Nurses 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.
Popular Job Titles For Medical Licensed Practical Nurses
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Licensed Practical Nurses
- Licensed Vocational Nurses
- Registered Nurses/Licensed Practical Nurses
- Home Health Licensed Practical Nurses
- Licensed Practical Nurses/Licensed Vocational Nurses
- Private Duty Licensed Practical Nurses
- Registered Nurses/Licensed Practical Nurses/Certified Nursing Assistants
- Hospice Licensed Practical Nurses
- Medical Assistants/Licensed Practical Nurses
- Licensed Practical Nurses/Paramedics/Registered Nurses
- Home Care Licensed Practical Nurses
- Medical Surgical Registered Nurses
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for medical licensed practical nurses can be found.
Best Industries for Medical Licensed Practical Nurses
Medical Licensed Practical Nurses Jobs By Industry
- Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities): 27%
- Home Health Care Services: 12.1%
- Offices of Physicians: 11.5%
- General Medical and Surgical Hospitals: 9.9%
- Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly: 6.6%
- Outpatient Care Centers: 5%
- Other: 27.9%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of medical licensed practical nurses can be found working in the Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) sector. In 2023, about 27% of all jobs for medical licensed practical nurses were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Home Health Care Services (12.1%), Offices of Physicians (11.5%), General Medical and Surgical Hospitals (9.9%), Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (6.6%) and Outpatient Care Centers (5%).
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Degree Options for Medical Licensed Practical Nurses
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 24
- Accreditation: CCNE
Build on your nursing knowledge and experiences with our online degree-completion program.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: CCNE
Unleash your potential by completing the online FNP Certificate program that readies you for an advanced role in nursing.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 24
- Accreditation: CCNE
Expand your scope of practice as an adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner, and become an expert in healthcare delivery for adolescents, adults and geriatric patients.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 27
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 27
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Realize your potential to impact healthcare with an accredited degree that blends nursing theory, advanced practice concepts and research.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 18
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 16
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Broaden your knowledge and your practice as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner equipped to provide a holistic approach toward healthcare.
- Months To Complete: 28
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Shape the future of nursing with Franklin’s M.S. in Nursing-Nurse Educator program. The 18-month, CCNE accredited online program blends evidence-based advanced nursing practice with industry-standard skills and concepts in instructional methods and design that equip you to excel in academic or clinical settings.
- Months To Complete: 18
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
- Months To Complete: 24
- Accreditation: CCNE
Build on your Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or diploma in nursing with a streamlined path to the M.S. in Nursing.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 16-30
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Do Medical Licensed Practical Nurses Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what medical licensed practical nurses do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work medical licensed practical nurses do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that medical licensed practical nurses tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for medical licensed practical nurses, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Medical Licensed Practical Nurses
Based on 430,384 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Medical Licensed Practical Nurses
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing | 247,173 | 57% |
| Nursing Care | 106,189 | 25% |
| Medication Administration | 93,639 | 22% |
| Vital Signs | 76,807 | 18% |
| Home Health Care | 63,911 | 15% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Medical Licensed Practical Nurses
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 94,963 | 22% |
| Management | 45,673 | 11% |
| Teaching | 39,154 | 9% |
| Customer Service | 37,030 | 9% |
| Problem Solving | 35,682 | 8% |
Based on 430,384 job postings related to medical licensed practical nurses, nursing was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 57% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for nursing care, medication administration, vital signs, home health care and medical records were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for medical licensed practical nurses, followed by management, teaching, customer service, problem solving and planning.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing | 247,173 | 57% |
| Nursing Care | 106,189 | 25% |
| Medication Administration | 93,639 | 22% |
| Vital Signs | 76,807 | 18% |
| Home Health Care | 63,911 | 15% |
| Medical Records | 53,978 | 13% |
| Computerized Physician Order Entry | 45,357 | 11% |
| Intravenous Therapy | 39,775 | 9% |
| Long-Term Care | 38,915 | 9% |
| Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) | 38,477 | 9% |
| Nursing Process | 32,209 | 7% |
| Infection Control | 32,012 | 7% |
| Pediatrics | 30,285 | 7% |
| Nursing Homes | 29,448 | 7% |
| Care Coordination | 28,153 | 7% |
| Direct Patient Care | 25,138 | 6% |
| Treatment Planning | 24,261 | 6% |
| Acute Care | 24,111 | 6% |
| Patient Education And Counseling | 23,760 | 6% |
| Rehabilitation | 23,147 | 5% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 94,963 | 22% |
| Management | 45,673 | 11% |
| Teaching | 39,154 | 9% |
| Customer Service | 37,030 | 9% |
| Problem Solving | 35,682 | 8% |
| Planning | 31,569 | 7% |
| Coordinating | 28,243 | 7% |
| Compassion | 26,282 | 6% |
| English Language | 26,077 | 6% |
| Leadership | 25,527 | 6% |
| Computer Literacy | 24,262 | 6% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 22,141 | 5% |
| Lifting Ability | 21,771 | 5% |
| Accountability | 20,144 | 5% |
| Critical Thinking | 19,765 | 5% |
| Scheduling | 19,458 | 5% |
| Transcribing | 19,326 | 4% |
| Writing | 17,990 | 4% |
| Operations | 17,444 | 4% |
| Teamwork | 16,141 | 4% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Medical Licensed Practical Nurses
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical Nurses | 499,543 | 51.1% |
| Licensed Vocational Nurses | 110,182 | 11.3% |
| Registered Nurses/Licensed Practical Nurses | 56,031 | 5.7% |
| Home Health Licensed Practical Nurses | 49,725 | 5.1% |
| Licensed Practical Nurses/Licensed Vocational Nurses | 47,364 | 4.8% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was licensed practical nurses, with 153,261 unique job postings. Licensed vocational nurses were second, with 16,282 postings, followed by registered nurses/licensed practical nurses, home health licensed practical nurses and licensed practical nurses/licensed vocational nurses.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to medical licensed practical nurses.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical Nurses | 499,543 | 51.1% |
| Licensed Vocational Nurses | 110,182 | 11.3% |
| Registered Nurses/Licensed Practical Nurses | 56,031 | 5.7% |
| Home Health Licensed Practical Nurses | 49,725 | 5.1% |
| Licensed Practical Nurses/Licensed Vocational Nurses | 47,364 | 4.8% |
| Private Duty Licensed Practical Nurses | 39,200 | 4% |
| Registered Nurses/Licensed Practical Nurses/Certified Nursing Assistants | 27,115 | 2.8% |
| Hospice Licensed Practical Nurses | 17,173 | 1.8% |
| Medical Assistants/Licensed Practical Nurses | 11,768 | 1.2% |
| Licensed Practical Nurses/Paramedics/Registered Nurses | 16,557 | 1.7% |
| Home Care Licensed Practical Nurses | 13,042 | 1.3% |
| Medical Surgical Registered Nurses | 10,046 | 1% |
| Long Term Care Licensed Practical Nurses/Licensed Vocational Nurses | 20,589 | 2.1% |
| Medical Licensed Practical Nurses | 7,341 | 0.8% |
| Correctional Licensed Vocational Nurses | 11,369 | 1.2% |
| Clinic Licensed Practical Nurses | 7,409 | 0.8% |
| Skilled Nursing Facility Licensed Practical Nurses | 12,051 | 1.2% |
| Long Term Care Registered Nurses | 8,126 | 0.8% |
| Assisted Living Licensed Practical Nurses | 7,333 | 0.8% |
| Travel Licensed Practical Nurses | 5,086 | 0.5% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for medical licensed practical nurses? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for medical licensed practical nurses.
How much do medical licensed practical nurses make?
Medical Licensed Practical Nurses: How do you become one?
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