Job description template
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Job Description
LPN job description template: duties, skills, NCLEX-PN and state licence requirements, scope-of-practice notes and how to screen licensed practical nurses.
The role in brief
A licensed practical nurse (LPN) provides basic nursing care under the direction of registered nurses and physicians: checking vital signs, changing dressings, helping with bathing, dressing and comfort, listening to patients' concerns, reporting changes to the RN or physician, and documenting care in the record. Depending on state rules and training, LPNs may also give medications or start IV drips, and some states let experienced LPNs oversee other LPNs or unlicensed staff. Every LPN needs a state licence, earned by completing a state-approved practical nursing programme (typically about a year) and passing the NCLEX-PN. In California and Texas the same role is called a licensed vocational nurse (LVN).
- Monitor patients or residents, check vital signs and report changes in condition promptly to the registered nurse or physician
- Provide basic nursing care, including dressing changes and help with bathing, dressing, eating and comfort
- Give medications and treatments as ordered and as your state's scope of practice for LPNs allows, documenting each administration
- Document care, observations and patient responses accurately in the health record
Paste the description into Cohesyve to find, contact and test Licensed Practical Nurse candidates on the real work. Ten candidates free, no card.
Applying for a role like this? Practise the assessment free →Responsibilities
- Monitor patients or residents, check vital signs and report changes in condition promptly to the registered nurse or physician
- Provide basic nursing care, including dressing changes and help with bathing, dressing, eating and comfort
- Give medications and treatments as ordered and as your state's scope of practice for LPNs allows, documenting each administration
- Document care, observations and patient responses accurately in the health record
- Start or monitor IV therapy where state rules and the nurse's training permit
- Collect samples and run routine tests in hospital or clinic settings
- Talk with patients and families, listen to concerns, and reinforce the care instructions given by the RN or physician
- Direct and supervise nursing assistants on the unit where state rules permit
- Coordinate with the care team at shift handover so nothing is missed between shifts
- Follow infection control, patient safety and privacy policies at all times
Required skills
Cohesyve
Hiring a Licensed Practical Nurse? Start from this description
Paste the description above into Cohesyve. It finds Licensed Practical Nurse candidates, reaches out to them and tests each one on an AI job simulation of the real work, then returns a ranked shortlist. Ten candidates free, no card.
Nice to have
Qualifications
- 1Graduation from a state-approved practical or vocational nursing programme
- 2A pass on the NCLEX-PN examination
- 3Active, unencumbered LPN or LVN licence in the state of practice, or a multistate licence under the Nurse Licensure Compact where your state takes part
- 4Basic Life Support (BLS) or CPR certification, if your facility requires it
- 5Ability to pass a background check where state law or facility policy requires one
Compensation and environment
Work environment
Career growth
LPNs can move into charge nurse or supervisory roles where state rules allow, specialise through certifications in areas such as gerontology, wound care or IV therapy, or move between long-term care, home health, rehabilitation and clinics. LPN-to-RN programmes offer a route to registered nursing for those who want a broader scope of practice.
Common questions
What does an LPN do?
An LPN checks vital signs, gives basic nursing care such as dressing changes and help with bathing and dressing, talks with patients and listens to their concerns, reports patients' status to registered nurses or physicians, and keeps care records. In hospitals LPNs may collect samples and run routine tests; in nursing homes they may help residents eat. In some states, LPNs with the right training also give medications or start IV drips.
What is the difference between an LPN and an RN?
An LPN completes a practical nursing programme that typically takes about a year and passes the NCLEX-PN. A registered nurse completes a bachelor's degree, an associate degree or a diploma programme and passes the NCLEX-RN. LPNs usually work under the direction of RNs and physicians, and each state sets how closely they must be supervised and which tasks, such as IV therapy, they may perform.
What is the difference between an LPN and an LVN?
In practice, none. Licensed vocational nurse is the title used in California and Texas; the other states use licensed practical nurse. Both complete a state-approved programme and pass the NCLEX-PN. If you hire in California or Texas, use LVN in the job title so local applicants find the post.
How do I verify an LPN licence?
Use Nursys QuickConfirm from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, which shows licence and discipline status for RN and LPN/VN licences free of charge from participating boards of nursing. For a board that does not take part, check with that state board directly. If the nurse holds a multistate licence under the Nurse Licensure Compact, confirm which state issued it, since the nurse still follows the practice laws of the state where the patient is.
Can an LPN supervise CNAs?
In some states, yes. Supervision rules are set by each state, and some states allow experienced LPNs to oversee other LPNs or unlicensed staff such as nursing assistants. If the job includes charge nurse duties, confirm that your state's board of nursing permits it before you put it in the description.
How do you screen LPN applicants?
Verify the licence first, then test clinical judgement with situations from your own setting: a resident whose blood pressure has dropped since the last check, a medication pass running late because of an emergency on the unit, a family member upset about a change in care. Listen for safety checks, prompt escalation to the RN or physician, and clear documentation.
Cohesyve · Skill assessments for hiring
Put this Licensed Practical Nurse job description to work
Cohesyve takes the description, finds Licensed Practical Nurse candidates, reaches out to them and runs an AI job simulation of the work, then returns a ranked shortlist.
1,500+
assessments completed
50%
faster time-to-hire
5 min
from JD to assessment
No credit card · 10 free candidates · Plans sized to your hiring volume
From the blog