Licensed practical Nurse

Are you caring and sympathetic?  Are you observant? Do you have good decision-making and communication skills?  As part of a health care team, LPNs must be able to follow orders and work under close supervision. Explore the possibility of a career as a licensed practical nurse; it might be the right one for you!

Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) care for people who are sick, injured, convalescent, or disabled under the direction of physicians and registered nurses. In collaboration with other health care professionals, LPNs care for patients in many ways, often providing basic bedside care. Many LPNs measure and record patients' vital signs such as height, weight, temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and respiration. They may also monitor catheters, dress wounds and give alcohol rubs and massages. To help keep patients comfortable, they assist with bathing, dressing, and personal hygiene, moving in bed, standing, and walking. They might also feed patients who need help eating. 

Watch this video on how to become a Licensed Practical Nurse.

First Steps:
Entrance into an LPN program requires a high school diploma or GED. 

Earnings:
Listed below are hourly/annual wages for both entry level and experienced liensed practical nurses and the annual median hourly/annual wage.**

Entry Wage               Median Wage             Experienced Wage           
Hourly Annual Hourly Annual Hourly Annual
$15.19 $31,584  $19.53 $40,624 $22.43 $46,665 

**Wage Data 2009, State of Illinois Department of Employment Security

Click here for a comparison of other health care occupation wages.

Work Environment:
As a licensed practical nurse, the ability to choose different shifts can be beneficial in raising a family. The duties of a licensed practical nurse can be quite physical, as LPNs often stand for long periods and help patients move in bed, stand or walk. Most LPNs working in hospitals work a 40-hour week, but because patients need round-the-clock care, some work nights, weekends and holidays.

Job Outlook:
Employment of LPNs is projected to grow faster than average; however, applicants for jobs in hospitals may face competition.  

Education:

Educational/Professional Requirements:
To apply for a license as a licensed practical nurse, applicants must file with the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation - Division of Professional Regulation, a completed, signed application, on forms supplied by the Division that includes:

  • Proof of graduation from an approved nursing education program
  • A complete work history within the last five years
  • Verification of fingerprint processing from the Illinois Department of State Police
  • The required fee of $50
  • Passage of the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX)

State Professional Organizations:
National Federation of Licensed Practice Nurses
LPN Association of Illinois

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