Have you looked at the want ads lately? The help wanted section is full of nursing positions, and the need for nurses keeps growing every day. Hospitals and other health care facilities are scrambling to find more nurses to fill the gaps in staffing schedules. Many employers are taking a lesson from the past, and are hiring LPNs to meet their staffing needs.

A licensed practical nurse (LPN), also known as a licensed vocational nurse (LVN), provides basic bedside patient care under the direction of physicians and registered nurses. The position of LPN was established during the last major nursing shortage that occurred after World War II. States amended their Nurse Practice Act in order to regulate the practice of a Licensed Practical Nurse. This enabled RNs to care for a larger number of patients with the assistance of educated and licensed personnel. LPNs work in many different settings, but typically work in hospitals, physicians’ offices, outpatient care centers, nursing care facilities, and home health care. LPNs are also in demand by travel nurse agencies.

LPNs attend training programs that last about a year, offered by community colleges, vocation schools, and technical colleges. An individual must pass the NCLEX-PN, which is a state licensing examination, before working as a licensed practical nurse. LPNs provide a large portion of direct patient care within health care institutions. Duties include passing medications, taking vital signs, monitoring catheters, applying dressings, collecting samples for testing, feeding patients, monitoring food and liquid intake and output, and assisting patients with other activities of daily living. LPNs also work directly with physicians during medical procedures.

There were about 700,000 LPNs in 2000, and over the past 20 years, LPNs have seen major changes in the location of their employment opportunities. More LPNs are finding employment in community agencies, such as health departments, mental health facilities, hospice and home care, and fewer jobs within hospitals. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that there will be a continuing demand for LPNs in medical offices and clinics, ambulatory surgical centers, and emergency medical centers. They also predict that LPN employment in nursing homes will also grow due to the advancing age of Baby Boomers. Currently, 29% of LPNs work in nursing homes, 28% work in hospitals, and 14% work in physicians’ offices and clinics. Others work for home healthcare services, residential care facilities, schools, temporary help agencies, or government agencies. In 2002, the U.S. Department of Labor listed the median income for LPN as $31,440.

Are you an LPN looking for a job? You can find LPN jobs listed by state or job function on the NursingJobs.org website. And, don’t forget to join us at the NursingVoices forum. We are waiting to hear from you!