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Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

A licensed practical nurse (LPN), also known as licensed vocational nurse (LVN), provides basic bedside patient care under the direction of physicians and registered nurses. Training programs last about a year, offered at community colleges, vocation schools, and technical colleges. An individual must pass the NCLEX-PN, which is a state licensing examination, before working as a LVN. Licensed practical nurses oversee the bedside care provided by nursing assistants. LVNs are also known as registered practical nurses in Ontario, as enrolled nurses in Australia, and as state enrolled nurses in the United Kingdom.