There is a clear gap between the supply and the demand for Texas nursing jobs. Like elsewhere, Texas is suffering from a shortage of nurses, to the tune of 70,000 by 2020. The State Legislature is working on a number of bills to improve training capacity so that they can fill many of these Texas nursing jobs. Though the bulk of the nursing jobs in Texas are located in the Dallas and Houston areas, there is a clear need for nurses throughout the State.
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.