A Day in the Life of an LPN

Licensed Practical Nurse's workday typically consists of the following duties:

• Patient Health Monitoring, such as checking blood pressures
• The administration of basic nursing care, such as changing bandages
• Taking care of the patients basic comfort needs, such as bathing and dressing
• Talking to patients about their health care issues and being a professional listening ear
• Providing status reports to Doctors, Registered Nurses, Physician Assistants, and/or Nurse Practitioners
• Maintaining patient's health records while adhering to HIPPA standards

It is important to understand that the daily duties of an LPN are greatly determined by the type of medical facility in which they work. A day in the life of an LPN at a convalescent home might look different from the work day of an LPN employed in a typical hospital setting.

Although their skill set is pretty much the same across the country, each state regulates what an LPN can and cannot do.  For example, in some states Licensed Practical Nurses can administer medication and start IV drips, while in other states they cannot.

The more experienced an LPN becomes, the more opportunity he/she will have for advancement. Some LPNs move into supervisory positions and oversee other LPNs.