Occupation Details
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
Care for ill, injured, or convalescing patients or persons with disabilities in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, private homes, group homes, and similar institutions. May work under the supervision of a registered nurse. Licensing required.
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Interests
Realistic
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Social
Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Work Values
Achievement
Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Relationships
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Support
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Salary & Job Outlook
Starting Salary
$45,040.00
New York StateMedian Salary
$56,550.00
New York StateExperienced Salary
$62,100.00
New York StateNational Average for Comparison
New York State Job Market Outlook
Jobs Right Now (2018)
48,730
professionals in NYFuture Job Growth (2030)
57,740
+901 jobs/yearNew Jobs Every Year
4,918
new opportunities yearlyGrowth Rate
0.2%
projected increasePreparation: Experience, Training, and Education
The list below outlines the prior educational experience required to perform in this occupation.
College Helps - Some college classes or training
Experience Requirements
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Education Requirements
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Training Details
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Transferrable Skills and Experience
These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include hydroelectric production managers, desktop publishers, electricians, agricultural technicians, barbers, court reporters and simultaneous captioners, and medical assistants.
School Programs
The following lists school programs which are applicable to this occupation.
Licensing & Certification
New York State requires workers in this occupation to hold a license or certification.
Licensed Practical Nurse
Learn MoreApprenticeship
Contact your regional representative to learn more about apprenticeships available in your area by visiting Apprenticeship Contacts.
Skills
The list below includes the skills required by workers in this occupation; skills are what allow you to learn more quickly and improve your performance.
Service Orientation
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Skill level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Knowledge
The list below includes knowledge items, the principles and facts required by this occupation.
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Psychology
Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Medicine and Dentistry
Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Administration and Management
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Knowledge level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Work Environment
The list below includes the physical and social factors that influence the nature of work in this occupation.
Hover over or tap each factor to see its description.
Work Styles
Included in the list below are the personal work style characteristics that can affect how well a worker is likely to perform in this occupation.
Adaptability/Flexibility
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Concern for Others
Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Cooperation
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Independence
Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Initiative
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Self-Control
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Stress Tolerance
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
Tools & Technology
This list below describes the machines, equipment, tools, software, and information technology that workers in this occupation will use.
Tools
- Abdominal binders
- Air fluidized beds
- Ankle restraints
- Apnea monitors
- Automated external defibrillators AED
- Automated spirometers
- Bag infusion systems
- Balkan frames
- Blood glucometers
- Blood transfusion drip regulators
- Bucks extensions
- Butterfly needles
- Canes
- Capillary tubes
- Circo-electric beds
- Clinical trapezes
- Closed infusion systems
- Compressor tabletop nebulizers
- Continuous passive motion CPM equipment
- Crutches
- Crutchfield tongs
- Desktop computers
- Dialysis machines
- Digital spirometers
- Electrocardiography EKG units
- Electronic blood pressure units
- Electronic compressor nebulizers
- Electronic stethoscopes
- Enema equipment
- Evacuated blood collection tubes
Technology
- Diagnostic and procedural coding software
- Epic Systems
- FaceTime
- Google Drive
- Infusion management software
- Inventory tracking software
- Medical procedure coding software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Exchange
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Word
- Prescription processing software
- Scheduling software
- Spreadsheet software
Duties
Duties are job behaviors describing activities that occur on multiple jobs. The generalized and detailed work activities described in the list below apply to this occupation.
- prepare patient reports
- retrieve files or charts
- communicate technical information
- apply appropriate physical restraint
- lift or transport ill or injured patients
- prepare medical treatment room
- set up patient care equipment
- train family members to provide bedside care
- analyze medical data
- weigh patients
- observe patient condition
- identify body response variations
- understand properties or composition of drugs
- understand technical operating, service or repair manuals
- use emergency medical procedures
- use hazardous materials information
- follow infectious materials procedures
- follow institutional care procedures
- use interpersonal communication techniques
- use medical lab techniques
- use nursing practices or procedures
- follow patient care procedures
- follow patient observation procedures
- use personal care procedures
- use sanitation practices in health care settings
- use first aid procedures
- use knowledge of medical terminology
- use behavior modification techniques
- use clinical sterilizing technique
- use knowledge of nursing terminology
- collect clinical data
- obtain information from clients, customers, or patients
- record medical history or data
- inventory medical supplies or instruments
- maintain dental or medical records
- administer injections
- administer medications or treatments
- assist in examining or treating dental or medical patients
- care for mentally ill patients
- collect specimens from patients
- draw blood
- administer enemas, irrigations, or douches to patients
- prepare patients for tests, therapy, or treatments
- take vital signs
- work with persons with mental disabilities or illnesses
Tasks
The list below outlines specific tasks that a worker in this occupation is called upon to do regularly.
- Observe patients, charting and reporting changes in patients' conditions, such as adverse reactions to medication or treatment, and taking any necessary action.
- Measure and record patients' vital signs, such as height, weight, temperature, blood pressure, pulse, or respiration.
- Administer prescribed medications or start intravenous fluids, noting times and amounts on patients' charts.
- Provide basic patient care or treatments, such as taking temperatures or blood pressures, dressing wounds, treating bedsores, giving enemas or douches, rubbing with alcohol, massaging, or performing catheterizations.
- Answer patients' calls and determine how to assist them.
- Provide medical treatment or personal care to patients in private home settings, such as cooking, keeping rooms orderly, seeing that patients are comfortable and in good spirits, or instructing family members in simple nursing tasks.
- Supervise nurses' aides or assistants.
- Sterilize equipment and supplies, using germicides, sterilizer, or autoclave.
- Evaluate nursing intervention outcomes, conferring with other healthcare team members as necessary.
- Work as part of a healthcare team to assess patient needs, plan and modify care, and implement interventions.
- Record food and fluid intake and output.
- Assemble and use equipment, such as catheters, tracheotomy tubes, or oxygen suppliers.
- Make appointments, keep records, or perform other clerical duties in doctors' offices or clinics.
- Collect samples, such as blood, urine, or sputum from patients, and perform routine laboratory tests on samples.
- Prepare or examine food trays for conformance to prescribed diet.
- Help patients with bathing, dressing, maintaining personal hygiene, moving in bed, or standing and walking.
- Prepare patients for examinations, tests, or treatments and explain procedures.
- Set up equipment and prepare medical treatment rooms.
- Apply compresses, ice bags, or hot water bottles.
- Wash and dress bodies of deceased persons.
- Clean rooms and make beds.
- Inventory and requisition supplies and instruments.
- Assist in delivery, care, or feeding of infants.
Learning Resources
More information on this occupation may be found in the links provided below.
Healthcare: Get Into It!
Healthcare: Get Into It! has been created as a way to explore some of the possibilities of health care careers and give you the opportunity to develop a road map to your future. Health care encompasses many disciplines and information is important. The topics include: Interest Assessment Tool, Career Options,Job Shadowing/Mentoring Programs,Career Planning, Education & Training, and Financial Aid.
Learn MoreLicensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
Visit this link for additional information on this career from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; a publication produced and maintained by the United States Department of Labor.
Learn MoreSummer Scholars 2007
Summer Scholars 2007 is a health career exploration opportunity that immerses students in a health care setting for six weeks, introducing them to the daily work tasks and responsibilities of a healthcare provider or allied health professional.
Learn More