Licensed Practical Nurse

Licensed practical nurses, or LPNs, work under the supervision of registered nurses and physicians to treat patients in hospitals and convalescent homes. They serve the needs of sick and disabled patients by providing basic bedside care, which includes recording vitals signs, giving injections, collecting samples for testing, conducting routing laboratory tests, and dressing wounds. In addition, LPNs are often asked to teach a patient's family members how to care for their ill relative, and may occasionally be called upon to supervise nursing assistants and aides. To become an LPN, one must first obtain a certificate or degree from a one year training program at a vocational school or community college. Those entering the field should expect heavy workloads and must be able to handle the stress that comes with caring for patients who may be confused or agitated on a daily basis. For this effort, LPNs can expect to be well compensated, bringing in median earnings of $36,550 annually in a field that is projected to grow faster than average through the year 2016.