How Much Does a Practical Nurse Make?

How Much Does a Practical Nurse Make?

In order to determine an answer to the question; How Much Does a Practical Nurse Make?, we have to look at several different factors. Educational achievements, work experience, type of health care facility where you work, type of nursing work you perform in your daily duties and of course, geographic location.  All of these play a part in determining what you can expect to earn as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). Although all of listed the factors are important, training, certification and type of facility appear to be important determining factors in actual salary amounts (according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics – How to Become a Licensed Practical or Licensed Vocational Nurse page).

What is a Licensed Practical Nurse?

A Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVN), depending on where you live, provides medical & patitent care as directed. They work under close supervision of registered nurses and doctors. Duties and responsibilities of LPNs and LVNs can vary, depending on their work environment. For example, part of their job may be to teach family members how to care for a relative; help to deliver, care for, and feed infants; collect samples for testing and run routine laboratory tests; or feed patients who need help eating.

Because medical care is regulated, LPNs and LVNs are limited to performing certain tasks in most cases. This is of course, dependent on the state they live in and the employer that hires them. In some states, LPNs with proper training and certifications can administer medication or start intravenous (IV) drips.  While in other states they may not be permitted to perform those duties. State regulations and statutes govern the extent to which LPNs must be directly supervised. For example, an some LPN’s may provide certain forms of care only with instructions from a registered nurse.

What is the Job Outlook for Practical Nursing?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses is expected to grow 22 percent from 2010 to 2020, faster than the average for all occupations by 12%. As the U.S. population ages, the overall need for healthcare is expected to increase. This trend will lead to increased employment of LPNs in hospitals, Doctors offices and other healthcare settings. LPNs also will be needed in residential care facilities such as nursing homes and assisted-living facilities. 

How Much Does a Practical Nurse Make?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics – Occupational and Employment Wages Webpage, the median annual wage of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses was $40,380 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $29,680, and the top 10 percent earned more than $56,010. Which answers the question; How Much Does a Practical Nurse Make? with this simple chart:

Geographic Profile for Practical Nursing Employment

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For more information on employment by state – visit Bureau of Labor Statistics – Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2012.

For more information about a career in the practical nursing field, or to speak with an admissions representative and apply for career training, contact Centura College today by visiting our Practical Nursing Career Training Webpage. You can also learn more about Centura College at our Consumer Information Disclosure page, Your right to know.

SOURCES:
[tabs slidertype=”simple”] [tab]1 of 2 – Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor/Occupational Outlook Handbook – from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/licensed-practical-and-licensed-vocational-nurses.htm (visited 7/22/2013)[/tab] [tab]2 of 2 – Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor/Occupational Employment Statistics – from https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes292061.htm (visited 7/22/2013)[/tab] [/tabs]

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