Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Job Description Template

Licensed practical nurses (LPNs), referred to as licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) in some states, work closely with RNs and physicians. They provide care for medical patients or residents primarily in long-term care facilities, often assisting with the formulation of individual care plans, but have a more limited range of responsibilities compared to registered nurses (RNs). A targeted, well-conceived LPN job description is critical to finding the right professional for your needs.

As you craft your job posting, it’s important to understand the nuances of LPN vs. RN duties. LPNs undergo less training and education than RNs. While there is an overlap in some responsibilities between LPNs and RNs, there are also unique differences in their scope of practice. Get a leg-up on your talent search by using the following tips and sample language to craft your own search-optimized job post. Get even more ideas for your posting by browsing current LPN job openings.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

Tips: Your LPN job description should lead off with one to two paragraphs introducing prospects to your organization’s values, culture, and working environment. The goal here is to highlight the position and your workplace, putting your best foot forward and keeping in mind that top performers have options. What makes your workplace unique and attractive to potential applicants? Lead off with a few of your top attributes and benefits, such as any recognition your facility has received or paid continuing education. Make your facility shine!

This section also is where you explain what you’re looking for in an LPN and, generally, what the position entails. What’s the range of duties they will be expected to perform and what’s the environment like? Be sure to describe the location and any places of interest nearby, such as parks, commuter train stations, or restaurants.

Benefits

Tips: Keep potential applicants interested by providing additional details about your benefits and perks. You’ve already caught their eye with your introduction, so this is where you’ll want to discuss more reasons why they should apply. Be careful how you describe your benefits, as you don’t want to mislead potential applicants. In fact, you should consider having your human resources team look it over before you publish your LPN job description.

Template:

• Healthcare benefits, including vision and dental, for employees and qualifying family members
• Eligibility to participate in the company’s 401(k) plan
• Flexible PTO policy
• Fully covered malpractice insurance
• Subsidized city transit pass
• Continuing education benefits
• Tuition reimbursement for approved programs

LPN Duties and Responsibilities

Tips: You’ve already piqued their interest with a summary of your benefits and perks at the top of your LPN job description. At this point, you should get down to brass tacks by listing the role’s day-to-day activities and overall responsibilities. It’s important to start each line with active verbs, use concise language, and start with the most important or frequently performed duties at your care facility or residence.

Template:

• Monitoring vital signs and the overall well-being of residents and patients
• Administering medication, managing IVs, and providing wound care according to facility and state regulations
• Providing a wide range of patient care under the supervision of a RN or healthcare practitioner
• Reporting abnormal changes in residents’ and patients’ health and mental status to supervising RN or healthcare practitioner
• Assisting RNs and healthcare practitioners with tests or related medical procedures
• Documenting the care provided to patients or residents
• Performing administrative duties such as communicating updates to family, taking messages, and scheduling appointments, as needed

Compensation and Shifts

Tips: You’re more likely to attract the right applicants by stating the pay, even if it’s just a range, up front. You don’t want to spend time interviewing and negotiating pay if it’s a mismatch in terms of wages. If you offer a travel stipend or hazard pay, or any other non-wage compensation, clearly state that in this section.

As nurses increasingly value greater flexibility to manage their professional and personal lives, they’ll want to know which shifts are available. If you do offer a significant amount of flexibility, it will help you attract top talent. Your LPN job description also should highlight shift rotations, nurse-to-resident ratios, and other such details that help them understand the workload and working environment a little better.

Template:

• LPN pay range: $33-$55/hour
• Overtime, holiday pay, and bonuses available
• Bi-weekly or weekly pay periods
• Flexible shift options available Monday through Friday
• Nurse-to-patient ratios between 1:4 and 1:6 (day) and 1:10 (night)

LPN Qualifications and Skills

Tips: Even if you have your “dream LPN” in mind, being too specific or narrow in your list of qualifications and skills may have the effect of excluding qualified candidates. Some simply won’t apply even if they’re missing just one requirement. Start with only the necessary requirements, and be sure to identify your preferred requirements as such. This is also where you’ll list licensing and educational requirements.

Template:

• Collaborative work ethic, coupled with the ability to take direction from others
• Strong interpersonal skills and a professional, yet compassionate, bedside manner
• Flexibility and advanced multitasking skills
• Ability to prioritize tasks, delegating to others as needed
• Knowledge of the general legal implications of patient/resident care
• Stamina, physical and mental endurance
• Completion of a state-approved practical nursing certificate program
• Passage of the National Council Licensure Examination for LPNs (NCLEX-PN)
• Additional licensing requirements vary by state
• 2 years experience as a licensed practical nurse

Call to Action

Tips: Now that you’ve gotten qualified candidates to read through your LPN job description, make it easy for them to apply. If you’d like prospective LPNs to click on an “apply” button at your website, for instance, make it clear in this section. If you need references or credentials at this stage of the process, this is where you’ll want to tell them.

Template:

Ready to take your nursing career to a new level? Get started today by clicking on the “apply now” button and submitting your application with us.

Want Someone Else to Find and Hire Dedicated LPNs?

As everyone who manages a facility or medically staffed residence knows, it’s difficult to find the best nursing professionals. It’s even harder to keep them around for the long term. If you’d rather not write an LPN job description yourself, let IntelyCare do your staffing for you.