Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

You'll do 80% of what an RN does for 60% of the pay. You'll give injections, change wound dressings, monitor patients, and handle the nuts-and-bolts of bedside care — all under the supervision of an RN or doctor. It's the middle rung on the nursing ladder, and most people use it as a stepping stone. But plenty of LPNs stay because they love the direct patient care.

Learn the skills

Courses and certifications to get you job-ready

What you'll actually do

• 01Administer medications and injections
• 02Change wound dressings and insert catheters
• 03Monitor patient vitals and update charts
• 04Collect lab samples (blood draws, urine)
• 05Communicate patient status to RNs and physicians
• 06Supervise CNAs while somehow doing half their tasks too
• 07Get called 'nurse' by patients even though you've corrected them twelve times

Career Path

Where this role sits in the bigger picture — and where it can take you.