Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses

O*NET 29-2061.00

Description:
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.

Annual Wages: $56,493.00
 Employment Rate: Employment is expected to increase by 12.45%.
 Education Level: Some College Courses. According to O*Net, the majority of people employed in this occupation have this level of education.
Endorsement: Public Service, Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM)
  1. Observe patients, charting and reporting changes in patients' conditions, such as adverse reactions to medication or treatment, and taking any necessary action.
  2. Administer prescribed medications or start intravenous fluids, noting times and amounts on patients' charts.
  3. Answer patients' calls and determine how to assist them.
  4. Measure and record patients' vital signs, such as height, weight, temperature, blood pressure, pulse, or respiration.
  5. 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.
  6. Help patients with bathing, dressing, maintaining personal hygiene, moving in bed, or standing and walking.
  7. Supervise nurses' aides or assistants.
  8. Work as part of a healthcare team to assess patient needs, plan and modify care, and implement interventions.
  9. Record food and fluid intake and output.
  10. Evaluate nursing intervention outcomes, conferring with other healthcare team members as necessary.
  11. Assemble and use equipment, such as catheters, tracheotomy tubes, or oxygen suppliers.
  12. Collect samples, such as blood, urine, or sputum from patients, and perform routine laboratory tests on samples.
  13. Prepare patients for examinations, tests, or treatments and explain procedures.
  14. Prepare or examine food trays for conformance to prescribed diet.
  15. Apply compresses, ice bags, or hot water bottles.
  16. Clean rooms and make beds.
  17. Inventory and requisition supplies and instruments.
  18. 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.
  19. Sterilize equipment and supplies, using germicides, sterilizer, or autoclave.
  20. Wash and dress bodies of deceased persons.
  21. Make appointments, keep records, or perform other clerical duties in doctors' offices or clinics.
  22. Set up equipment and prepare medical treatment rooms.

National Industry Employment Patterns

Industry % of Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses employed Annual Growth Rate
Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities) 26.3 -0.26
Home health care services 12.7 1.86
General medical and surgical hospitals 12.5 0.31
Offices of physicians 12.2 0.28
Continuing care, assisted living facilities 6.4 1.04
Outpatient care centers 5.1 1.73
Employment services 4.4 0.17


Labor Market Information

2023 Statewide average hourly wage $27.16
2023 National average hourly wage $29.23
2022 National employment 655,000
2022 Texas employment 62,837
Texas projected employment by 2032 70,658
Texas projected annual employment and Turnover openings through 2032 5,831




TEXAS COUNTY MAP BY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AREA
* Due to confidentiality rules, not all regions may have the data displayed. The sum of all the regions may not be equal to the state total.


Top 10 Relevant Knowledge Areas Relevant Importance Levels
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.		 79.80%
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.		 78.00%
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.		 74.20%
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.		 73.80%
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.		 66.00%
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.		 63.80%
Therapy and Counseling
Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.		 62.20%
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.		 60.60%
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.		 59.40%
Administrative
Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.		 59.20%

Top 10 Relevant Skill Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Service Orientation
Actively looking for ways to help people.		 82.40%
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.		 80.00%
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.		 80.00%
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.		 77.60%
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.		 77.60%
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.		 77.60%
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.		 75.00%
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.		 75.00%
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.		 72.40%
Time Management
Managing one's own time and the time of others.		 72.40%

Top 10 Relevant Abilities Relevant Importance Levels
Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.		 80.00% 80.00%
Written Comprehension
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.		 80.00% 80.00%
Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.		 80.00% 80.00%
Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.		 80.00% 80.00%
Speech Clarity
The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.		 77.60% 77.60%
Speech Recognition
The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.		 75.00% 75.00%
Near Vision
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).		 75.00% 75.00%
Deductive Reasoning
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.		 75.00% 75.00%
Inductive Reasoning
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).		 75.00% 75.00%
Written Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.		 67.60% 67.60%

  • Assisting and Caring for Others -- Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
  • Documenting/Recording Information -- Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Getting Information -- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems -- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work -- Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Other Activities

  • 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.


Tools


Abdominal binders: Abdominal binders;
Analgesic infusion sets or kits: Infusion sets;
Apnea monitors: Apnea monitors;
Blood transfusion filters or screens: Blood transfusion drip regulators;
Canes: Canes;
Capillary or hematocrit tubes: Capillary tubes;
Cardiac output CO monitoring units: Ultrasonic cardiac output monitors; Non-invasive cardiac output monitors; Heart monitors;
Cervical collars or neck braces: Neck braces;
Clinical trapeze bars: Clinical trapezes;
Continuous passive motion CPM devices: Continuous passive motion CPM equipment;
Crutches: Crutches;
Desktop computers: Desktop computers;
Dial calibrated intravenous flowmeters or regulators: Infusion controllers;
Dispensing pins or needles: Safety needles;
Electrocardiography EKG transmitters or telemetry devices: Telemetry units;
Electrocardiography EKG units: Electrocardiography EKG units;
Electronic blood pressure units: Electronic blood pressure units;
Electronic stethoscopes: Electronic stethoscopes;
Enema kits: Enema equipment;
Extremity restraints: Wrist restraints; Limb restraints;
Full body restraints: Fabric body holders;
Glucose monitors or meters: Glucometers; Needleless glucometers; Blood glucometers;
Head or neck traction supplies: Halo traction equipment; Crutchfield tongs;
Hematology analyzers: Hemoglobinometer machines;
Hemodialysis units: Dialysis machines;
Hypodermic needle: Subcutaneous hypodermic needles; Intradermal needles; Intramuscular needles; Intravenous IV needles; Hollow needles;
Intermittent positive pressure breathing IPPB machines: Intermittent positive pressure breathing IPPB apparatus;
Intravenous infusion pumps for general use: Infusion pumps;
Intravenous or arterial extension tubing: Vented intravenous IV catheter tubing; Filtered intravenous IV catheter tubing; Non-vented intravenous IV catheter tubing;
Intravenous or arterial infusion bags or containers: Open infusion systems; Closed infusion systems; Bag infusion systems; Safety infusion systems;
Intravenous or arterial tubing adapter or connector: Heparin locks; Intermittent infusion sets;
Knee therapeutic brace or support: Knee braces;
Lancets: Lancets;
Leg traction supplies: Balkan frames;
Medical acoustic stethoscopes: Mechanical stethoscopes;
Medical gas cylinders or related devices: Oxygen cylinders;
Medical or surgical suction or vacuum appliances: Intubation suctioning kits; Gastric suction equipment;
Medical oxygen masks or parts: Oxygen masks;
Medical oxygen tubing or connectors: Oxygen tubing;
Medical syringes without needle: Syringes;
Medical ultrasound or doppler or pulse echocardiograph or echocardiograph units for general diagnostic use: Ultrasonic Doppler equipment;
Mercury blood pressure units: Mercury blood pressure measuring equipment;
Mobile medical services automated external defibrillators AED or hard paddles: Automated external defibrillators AED;
Nasogastric tubes: Flexible nasogastric tubes;
Nebulizers: Pediatric nebulizers; Portable nebulizers; Ultrasonic nebulizers; Electronic compressor nebulizers; Compressor tabletop nebulizers; Nebulizers;
Needleless intravenous injection syringe sets or injection cannulas: Needleless intraveneous IV sets;
Needleless vial or bag withdrawal cannulas or adapters or decanters: Needleless intravenous IV withdrawal equipment;
Notebook computers: Notebook computers;
Orthopedic traction hardware or weights: Bucks extensions; Traction equipment; Traction weights;
Ostomy appliances: Ostomy equipment;
Oxygen therapy delivery system products: Oxygen supplies;
Patient care beds for specialty care: Circo-electric beds; Air fluidized beds; Frames; Rotating bed;
Patient controlled analgesia infusion pumps: Patient controlled analgesia PCA pumps;
Patient lifts: Patient lifters;
Patient shifting boards: Transfer boards;
Patient stabilization or fall prevention devices: Gait belts; Ankle restraints; Lap belts; Restraints;
Perfusion oxygen or hematocrit saturation monitors: Saturation of oxygen SaO2 monitors;
Peripherally inserted central catheters PICC: Over-the-needle intravenous IV catheters; Through-the-needle intravenous IV catheters;
Personal computers: Personal computers;
Pulse oximeter units: Pulse oximeters;
Respiratory monitoring kits: Non-invasive cardio respiratory monitors; Respiration monitors;
Restraint straps or buckles or supplies: Wheelchair belts; Safety belts;
Restraint vests and jackets: Posey vests; Safety vests; Safety jackets;
Spirometers: Pulmonary function testing PFT equipment; Pocket spirometers; Personal computer PC-based spirometers; Handheld spirometers; Automated spirometers; Digital spirometers;
Surgical drains or drain sets: Jackson-Pratt drains; Hemovac drains;
Suture removal kits or trays or packs or sets: Suture removal kits;
Tablet computers: Tablet computers;
Therapeutic heating or cooling blankets or drapes: Hyper/hypothermia blankets;
Tourniquets: Tourniquets;
Tracheostomy tubes: Tracheotomy tubes;
Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation units: Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation TENS equipment;
Tuberculin syringes: Tuberculin TB skin test equipment;
Urinary catheterization kits: Urinary catheters;
Vacuum blood collection tubes or containers: Evacuated blood collection tubes;
Vascular or compression apparel or support: Pneumatic boots;
Walkers or rollators: Walkers;
Walking braces: Walking braces;
Wheelchairs: Wheelchairs;
Winged infusion needle set: Butterfly needles;


Technology


Calendar and scheduling software: Scheduling software;
Categorization or classification software: Diagnostic and procedural coding software;
Cloud-based data access and sharing software: Google Drive;
Electronic mail software: Microsoft Exchange; Microsoft Outlook;
Internet browser software: Web browser software;
Inventory management software: Inventory tracking software;
Medical software: Medical condition coding software; Medical procedure coding software; MedicWare EMR; MEDITECH software; eClinicalWorks EHR software; Electronic medical record EMR software; Epic Systems; PointClickCare healthcare software; Prescription processing software; Healthcare common procedure coding system HCPCS; Infusion management software; Telephone triage software;
Office suite software: Microsoft Office software;
Operating system software: Microsoft Windows;
Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel; Spreadsheet software;
Video conferencing software: Zoom; FaceTime;
Video creation and editing software: YouTube;
Word processing software: Word processing software; Microsoft Word;

Related O*NET occupational titles for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses include:
  • 29-1141.01 Acute Care Nurses
  • 29-1141.04 Clinical Nurse Specialists
  • 29-1141.03 Critical Care Nurses
  • 29-2042.00 Emergency Medical Technicians
  • 31-1121.00 Home Health Aides
  • 31-9092.00 Medical Assistants
  • 29-1171.00 Nurse Practitioners
  • 31-1131.00 Nursing Assistants
  • 29-2043.00 Paramedics
  • 29-1141.00 Registered Nurses

Sources of Additional Information
  • For more information about licensed practical or licensed vocational nurses, visit: National Association of Licensed Practical Nurses
  • For more information about the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN) and a list of individual state boards of nursing, visit: National Council of State Boards of Nursing

    • Occupational Requirements Survey

  • For a profile highlighting selected BLS data on occupational requirements, see
  • Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses (PDF)
  • Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
    • Contact Texas Workforce Commission
    Labor Market and Career Information  |  101 E. 15th Street, Annex Room 0252  |  Austin, Texas 78778
    Official Website  |  1-800-822-PLAN (7526)  |  512.936.3200

    ** The information in this report may be derived from many sources like O*NET, BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), OOH (Occupational Outlook Handbook), and Career One Stop.