Special offer 

Jumpstart your hiring with a $100 CAD credit to sponsor your first job.*

Sponsored jobs are 4.5X more likely to result in a hire.**
  • Invite matched candidates to apply
  • Increase your visibility in job search results
  • Appear to more candidates longer

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Job Description: Top Duties and Requirements

A Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), or Registered Practical Nurse (in Ontario), provides patients with nursing services under the direction of Physicians, Registered Nurses, and other healthcare professionals in various settings. Licensed Practical Nurses work in hospitals, extended care facilities, health clinics, and private homes. Their duties include primary patient care such as changing dressings, monitoring patient treatment progress, and preparing patients for surgery.

Build a Job Description

Licensed Practical Nurse duties and responsibilities

Upholding the code of ethics and standards of practice, a Licensed Practical Nurse works under other medical professionals’ direction. They offer a hands-on approach to nursing care while supporting other health care providers. Some of the essential duties and responsibilities of an LPN may include:

  • Providing preoperative and postoperative patient care that can include comfort and personal care
  • Administering prescribed medications to patients
  • Observing, monitoring, and documenting patient wellbeing and progress
  • Monitoring established treatments, such as respiratory treatment or intravenous therapy
  • Providing essential nursing support such as taking patient vital signs and collecting specimens
  • Monitoring and reporting on patient nutrition intake
  • Providing patient education on health management and maintenance
  • Cleaning and sterilizing medical equipment, instruments, and operating rooms
Build a Job Description

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Job Description Examples:

What does a Licensed Practical Nurse do?

A Licensed Practical Nurse is an integral part of the health care profession, working closely with other healthcare team members to provide nursing care to patients in various work environments. Working with specialized instruments and equipment, an LPN will monitor and document patient progress and provide detailed and accurate records. They may prepare a patient before surgery by shaving or cleaning the patient and offer postoperative comfort. A Licensed Practical Nurse provides education and training to patients, family members, and caregivers for home management and may give individuals home care.

Licensed Practical Nurse skills and qualifications

A Licensed Practical Nurse’s skills and qualifications are diverse, as they deal with both patients and other health care team members. They must be emotionally stable, as the day-to-day duties can include a high level of stress and pressure. An LPN treats all patients with respect and dignity and upholds a high standard of professionalism in their work. Some of the other skills and qualifications of a Licensed Practical Nurse may include:

  • Desire to provide service to others with compassion and empathy
  • Ability to problem-solve and analyze patient situations
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills
  • Exceptional attention to detail and a high level of accuracy
  • Ability to perform work for extended periods with physical endurance
  • Flexibility and willingness to adjust when working with patients
  • Healthy people skills with an emphasis on being friendly and caring

Licensed Practical Nurse experience requirements

As an employer, it is important to know that Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) study from the same body of knowledge as Registered Nurses. Because of this, an LPN’s depth of understanding covers basic to advanced patient care. Look for candidates who have gained experience during the clinical and laboratory hands-on component of their educational training. Other experience you will want to look for can include surgical and operating room experience, working in a nursing home or extended care facility, or a health care center offering medical treatment to the community.

Licensed Practical Nurse education and training requirements

Candidates for a Licensed Practical Nurse position need to have completed a postsecondary practical nursing program from an approved college or vocational school program. A Licensed Practical Nurse must pass the Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Examination before practicing. Be sure to look for candidates who have received their licence to work as an LPN legally within each province or territory in Canada. It is the candidate’s responsibility to obtain a license from the province’s regulatory body.

Licensed Practical Nurse salary expectations

According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) is $53,281 per year, depending on factors like experience, education, location, and company.

Job description samples for similar positions

If a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) is not quite what you are looking for, other job description samples include:

Ready to Hire?Build a Job Description

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) job description FAQs

How is a Licensed Practical Nurse different from a Registered Practical Nurse?

Both job titles are, in fact, the same role. However, in Ontario’s province, the position is referred to as a Registered Practical Nurse (RPN). All other provinces and territories refer to the profession as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN).

Who does a Licensed Practical Nurse report to?

In most cases, an LPN will report directly to a Physician, Physician Assistant, or Registered Nurse on duty in a hospital or clinical setting. They may also report to the Nurse Manager or Staff Manager for their department or ward. If they are offering in-home care, the reporting structure may vary depending on the home care company. They may report to a Care Manager or Head Nurse.

What should you look for in a Licensed Practical Nurse resume?

When hiring for an LPN, one of the most important criteria to look for in a candidate’s resume is that they hold a valid licence for the province or territory in which they will be working. You also want to ensure they have the hands-on experience that you require. For example, if you offer in-home health care, look for similar work experience or the ability to work independently without direct supervision.

Job Description Examples

Need help writing a job description for a specific role? Use these job description examples to create your next great job posting. Or if you’re ready to hire, post your job on Indeed.

No search results found