Western Washington Area Health Education Center
2033 Sixth Avenue, Ste. 310
Seattle, WA 98121
Ph: 206.441.7137
Fax: 206.441.7158
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WWAHEC
2033 Sixth Avenue, Ste. 310
Seattle, WA 98121
Ph: 206.441.7137
Fax: 206.441.7158
Health
Professionals/
Student Placement
Health Career
Information
Health Career Ambassadors
Health Career
Job Descriptions
HOPE
Preceptor & Site Resources
Scholarship Info
Distance Learning
Volunteer/Retired
Providers Program
K-12 Learning Resources
aka Science
Allied Health
Health Career
Information
HOPE
Health Career Ambassadors
Health Career
Job Descriptions
Scholarship Info
Distance Learning
Statewide Office
of Rural Health
Community Health
Assessment, Planning
& Development
Primary Care
Provider Recruitment
Shop
WWAHEC
2033 Sixth Avenue, Ste. 310
Seattle, WA 98121
Ph: 206.441.7137
Fax: 206.441.7158
Health
Professionals/
Student Placement
Health Career
Information
Health Career Ambassadors
Health Career
Job Descriptions
HOPE
Preceptor & Site Resources
Scholarship Info
Distance Learning
Volunteer/Retired
Providers Program
K-12 Learning Resources
aka Science
Allied Health
Health Career
Information
HOPE
Health Career Ambassadors
Health Career
Job Descriptions
Scholarship Info
Distance Learning
Statewide Office
of Rural Health
Community Health
Assessment, Planning
& Development
Primary Care
Provider Recruitment
Shop
Health Career Information
Licensed Practical Nurse
Job description
A licensed practical nurse (LPN) provides bedside care to patients. The LPN works under the direction of physicians and registered nurses (RNs). The LPN provides nursing care that requires technical knowledge and skill but not the in depth professional education and training of a registered nurse. LPNs may work in a clinic or doctor's office and handle administrative responsibilities such as record keeping. Some LPNs specialize in an area of medicine or work as a private duty nurse caring for a single hospital or home care patient.
Activities may include
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dress wounds, apply alcohol rubs and administer injections
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administer medications
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take and record blood pressure, pulse rate, respiration rate
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monitor equipment
●
prepare food trays and assist with patient feeding
●
observe patients and report any significant symptoms, reactions or changes in condition
Salaries and benefits*
Entry level wages for Licensed Practical Nurses average $1,906 to $2,340 per month. A Licensed Practical Nurse I working for the State of Washington earns $2,106 to $2,660 per month. Licensed Practical Nurses in the Seattle, Tacoma and Bremerton areas average $2,398 to $2,725 per month. LPNs in Spokane County average $2,203 to $2,839 per month. Statewide, LPNs average $2,175 to 2,754 per month. Experienced LPN's in the Northwest working in clinics average $2,265 to $2,590 per month, while those working in home care/hospice average $2,475 to $2,739 per month, and those working in acute care average $2,373 to $2,654 per month. The national average is $2,337 per month.
LPNs who work for a hospital, clinic, or individual physician usually receive a full benefit package. Private duty LPNs are self-employed and must self-insure, they usual receive a higher rate of pay.
Training and requirements
Licensed practical nurses acquire needed skills by completing an approved practical nursing program not less than nine months long. In addition, students receive supervised clinic experience, usually in a hospital. In Washington State, LPN training is offered at: Bates Technical College, Bellingham Technical College, Big Bend Community College, Centralia College, Clover Park Technical College, Columbia Basin College, Everett Community College, Grays Harbor College, Green River Community College, Lake Washington Technical College, Lower Columbia College, North Seattle Community College, Renton Technical College, Skagit Valley College (at both the Mount Vernon Branch and the Whidbey Island Branch), South Puget Sound Community College, Spokane Community College, Walla Walla Community College, Wenatchee Valley College (at both the Wenatchee and Omak campuses), and Yakima Valley College.
Necessary skills
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ability to learn new tasks and make good judgments
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good listening skills
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ability to observe slight changes
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ability to follow directions
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good oral and written communication skills
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ability to stand and move about for an extended period of time
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ability to handle heavy objects
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ability to work in close contact with patients
Licensure/Certification
LPNs must be licensed by the State Board of Practical Nursing. Licensing requirements include: at least 18 years old; graduate from an approved nursing program; background investigation; written examination; and AIDS education.
Helpful high school courses
Include English, psychology, math, algebra, geometry, chemistry, biology, physics, physiology, anatomy, speech, health, physical education, typing/keyboarding, computer science, and first aid.
Colleges/Vocational Schools in Washington State
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Bates Technical College
1101 South Yakima Ave.
Tacoma, WA 98405
(253) 689-7000
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Bellingham Technical College
3028 Lindbergh Ave.
Bellingham, WA 98225-1599
(360) 738-0221
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Big Bend Community College
7662 Chanute St.
Moses Lake, WA 98837
(509) 762-5351
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Centralia College
600 West Locust St.
Centralia, WA 98531-4099
(360) 736-9391
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Clover Park Technical College
4500 Steilacoom Blvd. SW
Tacoma, WA 98499-4098
(253) 589-5678
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Columbia Basin College
2600 North 20th Ave.
Pasco, WA 99301
(509) 547-0511
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Everett Community College
2000 Tower St.
Everett, WA 98201
(425) 388-9100
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Grays Harbor College
1620 Edward P. Smith Dr.
Aberdeen, WA 98520
(800) 562-4830
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Green River Community College
12401 SE 320th St.
Auburn, WA 98092-3699
(253) 833-9111
●
Lake Washington Technical College
11605 132nd Ave. NE
Kirkland, WA 98034-8506
(425) 739-8100
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Lower Columbia College
1600 Maple St.
Longview, WA 98632-0310
(360) 442-2370
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North Seattle Community College
9600 College Way N
Seattle, WA 98103-3599
(206) 527-3639
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Renton Technical College
3000 NE Fourth St.
Renton, WA 98056-4195
(425) 235-2352
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Skagit Valley College
Mount Vernon Campus
2405 E College Way
Mount Vernon, WA 98273-5899
(360) 416-7600
Whidbey Island Branch
1900 SE Pioneer Way
Oak Harbor, WA 98277-3099
(360) 675-6656
●
South Puget Sound Community College
2011 Mottman Rd. SW
Olympia, WA 98512-6218
(360) 754-7711
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Spokane Community College
North 1810 Greene St.
Spokane, WA 99207-5399
(509) 533-7000
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Walla Walla Community College
500 Tausick Way
Walla Walla, WA 99362-9267
(509) 522-2500
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Wenatchee Campus
1300 Fifth St.
Wenatchee, WA 98801
(509) 682-6800
Omak Campus
116 W. Apple Ave.
Omak, WA 98841
(509) 422-7800
●
Yakima Valley College
16th Ave. & Nob Hill Blvd.
Yakima, WA 98907-2520
(509) 574-4600
Outlook*
In Washington, this occupation is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations. Employment is projected to increase 16 percent by 2008. It is estimated that there will be 432 openings annually in this occupation. About 10,789 Licensed Practical Nurses are licensed in Washington.
Professional Associations
●
National Association for Practical Nurse
Education and Service
1400 Spring St., Suite 330
Silver Spring, MD 20910
(301) 588-2491
http://www.napnes.org/
●
National League for Nursing
61 Broadway.
New York, NY 10014
(212) 363-5555
(800) 669-9656
http://www.nln.org
* Note: General career descriptions are updated as necessary, however salary expectations and projected outlooks have not been updated since 2000. Go to Workforce Explorer Washington and search your career for the most up-to-date salary and job growth expectations. Washington Healthcare Careers and Workforce College are also good resources for job information.
For additional information, contact your school's career counselor or
WWAHEC
2033 Sixth Avenue, Ste. 310
Seattle, WA 98121
Ph: 206.441.7137
Fax: 206.441.7158
Page updated 9/15/04