Long Term Care Licensed Practical Nurses/Licensed Vocational Nurses: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of long term care licensed practical nurses/licensed vocational nurses about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for long term care licensed practical nurses/licensed vocational nurses to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of long term care licensed practical nurses/licensed vocational nurses expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for long term care licensed practical nurses/licensed vocational nurses.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Long Term Care Licensed Practical Nurses/Licensed Vocational Nurses?
Do long term care licensed practical nurses/licensed vocational nurses need a degree? What kind of experience do long term care licensed practical nurses/licensed vocational nurses typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for long term care licensed practical nurses/licensed vocational nurses to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Long Term Care Licensed Practical Nurses/Licensed Vocational Nurses
Jobs Postings for Long Term Care Licensed Practical Nurses/Licensed Vocational Nurses By Education
- High School or GED: 44,905 (41%)
- No Education Listed: 44,648 (41%)
- Bachelor's degree: 12,491 (11%)
- Master's degree: 4,213 (4%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 3,544 (3%)
High School or GED is the level of education sought the most by employers of long term care licensed practical nurses/licensed vocational nurses. According to job data, a High School diploma or GED was required for 41% of positions. In 41% of job listings no education level was listed and in 11% of postings a bachelor's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Long Term Care Licensed Practical Nurses/Licensed Vocational Nurses
Jobs Postings for Long Term Care Licensed Practical Nurses/Licensed Vocational Nurses By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 116,520 (72%)
- 2-3 Years: 41,550 (26%)
- 4-6 Years: 2,754 (2%)
- 7-9 Years: 128 (0%)
- 10+ Years: 530 (0%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for long term care licensed practical nurses/licensed vocational nurses. In 72% of job postings for Long Term Care Licensed Practical Nurses/Licensed Vocational Nurses, employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience. In 26% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 2% of job postings for long term care licensed practical nurses/licensed vocational nurses.
What Kind of Degree Do Long Term Care Licensed Practical Nurses/Licensed Vocational Nurses Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for long term care licensed practical nurses/licensed vocational nurses, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 3 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective long term care licensed practical nurses/licensed vocational nurses, and in 2023 a total of 54,148 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective long term care licensed practical nurses/licensed vocational nurses.
Top Degree Programs for Long Term Care Licensed Practical Nurses/Licensed Vocational Nurses
Top 5 Degree Programs for Long Term Care Licensed Practical Nurses/Licensed Vocational Nurses (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training. | 45,550 |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants, Other. | 4,776 |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs, Other. | 3,822 |
What Skills Do Long Term Care Licensed Practical Nurses/Licensed Vocational Nurses Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by long term care licensed practical nurses/licensed vocational nurses to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for long term care licensed practical nurses/licensed vocational nurses, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Long Term Care Licensed Practical Nurses/Licensed Vocational Nurses
Based on 430,384 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Long Term Care Licensed Practical Nurses/Licensed Vocational Nurses
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing | 247,173 | 57% |
| Nursing Care | 106,189 | 25% |
| Medication Administration | 93,639 | 22% |
| Vital Signs | 76,807 | 18% |
| Home Health Care | 63,911 | 15% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Long Term Care Licensed Practical Nurses/Licensed Vocational Nurses
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 94,963 | 22% |
| Management | 45,673 | 11% |
| Teaching | 39,154 | 9% |
| Customer Service | 37,030 | 9% |
| Problem Solving | 35,682 | 8% |
Based on 430,384 job postings related to long term care licensed practical nurses/licensed vocational nurses, nursing was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 57% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for nursing care, medication administration, vital signs, home health care and medical records were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for long term care licensed practical nurses/licensed vocational nurses, followed by management, teaching, customer service, problem solving and planning.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing | 247,173 | 57% |
| Nursing Care | 106,189 | 25% |
| Medication Administration | 93,639 | 22% |
| Vital Signs | 76,807 | 18% |
| Home Health Care | 63,911 | 15% |
| Medical Records | 53,978 | 13% |
| Computerized Physician Order Entry | 45,357 | 11% |
| Intravenous Therapy | 39,775 | 9% |
| Long-Term Care | 38,915 | 9% |
| Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) | 38,477 | 9% |
| Nursing Process | 32,209 | 7% |
| Infection Control | 32,012 | 7% |
| Pediatrics | 30,285 | 7% |
| Nursing Homes | 29,448 | 7% |
| Care Coordination | 28,153 | 7% |
| Direct Patient Care | 25,138 | 6% |
| Treatment Planning | 24,261 | 6% |
| Acute Care | 24,111 | 6% |
| Patient Education And Counseling | 23,760 | 6% |
| Rehabilitation | 23,147 | 5% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 94,963 | 22% |
| Management | 45,673 | 11% |
| Teaching | 39,154 | 9% |
| Customer Service | 37,030 | 9% |
| Problem Solving | 35,682 | 8% |
| Planning | 31,569 | 7% |
| Coordinating | 28,243 | 7% |
| Compassion | 26,282 | 6% |
| English Language | 26,077 | 6% |
| Leadership | 25,527 | 6% |
| Computer Literacy | 24,262 | 6% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 22,141 | 5% |
| Lifting Ability | 21,771 | 5% |
| Accountability | 20,144 | 5% |
| Critical Thinking | 19,765 | 5% |
| Scheduling | 19,458 | 5% |
| Transcribing | 19,326 | 4% |
| Writing | 17,990 | 4% |
| Operations | 17,444 | 4% |
| Teamwork | 16,141 | 4% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about long term care licensed practical nurses/licensed vocational nurses? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for long term care licensed practical nurses/licensed vocational nurses.
What do long term care licensed practical nurses/licensed vocational nurses do?
How much do long term care licensed practical nurses/licensed vocational nurses make?
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