10 Different Healthcare Settings for LPNs

The BLS reports that 35% of LPNs work in nursing homes and residential care facilities, making them the most common employer for this level of nursing. Under the supervision of the head RN, LPNs direct bedside care, assisting in the day-to-day management of residents, administering medication, taking and monitoring vital signs, and helping patients with daily tasks.

LPNs in these settings may also start IVs, apply bandages, insert catheters, and record any changes in the patient’s health. To assist with these responsibilities, certified nursing assistants (CNAs) provide LPNs with help in performing some of their daily tasks.

Hospitals are the next most common employer for LPNs at 15%, according to the BLS. If you work in a large hospital, you can try different areas to see which one suits you, whether inpatient or outpatient, pediatrics, surgery, or other specialties. In this role, you’ll help patients with daily living activities and support RNs and other clinicians. You might also administer medications, insert catheter and IV lines, and reinforce patient teaching.

Home healthcare is growing, offering more home health nursing opportunities. This growth results from a combination of new technology for remote monitoring and a growing preference for aging at home, which can be more comfortable and less expensive than other options. Nearly as many LPNs (14%) work in home healthcare as those who work in hospitals.

Most home healthcare LPNs work for an agency and are typically paid by case rather than hourly, so their salary is based on the number of patients seen as opposed to hours worked.

According to the BLS, the fourth most common workplace setting for LPNs is physicians’ offices. Working in a doctor’s office provides a slower-paced environment compared to that of a hospital or clinic. LPNs in this setting benefit from a set schedule, generally without night or weekend hours. Typically, LPNs receive major holidays off work.

In a physician’s office, LPNs work under the supervision of the office’s primary RN and physician. While specific tasks vary by type of practice, LPNs provide basic nursing care. General responsibilities include recording patients’ medical histories, taking vitals (e.g., temperature, blood pressure, heart rate), administering certain vaccinations, or performing administrative tasks, such as setting future appointments.

Government facilities, including correctional facilities, Veterans Administration departments, and military bases, employ 7% of LPNs, according to the BLS. Government facilities provide a variety of LPN career options and offer good benefits, such as retirement plans. Many government employers include financial aid for nursing education in their benefits.

As in other settings, an LPN’s work in government includes supporting clinical staff and assisting patients.

LPNs have the option of working under the supervision of a school nurse or other clinician at a public or private school. Because LPNs do not have their RN license, most schools do not allow them to fill the role of primary school nurse.

The main responsibility of an LPN within a school would be to treat minor medical issues (e.g., dress wounds), determine if students need additional care or treatment, perform regular testing of the students’ hearing and sight, and make sure vaccination records are up-to-date.

In a clinic, LPNs support other nurses, practitioners, and clinicians under the supervision of either an RN or a physician. Responsibilities vary by the type of clinic and specialty.

LPNs treat patients of all genders, ages, and ailments in a general clinic. However, a specialty clinic could require focusing on a specific population of patients, such as infant care, oncology, and cardiology.

Regardless of the type of clinic, general duties for LPNs include taking and monitoring vitals, dispensing medication, performing injections, and scheduling appointments.

Hospice nursing care, like nursing home care, is one of the most rewarding yet emotionally demanding career options for LPNs. Hospice care serves patients who are expected to live six months or fewer, either in their homes or at a hospice facility. Palliative nursing serves those with a longer life expectancy but is also considered an end-of-life care option.

Because hospice care emphasizes caring for the whole patient, including psychological and spiritual needs, this job calls for great empathy and communication skills.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth soared in popularity, and now many companies offer remote work for nurses, including LPNs.

Common remote LPN positions include data abstraction, remote patient monitoring, utilization management, and phone triage. Because these LPNs work with a variety of software programs, you would likely need to be comfortable with technology. This healthcare job option does not involve direct patient care.

Traveling LPNs can work in a variety of roles and settings. Depending on where you live and the agency you work for, you might work temporary jobs within one particular geographic area or across the country, especially in areas with nursing shortages.

If you work shorter assignments, you might not feel the same rapport with colleagues you’ve gotten to know in long-term workplaces, but it is a great way to see the country, explore different career options, and increase your income.