Long-term care & clinic
Licensed Practical Nurse
A nursing license in twelve months instead of four years.
Typical pay
$45k-$62k
How you get in
12-18 month program plus the NCLEX-PN
Outlook
Steady in long-term care and clinics; shrinking in hospitals
Average openings
54/100Fewer openings per worker than the average job, and the field is growing.
JobPOVs index, calculated from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025-2035 for Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses. It measures how many openings arise each year relative to the size of the field — not how many people apply. BLS does not publish a saturation figure.
LPNs give medications, monitor patients and handle wound care under an RN or physician. It is the fastest route to an actual nursing license, though hospitals increasingly reserve floor roles for RNs.
A day in the life
6:45a – 3:00p · 8 hours 15 min
- 6:45aReport from night shift, review the med list
- 7:30aMorning medication pass — often 25+ residents
- 10:00aWound care and dressing changes
- 12:00pLunch, frequently interrupted
- 1:00pSecond med pass, chart everything
- 3:00pFamily questions, then hand off
How to get in
Practical nursing program
Duration
12-18 months
Cost
$5,000-$25,000
Credential
LPN/LVN license via the NCLEX-PN
- Complete a state-approved practical nursing program
- Finish clinical rotations in long-term care and med-surg
- Pass the NCLEX-PN
- Get licensed and start in long-term care, where most LPN jobs are
CNA into LPN
Duration
3 months CNA, then the LPN program
Cost
$5,500-$27,000 total
Credential
LPN/LVN license
- Certify as a CNA and work in a facility
- Use employer tuition assistance, which is common in long-term care
- Complete the LPN program while working
- Pass the NCLEX-PN
LPN as a step to RN
Duration
12-18 months, then a bridge
Cost
$5,000-$25,000 now, more later
Credential
LPN now, RN later
- Get licensed as an LPN and start earning
- Work while enrolled in an LPN-to-RN bridge program
- Bridge programs credit your license and experience
- Pass the NCLEX-RN for the full scope and pay
What people love
- · Licensed nurse in about a year
- · Far cheaper than an RN program
- · Bridge programs credit your experience
- · Strong demand in long-term care
What wears people down
- · Hospitals are phasing LPNs off the floor
- · Scope of practice is limited by state
- · Med passes are relentless
- · Pay ceiling well below RN