Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses held about 719,900 jobs in 2014. The industries that employed the most licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses were as follows:
Nursing and residential care facilities
38%
Hospitals; state, local, and private
17
Offices of physicians
13
Home healthcare services
11
Government
7
Nurses must often be on their feet for much of the day and may have to lift patients who have trouble moving in bed, standing, or walking. These duties can be stressful, as can dealing with ill and injured people.
Work Schedules
Most licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses work full time, although about 1 in 5 worked part time in 2014. Many LPNs and LVNs work shifts during nights, weekends, or holidays, because patients need medical care at all hours. They may be required to work shifts of longer than 8 hours.