How To Become A Licensed Vocational Nurse Staff Nurse: What It Is and Career Path

What is a licensed vocational nurse staff nurse and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted experts

Lisa Rebeschi Ph.D.,

Kim Raines

The average licensed vocational nurse staff nurse salary is $59,312. The most common degree is a associate degree degree with an nursing major. It usually takes 1-2 years of experience to become a licensed vocational nurse staff nurse. Licensed vocational nurses staff nurses with a Certified Dialysis - Licensed Vocational Nurse (CD-LVN) certification earn more money. Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 6% and produce 41,300 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a licensed vocational nurse staff nurse?

Lisa Rebeschi Ph.D.

Associate Dean of the School of Nursing Professor of Nursing, Quinnipiac University

One of the suggestions for new graduates is the importance of self-care. We have long known of the demanding nature of the nursing practice. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has magnified the nursing role's critical importance and the unique contributions made by nursing professionals. As the healthcare environment is extremely complex and challenging, nurses must remember to advocate for themselves and prioritize self-care.

ScoreLicensed Vocational Nurse Staff NurseUS Average

Salary

4.6

Avg. Salary $59,312

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

10.0

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.83%

Asian 6.52%

Black or African American 15.89%

Hispanic or Latino 16.99%

Unknown 4.57%

White 55.21%

Gender

female 84.98%

male 15.02%

Age - 46

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 46

Stress level

10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.0

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

8.9

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a licensed vocational nurse staff nurse

Explore licensed vocational nurse staff nurse education requirements

Most common licensed vocational nurse staff nurse degrees

Associate

36.2 %

Certificate

21.1 %

Diploma

16.4 %

Start to develop specific licensed vocational nurse staff nurse skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	21.85%
Wound Care	6.78%
Vital Signs	6.76%
Direct Patient Care	6.64%
Administer Medications	6.36%

Complete relevant licensed vocational nurse staff nurse training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New licensed vocational nurses staff nurses learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a licensed vocational nurse staff nurse based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real licensed vocational nurse staff nurse resumes.

Obtain the necessary licensing

Becoming a licensed licensed vocational nurse staff nurse usually require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed licensed vocational nurse staff nurse in most of states. 43 states require licensed vocational nurses staff nurses to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.

State	Education	Exam	License url
Alabama	Degree required	State exam required	Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Alaska	Degree required	Third-party exam required	Nurse, Licensed Practical
Arkansas	Degree required	Third-party exam required	Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
California	Degree required	Third-party exam required	Licensed Vocational Nurse
Colorado	Degree required	Third-party exam required	Licensed Practical Nurse

Gain additional licensed vocational nurse staff nurse certifications

Licensed vocational nurse staff nurse certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific licensed vocational nurse staff nurse certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for licensed vocational nurses staff nurses include Certified Dialysis - Licensed Vocational Nurse (CD-LVN) and Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA).

More About Certifications

Research licensed vocational nurse staff nurse duties and responsibilities

Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
Care of the patient in high observation patients (ICU) with multiple system diagnoses in an acute care environment.
Set up and regulate oxygen therapy as well as initiate and/or assist with CPR.
Monitor EKG strips, lab data, blood work and report any critical data to the RN.

Prepare your licensed vocational nurse staff nurse resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your licensed vocational nurse staff nurse resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a licensed vocational nurse staff nurse resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

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