LPN job description template: setting, scope under supervision, NCLEX-PN license, compact and IV lines
On this page
"LPN needed, all shifts, must have license." That line leaves out what an LPN actually checks first: the setting, how many residents or patients are on the assignment, whether the job is a med pass on a 30-bed hall, charge duties on nights, private duty with one ventilated child, or a clinic rooming patients for three physicians, and who the supervising RN or physician is. It also skips the license details that decide eligibility: your state's title, whether you accept a multistate compact license, and whether IV work requires a separate certification. A useful LPN job description names the setting, the assignment size, the supervision structure, the license in exact terms and any certifications, and the schedule. Below are the seat types, the license and scope lines with sources, a copy-ready template, screening and scorecard rows, and common mistakes. For the phone screen, use the LPN screening questions.
Not legal advice. The licensing and scope points below were checked against the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, NCSBN and the Nurse Licensure Compact, the California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians and the Texas Board of Nursing as of October 2026. LPN scope of practice is set by each state; confirm with your board of nursing before posting.
Name the setting and the assignment
| Seat | What the shift looks like | Must-have that separates it |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled nursing or long-term care, med pass | Medication pass for a hall of residents, treatments, documentation, family calls | Accuracy on a large med pass; long-term care documentation |
| Long-term care, charge | Charge duties for a unit, supervising CNAs, admissions paperwork, calling providers | Charge experience; delegating to CNAs within state rules |
| Physician office or clinic | Rooming patients, vitals, injections and immunizations, phone triage under protocols, prior authorizations | Clinic workflow; working from protocols the practice approves |
| Home health or private duty | One patient for a full shift, often pediatric, trach or ventilator care, working alone in the home | Trach and vent skills where needed; independence within scope; driving |
| Corrections, dialysis or rehab | Sick call or med lines, dialysis treatments under RN supervision, or rehab unit care | Setting-specific training; comfort with the environment and security rules |
Then settle with the director of nursing: the assignment size (residents or patients per shift, as an estimate), who supervises the LPN on each shift, whether the role includes charge duties, IV therapy or admissions, the EHR, and the shift pattern including weekends and holidays. Assignment size and supervision tell an experienced LPN more than "fast-paced environment."
License, compact and scope lines
Education and the license. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses (last modified September 14, 2026) says state-approved programs typically take about one year, that graduates must pass a licensing exam, and that the title, LPN or LVN, depends on the state. The exam is the NCLEX-PN, developed by NCSBN, and the NCSBN exam publications page lists the current NCLEX-PN test plan. Every U.S. board of nursing uses it for practical nurse licensure.
The Nurse Licensure Compact. The NLC covers RN and LPN/VN licenses (not APRN licenses) and currently includes 43 jurisdictions. A nurse whose primary state of residence is a compact state can hold a multistate license from that state and practice in other compact states; a nurse who lives in a non-compact state is not eligible and needs a license from each state where they practice. Nurses must be licensed in the state where the patient is located. Write the line both ways: "active [state] LPN license or multistate LPN/VN license under the NLC."
Verification. NCSBN's Nursys QuickConfirm is a free license verification service for employers and the public, drawing on participating boards of nursing.
Scope and supervision. LPN scope is set by each state. Texas is a clear example: the Texas Board of Nursing says LVNs are not licensed for independent practice and need a clinical supervisor such as an RN, APRN, physician, PA, dentist or podiatrist, and it publishes a table of scope differences between LVNs and RNs. Write the supervision structure into the posting.
IV therapy. In California, an LVN must be certified by the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians before performing IV therapy or blood withdrawal, through a board-approved course or verified competency, and the board does not recognize out-of-state IV certification. Other states have their own rules. If the job involves IVs, name the state certification.
The LPN job description template
Licensed [Practical / Vocational] Nurse — [Long-Term Care / Clinic /
Home Health / Private Duty / Corrections] — [Days / Evenings /
Nights], [N]-hour shifts
[Facility or agency], [city, state]
Pay: $[min]–$[max] per hour, plus [shift, weekend and charge
differentials]. [Benefits summary, if required.]
SUMMARY
You will care for about [N] [residents / patients] a shift (an
estimate) in [setting], under the supervision of [the RN supervisor
on each shift / the practice's physicians]. [Charge duties: yes /
no.] Schedule: [pattern, weekends, holidays]. You will report to
the [director of nursing / clinic manager].
WHAT YOU WILL DO
- Administer medications and treatments as ordered, and document
in [EHR / eMAR].
- Monitor residents or patients, take vital signs, and report
changes in condition to the [RN / provider] promptly.
- Perform wound care, [tube feedings, trach care, injections],
within your state's LPN/LVN scope.
- [Supervise and delegate to CNAs within state rules.]
- [Start and maintain IVs, with state certification.]
- Communicate with families and the care team.
YOU MUST HAVE
- Active [state] [LPN / LVN] license, or a multistate LPN/VN
license under the Nurse Licensure Compact.
- Current CPR / BLS.
- [IV certification by state name, if required.]
- [N] [months / years] in [setting], or new graduates welcome with
[orientation].
- [Valid driver's license and car for home visits.]
NICE TO HAVE
- Experience with [EHR], [wound care, pediatric trach and vent].
- [Language] for residents or patients who speak it.
If you meet the must-haves and none of these, please apply.
[EEO STATEMENT]
To request an adjustment to apply or interview, contact [contact].Pay and EEO
Post the hourly range and every differential, including any charge differential. The BLS profile linked above publishes pay data; this page does not quote figures. Close with a short EEO statement covering the characteristics the EEOC lists and an accommodation contact. Health screening and immunization records belong after a conditional offer.
From must-haves to screening questions and scorecard rows
| Must-have | Screening question | Scorecard competency | Evidence of a strong answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| License | "Which state issued your license, is it single-state or multistate, and when does it renew?" | Not scored: verified on Nursys or the state board | Exact license type and state, with a number you can look up |
| Med pass accuracy | "How many residents were on your med pass, and how did you keep it on time without cutting corners?" | Medication safety | A real number, the rights of medication administration, a plan for interruptions |
| Change in condition | "A resident who is usually chatty is suddenly drowsy and confused. What do you do?" | Clinical judgment and escalation | Checks vitals and blood sugar, notifies the RN or provider promptly, documents |
| Scope | "Tell me about a time you were asked to do something outside your LPN scope. What happened?" | Professional boundaries | Declined politely, explained, found the right person |
| Delegation (charge seats) | "Two CNAs call out on nights. How do you reorganize the unit?" | Leadership | Calls the supervisor, redistributes by acuity, protects the highest-risk residents |
If the role needs RN-level assessment or care planning, use the registered nurse job description template instead. For later rounds and consistent scoring, see the interview guide for nurses and the interview scorecard for nurses.
Common mistakes in LPN job descriptions
Writing RN duties into an LPN posting
Initial assessments and care plan development are generally RN functions. Check your state's scope rules before listing them.
No assignment size
"Residents per nurse" is the number LPNs compare most in long-term care. Give an estimate.
Ignoring the compact
If your state is in the NLC, saying you accept multistate licenses widens the pool immediately. If it is not, say a state license is required.
Assuming IV certification transfers
In California, out-of-state IV certification is not recognized. Name the certification your state requires.
Before you publish
- The setting, assignment size and supervision structure are in the summary.
- The license line uses your state's title and addresses compact licenses.
- Duties stay within your state's LPN/LVN scope; IV and charge duties are named if they apply.
- Shift pattern and differentials are stated.
- EEO statement and accommodation contact close the posting.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between an LPN and an LVN?
Mostly the title. BLS says licensed practical nurses and licensed vocational nurses have nearly identical responsibilities and that the title depends on the state. California and Texas use LVN. Use your state's title in the posting so candidates and license lookups match.
Can an LPN with a multistate license work in our state?
If both the nurse's home state and your state belong to the Nurse Licensure Compact, a multistate LPN/VN license issued by the home state lets them practice in your state. The compact covers RN and LPN/VN licenses, and eligibility depends on the nurse's primary state of residence being a compact state. Nurses who live in a non-compact state need a license from your state.
Can LPNs start IVs?
It depends on the state and your policy. California, for example, requires LVNs to be certified by the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians before performing IV therapy or blood withdrawal and does not recognize out-of-state IV certification. If the job involves IV work, name the state's certification and say whether you will support the nurse in getting it.
Can an LPN be the charge nurse?
In many long-term care settings, LPNs take charge duties within the limits of state law and facility policy, under the supervision the state requires. Texas, for example, says LVNs are not licensed for independent practice and must have a clinical supervisor such as an RN, APRN, physician or PA. Describe the supervision structure in the posting rather than calling the role independent.