Licensed Nurse

Explore This Path

Make a difference by caring for patients in diverse healthcare settings.
Play a vital role in patient recovery and well-being through skilled care.
Unique chance to work closely with patients and healthcare teams.

💰 Earn $65K-$82K

📚 Vocational Training

⏱️ 12–24 MONTH TRAINING

📈 2.6% JOB GROWTH

Find Training

What You’ll Do

Care for ill, injured, or convalescing patients or persons with disabilities in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, private homes, group homes, and similar institutions. May work under the supervision of a registered nurse. Licensing required.

Observe patients, charting and reporting changes in patients' conditions, such as adverse reactions to medication or treatment, and taking any necessary action.
Measure and record patients' vital signs, such as height, weight, temperature, blood pressure, pulse, or respiration.
Administer prescribed medications or start intravenous fluids, noting times and amounts on patients' charts.
Provide basic patient care or treatments, such as taking temperatures or blood pressures, dressing wounds, treating bedsores, giving enemas or douches, rubbing with alcohol, massaging, or performing catheterizations.
Answer patients' calls and determine how to assist them.

Scoop

Minimum Education

Vocational Training

Career Prospects

Good (Increasing by 1-5%)

Training Time

1 to 2 years

Job Openings

54,000 Annually

Median Earnings

$75,610 in California

$59,730 Nationally

$25K

$50K

$75K

$100K

$125K

$150K

$175K

$200K

$225K

$250K

Real Talk Reel

Want to see what it's like to be a Licensed Nurse? We've curated a playlist for you to get a glimpse into a day in the life.

@ashlyngull

Best For You If...

YOU Like 💕

Relating with or serving others
Working with my hands

You are skilled in 💫

Active Listening
Monitoring
Reading Comprehension
Service Orientation
Social Perceptiveness
Speaking

You value 🙏

Accomplishing things
Having support
Personal relationships

Deep Dive

Licensed Nurse

Explore career pathways, key skills, and what each role has to offer.

Pathways to this Career

Learn about the education and training paths that can lead to this career — and what to expect from each one.

Associate's Degree

An associate's degree typically provides graduates with foundational knowledge and skills for entry-level jobs in the graduate's industry, or serves as a stepping stone towards further education.

🎓 College

⏱️ FINISH IN 2-3 years

Vocational School

A vocational school typically equips students with specialized skills and practical training in specific trades or occupations, enhancing their employability and providing direct pathways to relevant careers.

🎓 Skills-Focused

⏱️ FINISH IN 6 months - 2 years

Bachelor's Degree

A bachelor's degree typically results in increased knowledge about a variety of academic subjects, specialized knowledge in a focused field of study, and is considered the foundational qualification for many careers.

🎓 College

⏱️ FINISH IN 4-5+ years

Workforce Development Program

A workforce development program typically enhances participants' opportunities to succeed in the workforce through employment skill-building, career counseling, connections to employers, and pathways to high-demand and high-wage jobs.

🎓 Skills-Focused

⏱️ FINISH IN 6 months - 2 years