The Role of an LPN in Long Term Care

Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) are certified professionals who have completed at least one year of post-high school education. LPNs often provide basic bedside care under the direction of a registered nurse (RN) or physician. Duties may involve monitoring vital signs, changing dressings, or collecting samples for medical tests. LPNs can also assist with personal needs, such as bathing, dressing, and walking.

How to Become an LPN

The LPN functions under the Nurse Practice Act and may only count hours as LPN practice that are in line with the NPA. At the LPN level of licensure, the practice act does make requirements for clinical direction and supervision of practice. Division 45 of the NPA specifies that LPN practice may only occur under the clinical direction of a RN, or, under the clinical direction of a licensed independent practitioner (LIP) such as a physician.

Clinical direction of LPN practice means the communication from the RN to the LPN for the implementation of the RN’s established plan of care or the communication from the LIP to the LPN for the implementation of the LIP’s treatment plan. Any practice by an LPN that occurs outside of an established plan of care is not consistent with LPN scope of practice.

Foundational to the LPN’s implementation of the established plan of care is the LPN’s completion of a nursing assessment. At the LPN level of licensure, this is a focused assessment.  Focused assessment means recognizing the priority condition at the time of intervention within the parameters of the established plan of care or treatment plan.

Additional resources:

  • OSBN Sentinel – November 2018, Focused assessment and the licensed practical nurse

View FAQs on becoming and LPN in Oregon here.

Earn Your LPN

LPN programs are available at the following Oregon schools:

Find an LPN Job in Long Term Care

Our job board shows openings at long term care providers throughout Oregon.

View Job Openings Here

Wage Expectations

View wage data for Oregon long term care LPNs here.