5 free templates by setting, with the required supervision clause. Download as DOCX.
The LVN is the hands-on nurse in much of American healthcare: taking vitals, passing medications, caring for wounds, and supporting patients, all under the supervision of an RN or physician. Most of the employers hiring LVNs are small healthcare businesses, skilled nursing facilities, independent clinics, home health agencies, and dental offices, where the owner or office manager writes the posting and runs the hire directly. A generic job-board template misses both the setting and the legal precision this role requires.
At FirstHR, we build for exactly those employers: small practices and agencies hiring and onboarding directly without an HR department. The five templates below cover the role by setting: standard, private practice or clinic, home health, long-term care or SNF, and dental, each with the required supervision clause built in. Fill in the brackets and post. For the broader nursing role, the nurse job description templates cover RN and NP versions, and the guide to writing a job description covers the fundamentals.
TL;DR
Five free LVN / LPN job description templates: Standard, Private Practice / Clinic, Home Health, Long-Term Care / SNF, and Dental Office. Download all five as one DOCX. An LVN provides hands-on care under an RN or physician and does not practice independently. LVN (California and Texas) and LPN (the other 48 states) are the same role. LVN/LPNs had a median wage of about $62,340 per year (BLS, May 2024).
What Does an LVN Do?
A Licensed Vocational Nurse provides hands-on patient care under the supervision of a registered nurse or physician: monitoring vital signs, administering medications, caring for wounds, assisting with daily living, and documenting care. LVN/LPNs are classified by federal labor data under licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses (SOC 29-2061), and the recognized task profile is detailed in the O*NET profile for LPNs and LVNs.
One naming point matters for the posting: LVN is the title used in California and Texas, while the same role is called an LPN in the other 48 states. The role, duties, education, and licensing are identical. For the employer, the work depends on the setting, a clinic, a home, a facility, or a dental office, which is why the five templates split by setting.
LVN Duties and Responsibilities
LVN duties center on four areas: monitoring and assessment, treatments and medications, patient support and records, and supervision and compliance. The setting shifts the emphasis, a clinic versus a home versus a skilled nursing floor, but these four categories hold across the role. These are the duties grouped the way the templates use them.
Monitoring and assessment
Take and record vital signs
Monitor patient status and comfort
Report changes to the RN or physician
Treatments and medications
Administer medications and injections
Provide wound care and treatments
Assist with procedures and IV therapy (per state)
Patient support and records
Assist with activities of daily living
Collect samples and document results
Educate and support patients and families
Supervision and compliance
Work under an RN or physician
Stay within the state scope of practice
Follow infection-control and safety standards
A strong posting grounds these in your specifics: the setting, the supervision line, the certifications you require, and the shift pattern. For a structured way to scope any role before posting, the guide to defining job responsibilities walks through the process.
Which Template Should You Use?
Pick the template by your setting. All five share the same skeleton and the same required supervision clause, but each emphasizes the duties and qualifications that fit a specific setting. Use this guide to choose.
Standard LVN / LPN
Any setting
The universal version: vitals, medications, wound care, charting, and the required supervision clause. Start here and adapt to your setting.
Private Practice / Small Clinic
Steady clinic hours
For an independent practice or small clinic. Rooming patients, injections, assisting the provider, and helping the clinic day run, in a close small-team setting.
Home Health Agency
Care in the home
For a home health agency. Skilled visits on an RN-led care plan, a daily visit schedule and territory, and self-directed work in the field.
Long-Term Care / SNF
Largest LVN setting
For skilled nursing, long-term care, or assisted living. Med pass, treatments, supervising nursing assistants, and resident care under a charge RN.
Dental Office
Medical oversight
For a dental practice needing medical monitoring. Histories, vitals, emergency readiness, and sedation or surgical support under the dentist or a physician.
Start With the Setting
The setting picks the template. A facility points to Long-Term Care / SNF, the single largest LVN setting. An independent practice points to Private Practice / Clinic, a home health agency to Home Health, and a dental practice needing medical oversight to Dental Office. If you are unsure or your setting is not listed, start from Standard and adapt. Whichever you pick, keep the supervision clause and state the license and BLS/CPR requirements clearly.
5 Free LVN Job Description Templates
Download all five as a single Word document or copy individual templates. Each follows the same structure: employer overview, job summary, key responsibilities, the supervision and scope-of-practice clause, skills and qualifications, and compensation, with an EEO statement. Fill in the brackets, especially the license, certification, and supervision fields, before you post.
Download All 5 Job Description Templates
Standard, clinic, home health, long-term care, and dental. All in one DOCX.
Template 1: LVN / LPN (Standard)
The universal version: vitals, medications, wound care, charting, and the required supervision clause. Start here and adapt to your setting.
Shift: [ ] Day [ ] Evening [ ] Night (weekends: ____)
Pay: $_ to $_ per hour
ABOUT [EMPLOYER NAME]
[One or two sentences about your practice or facility, the patients you serve,
and the care team this nurse will join.]
JOB SUMMARY
[Employer Name] is hiring a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) to provide
hands-on patient care under the supervision of a registered nurse or physician.
You will take vital signs, administer medications, care for wounds, assist with
daily living, and document care, working as part of the care team to keep
patients safe and comfortable.
Note: LVN is the title used in California and Texas. The same role is called a
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in the other 48 states.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Monitor and record vital signs (blood pressure, temperature, pulse)
•Administer medications and injections as ordered
•Provide wound care and routine treatments
•Assist patients with activities of daily living
•Collect samples for lab tests and document results
•Record care accurately in patient charts or the EHR
•Report changes in patient condition to the RN or physician
•Provide patient education and emotional support
SUPERVISION AND SCOPE OF PRACTICE
This role works under the supervision of a registered nurse or physician. The
LVN does not practice independently. Duties must stay within the scope of
practice defined by the state Nurse Practice Act. [Verify your state's board
of nursing requirements, including any IV-therapy certification.]
REQUIRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS
•Active LVN / LPN license in [state] in good standing
•Completion of a state-approved practical / vocational nursing program
•Passed the NCLEX-PN examination
•Current BLS / CPR certification
•[X] year(s) of experience [or new-grad welcome]
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
•IV-therapy certification (per state)
•Experience in [your setting]
•Familiarity with your EHR system
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Pay: $_ to $_ per hour
Benefits: __
Schedule: __
To apply, contact __.
[Employer Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
Template 2: Private Practice / Small Clinic LVN
For an independent practice or small clinic. Rooming patients, injections, assisting the provider, and helping the clinic day run, in a close small-team setting.
Private Practice / Small Clinic LVN Job Description
PRIVATE PRACTICE / SMALL CLINIC LVN (LPN) JOB DESCRIPTION
Practice: __ ([City, State])
Reports to: [Physician / Office Manager / RN]
Employment type: [ ] Full-time [ ] Part-time
Schedule: __ (clinic hours, no nights)
Pay: $_ to $_ per hour
JOB SUMMARY
[Practice Name] is a [specialty] practice hiring a Licensed Vocational Nurse
(LVN / LPN) to support patient care in our clinic under the supervision of our
physician or RN. You will room patients, take vitals, administer medications and
injections, assist with procedures, and help keep the clinic day running
smoothly. This role suits a nurse who likes steady clinic hours and a close,
small-team setting rather than a hospital floor.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Room patients and record vital signs and history
•Administer medications, injections, and immunizations as ordered
•Assist the provider with exams and minor procedures
•Provide wound care and patient education
•Collect specimens and handle basic lab tasks
•Document visits accurately in the EHR
•Manage medication refills and prior-auth support
•Help with front-and-back office flow as needed
SUPERVISION AND SCOPE OF PRACTICE
This role works under the supervision of a physician or registered nurse. The
LVN does not practice independently and stays within the scope defined by the
state Nurse Practice Act. [Verify your state's board of nursing requirements.]
REQUIRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS
•Active LVN / LPN license in [state] in good standing
•Passed the NCLEX-PN examination
•Current BLS / CPR certification
•Clinic or ambulatory experience preferred
•Friendly, organized, patient-facing manner
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
•Experience in [specialty]
•Familiarity with your EHR and scheduling system
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Pay: $_ to $_ per hour
Benefits: __
Schedule: __
To apply, contact __ at the practice.
[Practice Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
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For a dental practice needing medical monitoring. Histories, vitals, emergency readiness, and sedation or surgical support under the dentist or a physician.
Dental Office LVN Job Description
DENTAL OFFICE LVN (LPN) JOB DESCRIPTION
Practice: __ ([City, State])
Reports to: [Dentist / Office Manager]
Employment type: [ ] Full-time [ ] Part-time
Schedule: __ (office hours)
Pay: $_ to $_ per hour
JOB SUMMARY
[Practice Name] is a dental practice hiring a Licensed Vocational Nurse
(LVN / LPN) to support patient care and medical oversight in the office under
the supervision of the dentist or a physician. You will review medical
histories, monitor vitals, manage medications and medical emergencies, and
support sedation or surgical cases where applicable. This role suits a nurse who
wants steady office hours in a small practice setting.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Review patient medical histories and flag risks
•Monitor vital signs and patient status during visits
•Manage medications and assist with medical emergencies
•Support sedation or oral-surgery cases where applicable
•Maintain emergency kits and medical protocols
•Educate patients on pre- and post-procedure care
•Document medical information accurately
•Coordinate with the dental team on patient safety
SUPERVISION AND SCOPE OF PRACTICE
This role works under the supervision of the dentist or a physician. The LVN
does not practice independently and stays within the scope defined by the state
Nurse Practice Act. [Verify your state's board of nursing requirements.]
REQUIRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS
•Active LVN / LPN license in [state] in good standing
•Passed the NCLEX-PN examination
•Current BLS / CPR certification
•Comfort with medical monitoring in a dental setting
•Calm, patient-facing manner
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
•Sedation or surgical-monitoring experience
•Familiarity with dental practice software
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Pay: $_ to $_ per hour
Benefits: __
Schedule: __
To apply, contact __ at the practice.
[Practice Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
Supervision and Scope of Practice
This is the detail a generic template gets wrong, and it is the one that matters most legally. An LVN or LPN works under the supervision of an RN or physician and does not practice independently. The posting should say so explicitly. The precise scope is set by each state's Nurse Practice Act, so the templates include a prompt to verify your state board.
Always Include the Supervision Clause
Every LVN posting should state that the role works under the supervision of an RN or physician and does not practice independently. Tasks generally outside an LVN's independent scope, such as diagnosis, prescribing, interpreting diagnostic results, and the full assessment and care plan, remain RN or physician responsibilities. Because the scope, including whether IV therapy needs a separate certification, varies by state, verify your state's Nurse Practice Act before posting. State boards are a good starting point; the NCSBN licensure resources explain how nurse licensure and scope work across states.
Licenses and Qualifications
LVN hiring is gated by licensure and certifications that must be verified before the first shift, and several recur on a renewal cycle. Require the essentials and confirm them directly with the state board.
Type
What to require
License
Active LVN / LPN license, state board verified
Exam and program
State-approved program plus passed NCLEX-PN
Certification
Current BLS / CPR; IV therapy per state
Health and training
TB assessment, Hep B, HIPAA and OSHA training
The license is earned through a state-approved practical or vocational nursing program and the NCLEX-PN examination, and is verified with the state board of nursing. Keep the language neutral and inclusive, since the EEOC prohibits job advertisements showing a preference based on protected characteristics, and the SHRM guide to writing a job description covers the standard sections.
How to Write an LVN Job Description
A strong LVN posting takes about fifteen minutes once you settle the setting, the supervision clause, the certifications, and the shift. Here is the process the templates are built around. If you are a small practice building out your team, the small business hiring guide covers the steps around the posting.
1
Pick the setting
Standard, private practice or clinic, home health, long-term care or SNF, or dental, matched to where the LVN will work.
2
State the supervision clause
State explicitly that the LVN works under an RN or physician and does not practice independently, and prompt verification of the state Nurse Practice Act.
3
List concrete duties
Group duties by monitoring, treatments and medications, patient support, and supervision and compliance, written specifically for your setting.
4
Require license and certifications
Require an active LVN/LPN license, NCLEX-PN, and BLS/CPR, and list IV-therapy certification and setting experience as preferred.
5
Publish pay and plan verification
List the hourly range plus differentials, add an EEO statement, and set up license, certification, and training verification for the day the offer is accepted.
LVN Pay
LVN pay follows the licensed practical and vocational nurse market, with outpatient and clinic settings often above the median and meaningful differentials in facility settings. The federal data gives a solid anchor.
LVN / LPN Pay (BLS)
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses had a median annual wage of about $62,340 in May 2024, with the lowest ten percent under about $47,960 and the highest ten percent over about $80,510 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). LVN/LPNs held about 651,400 jobs in 2024, with employment projected to grow about 3 percent through 2034 and about 54,400 openings a year.
Outpatient and clinic settings often pay above the median, and states with concentrated demand, including California, tend to run higher. Shift differentials add to the base in long-term care. These are the most recent confirmed federal estimates.
Setting
Pay tendency
Note
Long-term care / SNF
Around the median + differentials
Largest setting
Outpatient / clinic
Often above the median
Steady hours
Home health
Hourly or per-visit + mileage
Field work
Dental office
Varies by market
Office hours
For setting pay, anchor on the federal figure, adjust for your region and setting, spell out any differentials, and state an honest range, since a growing number of states require one and experienced nurses skip postings without numbers.
Hiring an LVN at a Small Practice
A hospital hires LVNs through a recruiting team. A small clinic, a home health agency, a skilled nursing facility, or a dental office makes the hire directly, where the owner, director of nursing, or office manager has to match the setting, write the supervision clause correctly, and handle the license and certification verification. Here is how to do it well.
Most LVN employers are small healthcare businesses without HR
Skilled nursing and residential care is the single largest setting for LVN and LPN work, and the rest of the demand sits in independent physician practices, home health agencies, and dental offices, the large majority of which are small businesses without a dedicated HR department. That is exactly who this page is for. A clinic owner, a director of nursing, or an office manager writing an LVN posting is doing the hiring directly, so the description should be specific to the setting and honest about the schedule, the supervision, and the pay, since that is what experienced nurses screen for first.
The supervision clause and scope of practice are not optional
An LVN or LPN works under the supervision of a registered nurse or physician and does not practice independently. The posting should say so explicitly, because it is both legally accurate and a screen for the right candidate. The exact scope, including whether IV therapy requires a separate certification, is set by each state's Nurse Practice Act, and the title itself changes by state: LVN in California and Texas, LPN in the other 48 states, for the same role. Every template here includes the supervision clause and a prompt to verify your state board's requirements, so the posting is accurate from the start rather than copied from a generic job-board sample.
License and certification tracking gate the start date and recur
A nurse cannot start patient care until the license and certifications are verified, and unlike most hires, these expire and must be re-verified: the LVN license, BLS or CPR, the annual TB assessment, and any IV-therapy certification all have renewal dates. At a small clinic or agency, one lapsed certification can pull a nurse off the schedule, and the compliance training, HIPAA, OSHA bloodborne pathogens, and infection control, has to be done before patient contact. Building the verification and document checklist once, storing licenses and certifications with renewal reminders, and assigning the compliance training as part of onboarding keeps every nurse cleared, current, and on the schedule without last-minute scrambles.
After You Hire: Onboarding an LVN
LVN onboarding puts license verification and compliance first, because a nurse cannot provide patient care until the license and certifications are confirmed and the required training is done. Use this checklist as the gate between a signed offer and the first shift.
Active LVN / LPN license
Verify the license on the state board of nursing and confirm it is current and unrestricted before the first shift. Track the renewal date.
NCLEX-PN and approved program
Confirm completion of a state-approved practical or vocational nursing program and a passing NCLEX-PN result.
BLS / CPR certification
Require current BLS or CPR certification, and track the expiration so it never lapses while the nurse is on the schedule.
Health screenings (TB, Hep B)
Most healthcare settings require a TB assessment, often annually, and offer Hepatitis B vaccination. Confirm and document per your state and OSHA.
Compliance training (HIPAA, OSHA, infection control)
Assign HIPAA, OSHA bloodborne pathogens, and infection-control training before patient contact, and keep a record of completion.
IV-therapy certification (if required)
IV therapy is within scope only with the proper certification in some states. Confirm what your state and role require.
After verification comes the rest of the packet and the setting onboarding: the offer letter, I-9, W-4, and state new-hire reporting, then orientation to your protocols, the EHR, and supervised work before independent assignment. For the broader flow, the new hire paperwork guide covers the documents and the healthcare onboarding guide covers the clinical-setting specifics.
The documents around the hire follow the usual sequence: the offer letter template for the terms, and the onboarding checklist template for the first days of verification, compliance training, and supervised work.
FirstHR fits this directly: e-signature for the offer and acknowledgements, an AI onboarding wizard that turns this very job description into a role-specific onboarding plan, document management for the LVN license, BLS/CPR, and TB records with renewal reminders, training modules for HIPAA and OSHA compliance, an HRIS with an org chart for your practice, and a self-service portal. Applicant tracking is coming soon to FirstHR; today the platform handles onboarding and document tracking once the candidate signs, which helps a small clinic or agency bring on a clinical hire cleanly.
Key Takeaways
An LVN provides hands-on patient care under the supervision of an RN or physician and does not practice independently.
LVN (California and Texas) and LPN (the other 48 states) are the same role, with identical duties, education, and licensing.
Match the template to the setting: standard, clinic, home health, long-term care or SNF, or dental.
Always include the supervision clause and verify the state Nurse Practice Act, since scope varies by state.
Require an active LVN/LPN license, NCLEX-PN, and BLS/CPR; list IV-therapy certification as preferred.
LVN/LPNs had a median wage of about $62,340 in May 2024; verify license and certifications before the first shift.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an LVN do?
A Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) provides hands-on patient care under the supervision of a registered nurse or physician. Core duties include monitoring and recording vital signs, administering medications and injections as ordered, providing wound care and routine treatments, assisting patients with activities of daily living, collecting samples for lab tests, documenting care in charts or the EHR, reporting changes in patient condition to the RN or physician, and providing patient education and support. With additional certification, an LVN may provide IV therapy and blood draws where the state allows. The LVN does not practice independently; the role always works within a supervised, defined scope of practice. The exact day-to-day depends on the setting, a clinic, a home health agency, a skilled nursing facility, or a dental office, which is why the templates on this page split by setting.
What is the difference between an LVN and an LPN?
There is no practical difference. LVN (Licensed Vocational Nurse) and LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) are two names for the same role. LVN is the title used only in California and Texas; LPN is used in the other 48 states. The role, the duties, the education, and the licensing are identical: a state-approved practical or vocational nursing program, the NCLEX-PN examination, and a state board license. Both work under the supervision of an RN or physician and have the same scope of practice within their state. When you write a job description, use the title for your state but know that candidates and templates use the terms interchangeably. The templates on this page are written as LVN / LPN so they work in any state; just match the title to your location.
What should an LVN job description include?
A strong LVN job description includes an employer summary, a job summary, the duties and responsibilities, a clear supervision and scope-of-practice clause, the licensing and certification requirements, the shift and schedule, the hourly pay range, and how to apply. Because this is a licensed clinical role, the two details that must be precise are the supervision clause, stating that the LVN works under an RN or physician and does not practice independently, and the license and certification requirements: an active state LVN/LPN license, NCLEX-PN, and current BLS/CPR. State the setting clearly, since a clinic, a home health agency, a skilled nursing facility, and a dental office are different jobs. Separate true requirements from preferred items like IV-therapy certification so you do not screen out capable candidates. Add an honest pay range and an equal opportunity statement. The five templates here each include the supervision clause and match a common setting.
What licenses and certifications does an LVN need?
An LVN or LPN must hold an active license in good standing from the state board of nursing, earned by completing a state-approved practical or vocational nursing program (typically about 12 to 18 months) and passing the NCLEX-PN examination. Beyond the license, current BLS or CPR certification is standard. IV therapy is within scope only with a separate certification in some states, so confirm what your state requires. Healthcare employers also typically require a TB assessment, often annually, and offer Hepatitis B vaccination, plus compliance training in HIPAA, OSHA bloodborne pathogens, and infection control before patient contact. When you write the posting, require the active license, NCLEX-PN, and BLS/CPR, and list IV certification and setting experience as preferred, since requiring every credential up front narrows your candidate pool. Always verify the license directly with the state board before the first shift.
Who supervises an LVN?
An LVN or LPN works under the supervision of a registered nurse (RN) or a physician, and in some settings under another authorized provider such as a dentist for medical oversight. The LVN does not practice independently. This is not just a workplace preference; it is defined by each state's Nurse Practice Act, which also sets the precise scope of what an LVN may and may not do. Tasks generally outside an LVN's independent scope include diagnosis, prescribing, independent practice, initiating blood transfusions, inserting or removing central lines, interpreting diagnostic results, and performing the full patient assessment and care plan, which remain RN or physician responsibilities. Because the scope varies by state, every template on this page includes an explicit supervision clause and a prompt to verify your state board's requirements, so your posting is legally accurate rather than copied from a generic sample.
How much does an LVN make?
Based on federal data from May 2024, licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses had a median annual wage of about $62,340, with the lowest ten percent earning under about $47,960 and the highest ten percent over about $80,510. Pay varies by setting and region: outpatient and clinic settings often pay above the median, and states with concentrated demand, including California, tend to run higher than the national figure. Shift differentials for evenings, nights, and weekends add to the base in long-term care and facility settings. For setting pay, anchor on the federal figure, adjust for your region and setting, spell out any differentials, and state an honest range, since a growing number of states require a range in the posting and experienced nurses tend to skip listings without one.
Do small clinics and home health agencies hire LVNs?
Yes, and they are among the most common LVN employers. Skilled nursing and residential care facilities are the single largest setting for LVN/LPN work, and beyond those, independent physician practices, home health agencies, and dental offices hire LVNs regularly, the large majority of which are small businesses without a dedicated HR department. That makes the LVN posting a small-employer task: the clinic owner, the director of nursing, or the office manager writes it and runs the hire directly. The templates on this page are built for exactly these settings, with dedicated versions for a private practice or small clinic, a home health agency, a long-term care facility, and a dental office, so you can post a role that reflects your setting rather than editing a generic hospital description.
What happens after I hire an LVN?
The signed offer starts a verification and onboarding sequence that gates the start date, because a nurse cannot provide patient care until the license and certifications are confirmed. Verify the LVN/LPN license on the state board, confirm BLS/CPR and any IV-therapy certification, complete the TB assessment and offer Hepatitis B vaccination, and run any background checks your setting requires. Collect the offer letter, I-9, W-4, state new-hire reporting, and policy acknowledgements, and assign HIPAA, OSHA bloodborne pathogens, and infection-control training before patient contact. Then onboard to your setting: orientation to protocols, the EHR, and supervised work before independent assignment. FirstHR fits this directly: e-signature for the offer and acknowledgements, an AI onboarding wizard that turns the job description into a role-specific onboarding plan, document management for licenses and certifications with renewal reminders, training modules for HIPAA and OSHA compliance, an HRIS with an org chart, and a self-service portal. Applicant tracking is coming soon to FirstHR; today the platform handles onboarding and document tracking once the candidate signs, which helps a small clinic or agency bring on a clinical hire cleanly.
