North Carolina Nursing Schools

Licensed practical nurses provide basic health care services to patients in different settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, care centers, etc. Working under the management of doctors and registered nurses, these professionals manage the patient experience throughout the delivery of care. They perform the same duties as certified nursing assistants; however, they offer more extensive care. Some of their responsibilities include providing basic medical and nursing care, checking and recording patients’ vital signs, evaluating the overall needs of the patient, managing patient care, supporting physicians and nursing staff, ensuring patient satisfaction and comfort, advising doctors and nurses on patient care, etc. Licensed practical nurses are required to complete an accredited nursing program and they also have to clear the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN) to gain licensure. Licensed practical nurses enjoy a good job outlook and are experiencing employment growth.

National Estimates for Registered Nurses in North Carolina

Employment 1Hourly mean wageAnnual mean wage 2Employment per 1,000 jobsLocation quotient 9
99110$33.15$68,950231.08

(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a “year-round, full-time” hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.

College Resources

More North Carolina Colleges