Licensed Practical Nurses in Florida

What they do

Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) deliver routine bedside care across a wide range of Florida healthcare settings, including long-term care facilities, physician offices, rehabilitation centers, home health agencies, hospitals, and correctional facilities. LPNs administer medications, perform wound care, collect specimens, monitor vital signs, change dressings, insert catheters, and assist with diagnostic procedures. They also help patients with hygiene, mobility, and feeding when needed.

LPNs in Florida play a particularly important role in skilled nursing facilities, where they often serve as charge nurses on a shift and supervise nursing assistants. The scope of practice is more focused than that of a registered nurse, with LPNs working under the direction of an RN, APRN, physician, podiatrist, or dentist. Their training emphasizes practical, hands-on clinical skills, and they form a critical part of Florida's long-term and community-based care infrastructure.

Licensing in Florida

To become an LPN in Florida, candidates must complete a state-approved practical nursing program, pass the NCLEX-PN national examination, and submit fingerprints for a background check. Florida participates in the Nurse Licensure Compact, allowing LPNs licensed in other compact states to practice in Florida under their home-state license. Licenses are renewed biennially with documented continuing education, including state-required topics. The Florida Board of Nursing oversees licensure, scope of practice, and disciplinary matters for LPNs.

How to verify or report

Verify an LPN license through the Florida MQA license search. Complaints about unsafe practice, medication errors, or unprofessional conduct can be filed through the Florida Department of Health complaint form or by calling 850-488-0796.