Ky.gov

Kentucky Board of Nursing

Licensed Practical Nurse

Licensed Practical Nurse Overview

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​A Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), also known as a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) in some states, is an essential member of the healthcare team who provides basic patient care under the supervision of a registered nurse or physician. LPNs play a vital role in administering medications, monitoring vital signs, and ensuring patient comfort and safety, making them a valuable asset in various healthcare settings.​

The Board of Nursing

The Board is responsible for regulation of nursing practice. The Board’s Mission is to protect the public from unsafe nursing practice.

Safe, competent nursing practice is grounded in the law as written in the state nurse practice act​ and the state rules and regulations. The Nurse Practice Act dictates:

  • Qualifications for licensure,
  • Nursing titles that are allowed to be used,
  • Scope of practice, and
  • Consequences for violation of the nursing law.

The Kentucky Nurse Practice Act may be located:



KBN Advisory Opinion Statements Indexes​

Advisory Opinion Statements Index by number. A link to each AOS is provided in the Advisory Opinion Statements Index​.

Advisory Opinion Statements Index

​ Information on the topics addressed within AOS is listed within the AOS Content Index.​

Kentucky Board of Nursing AOS Content ​Index​​

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Professional Organizations

N​ursing professional associations are membership driven organizations that advance the nursing profession by addressing the practice, political and professional issues affecting nurses. They carry out this mission by:

  • Establishing standards of nursing practice,
  • Promoting the economic and general welfare of nurses in the workplace,
  • Projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing
  • lobbying the legislature, and Regulatory agencies on behalf of health care issues impacting nurses and the public.
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Nurse Licensure Compact​

The NLC is an interstate agreement that allows nurses (RNs and LPNs/VNs) to practice with one multistate license, issued from the home state, in all states that are part of the NLC.

Kentucky is a member of the NLC. Obtain information about the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), including information on primary state of residence and what to do if you are moving to or from another compact state.

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