Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) provide basic medical care to people who are ill, injured, recovering or living with disabilities. They check vital signs, give care and report changes to registered nurses and doctors. AI tools are reaching charting and scheduling. The bedside work is still done by people.
The short answer: the hands-on care is not where generative AI is aimed. The ILO's 2025 index rates nursing associate professionals, the closest group, as minimal exposure with a score of 0.22. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 3 percent growth for LPNs and LVNs from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as average, with about 51,800 openings a year. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed LPNs are
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO category | Mean task score (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing Associate Professionals | Minimal exposure | 0.22 |
The ILO scores groups of occupations, so this is the closest group for licensed practical nurses, not a score for the job title itself.
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | Grow 3% | About 51,800 |
The BLS expects many openings to come from replacing workers who move to other occupations or retire. Its outlook does not mention AI.
Where AI is helping
- Drafting chart notes from what the nurse observed and recorded.
- Summarizing a patient's recent history before a shift.
- Medication and care plan lookups inside approved systems.
- Scheduling and handoff checklists.
What stays with LPNs
- Bedside care: vital signs, wound care, comfort and mobility.
- Noticing change: spotting when a patient is getting worse and raising it.
- Licensed responsibility: care within their scope of practice, which no tool holds.
- Privacy: patient details stay in systems the employer has approved; see AI policy for employees.
- Checking AI help: generated notes can include things that did not happen, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
Openings stay large because many nurses retire or move on. Charting tools may give back some time, and reviewing what they draft before signing is part of the work. This page is general information, not career advice.
See also will AI replace nurses?, will AI replace nursing assistants? and will AI replace medical assistants?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses at $64,400 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The typical education needed to enter is: postsecondary nondegree award. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace LPNs?
Not on current projections. The BLS projects 3 percent growth for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses from 2025 to 2035.
How exposed are LPNs to AI?
The ILO rates nursing associate professionals, the closest group, as minimal exposure with a score of 0.22.
How many openings are expected?
About 51,800 a year on average over the decade, according to the BLS.
Can LPNs use AI for charting?
Only in systems the employer approves, and the nurse checks the note before signing it.