Dear Tapialisette,

A Licensed Practical Nurse is a nurse who goes through a 1 year program and takes the NCLEX-PN to become licensed to practice in her state. Usually,these nurses can be educated at a technical school such as I was. I am a LPN who resides in the state of Florida.  We work as nurses, we give injections( IM,SQ, ID), place urinary catheters, pass oral meds, document on pts. charts, and coordinate with other team members such as RN, CNA, or PCT for the treatment of patients. In the state of Florida, the only thing LPNs don't do and must get certified in is IVs. We don't do IV pushes, nothing through IV catheters without being certified. I hope my 2 cents helps.

Yes, LVNs and LPNs can assist in surgeries. It just depends on which state you are in.