Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
Care for ill, injured, or convalescing patients or persons with disabilities in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, private homes, group homes, and similar institutions. May work under the supervision of a registered nurse. Licensing required.
Context coveredLong-term care, skilled nursing, physician-office practice, hospital med-surg, and home health settings; LPN/LVN scope of practice as defined by state nurse-practice acts.
- Vital signs and routine assessments — collect and document on stable patients under an RN's review.
- Medication administration within LPN scope — administer per state-practice-act limits and facility protocol.
- Standard treatments (wound dressings, urinary catheter care, oxygen titration) — perform on routine assignments.
- Patient identifiers and safety checks — execute reliably before any procedure or administration.
- Charting in the EHR — enter assessments, treatments, and outcomes accurately under RN review.
- Patient education on common conditions — deliver from facility-approved materials under supervision.
- Specimen collection (blood draws within scope, urine, wound cultures) — obtain per protocol.
- Communication with the RN charge — escalate appropriately on out-of-norm findings.
- Infection control and isolation precautions — apply consistently across patient encounters.
- Personal protective equipment + body mechanics — apply on transfers and treatments.
- Multi-patient assignments — organize and prioritize across an LPN-staffed hallway shift.
- IV initiation and maintenance within LPN scope — perform reliably where state practice permits.
- Treatment plans for common diagnoses — execute from RN-developed plans with reduced oversight.
- Stable but complex patients — provide care across multiple comorbidities under RN supervision.
- Family-member interactions on common concerns — handle directly and route clinical questions to the RN.
- Patient education and discharge teaching — deliver on a routine basis without RN follow-up.
- Newer LPNs and nursing assistants — guide on facility routines during their first weeks.
- EHR documentation for regulatory compliance — complete accurately across an entire shift.
- Common procedures (Foley insertion, NG tube management, glucose monitoring) — perform independently.
- Subtle changes in patient status — recognize and report to the RN charge or attending.
- Complex routine patients in long-term care — provide care autonomously within scope of practice.
- Charge-LPN responsibilities (where the state and facility permit) — coordinate hallway team during a shift.
- Specialty-area protocols (dialysis support, hospice, post-op recovery) — apply within scope.
- Difficult patient and family conversations on routine clinical issues — handle within LPN authority.
- New protocols and EHR changes — implement and coach LPN and CNA peers.
- Preceptorship of new-grad LPNs — host structured orientations.
- Quality and safety concerns — identify, report, and follow through using facility processes.
- Care-team coordination (dietary, social work, rehab) — collaborate substantively in care conferences.
- Common-issue physician collaboration — communicate findings clearly enough to prompt the right order.
- Cross-shift handoffs and SBAR-style reports — deliver clearly to incoming staff.
- LPN charge or supervisor role in long-term care — manage staffing, breaks, and care assignments across a unit.
- Restorative care or specialty-program leadership — design and audit on a unit alongside RN leadership.
- Preceptorship and clinical-teaching role for the LPN program — coach across cohorts.
- Survey readiness (state, CMS) — prepare the unit and represent staff in walkthroughs.
- Unit-level quality measures (medication errors, falls, pressure ulcers) — interpret trends and respond.
- Career pathway coaching (LPN-to-RN bridge programs) — mentor staff who want to advance.
- Senior advocate for LPN-staff voice — represent on facility committees and in leadership meetings.
- Regulatory and scope-of-practice updates — interpret and operationalize for the team as states evolve.
- Mass-care or surge-staffing situations — lead the LPN response with composure.
- Long-term-care operations — partner with administration on staffing models and clinical practice.
AI-at-Work Competency Framework
Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.Subscriber featureAuthoritative source data identified for 998 occupations
AI-at-Work Competency Framework
How a worker at each mastery level uses, directs, and evaluates AI tools in this occupation. Each statement cites its evidence inline; click a citation chip to verify the source.
- AI-assisted charting support — uses an AI tool to draft initial nursing notes and medication administration records, reviewing and correcting each entry before submission to ensure clinical accuracy Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab..
- Basic clinical query use — submits straightforward medication or symptom questions to an AI assistant, then verifies the response against facility protocols before acting Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab..
- Vital-signs trend summarization — directs an AI tool to surface patterns in recorded vital-signs data, then interprets the output in the context of the patient's current condition and care plan Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab..
- Patient-communication drafting — delegates the preparation of routine patient-education materials (e.g., wound-care instructions, medication schedules) to an AI assistant, editing content for health-literacy appropriateness before distribution Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab. WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab..
- Observation-to-documentation pipeline — orchestrates an AI workflow that converts bedside observations and free-text nursing notes into structured chart entries, retaining responsibility for clinical judgment on every flagged change in patient condition Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab. Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab..
- Adverse-reaction pattern detection — uses AI-generated alerts on medication-reaction data to prioritize which patients require immediate reassessment, while personally conducting the physical evaluation and reporting chain Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab..
- Shift-handoff briefing generation — directs an AI assistant to compile a structured handoff summary from the shift's charted data, then verifies completeness and accuracy against direct patient observations before delivering the report Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab. WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab..
- Human-AI boundary stewardship — evaluates which LPN tasks (documentation, trend detection, patient-education drafts) are appropriate for AI delegation versus which require hands-on physical assessment, maintaining a low AI autonomy footprint consistent with the direct-care role Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab. Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab..
- Workflow redesign leadership — leads unit-level review of AI-assisted nursing documentation tools, benchmarking time-savings and error rates, and establishing evidence-based guidelines for appropriate AI use by the nursing team Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab. WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab..
- Complex patient-advocacy communication — synthesizes AI-generated care summaries with direct clinical observation and patient-family social context to deliver nuanced, person-centered explanations that no AI output alone can replicate Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab. WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab..
Evidence pack
- AEI usage
- Task observations: 6Augment share: 80.4%Time saved: 35%AI autonomy: 0.19
- SAFI positioning
- Top skill: Service OrientationScore: 57.3 / 100precision: category_estimate
- WEF cluster
- Human-Technology Interactionhuman_technology_interaction
Pathsmith Durable Skills Framework
Pathsmith Durable Skills Framework
Ten durable-skill domains mapped to four proficiency/role levels for each occupation. Each statement is aligned to the Pathsmith taxonomy, derived from trusted grounding data and mapped to occupation-specific O*NET tasks and skills.
1Communication12 statements
- Patient symptom reporting — describes observed changes in patient condition to supervising nurses using basic clinical terminology during shift handoffs Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Vital signs documentation — records measured blood pressure, pulse, and respiration values legibly in patient charts following unit protocols O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Patient interaction — responds to call lights by greeting patients and asking clarifying questions to identify immediate needs Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Medication administration communication — explains prescribed medication purpose and expected effects to patients before administration, confirming understanding Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Interdisciplinary reporting — conveys patient assessment findings to physicians and charge nurses using SBAR format during care conferences Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Care aide instruction — delivers clear, stepwise verbal directions to nurses' aides when delegating basic care tasks O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Adverse reaction communication — documents and verbally reports adverse medication reactions with precise clinical detail, triggering appropriate escalation pathways Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Patient education delivery — explains wound care procedures, medication schedules, and discharge instructions to patients and families using plain language adapted to health literacy levels Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Shift handoff communication — presents comprehensive patient status summaries to oncoming nurses, prioritizing critical changes and pending interventions O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Complex family communication — leads difficult conversations with distressed families regarding patient deterioration, integrating clinical accuracy with emotional sensitivity Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Unit communication standard-setting — models and coaches junior LPNs in documentation precision and interprofessional communication practices that reduce care errors Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Cross-team coordination — serves as primary communication liaison between nursing aides, RNs, and ancillary departments to ensure seamless patient care transitions O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
2Leadership10 statements
- Care aide oversight — monitors nurses' aides performing assigned tasks and provides immediate corrective feedback on technique or safety concerns Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Patient advocacy initiation — identifies and voices patient concerns to supervising nurses when patients are unable to self-advocate Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Aide supervision — assigns and sequences daily care tasks among nursing assistants based on patient acuity and staff capacity Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Intervention follow-through — takes initiative to reassess patients after implementing nursing interventions without requiring supervisor prompting Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Team coordination during care — organizes nursing aide activities during multi-patient care rounds, adjusting assignments in real time based on emerging patient needs Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Outcome accountability — accepts responsibility for nursing intervention results, conferring with healthcare team members when outcomes deviate from care plan expectations Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Mentorship of new staff — guides newly hired LPNs through unit protocols and clinical expectations during orientation periods Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Unit-level leadership — assumes charge responsibilities in the absence of RN supervisors, managing patient assignments, staffing concerns, and escalation decisions across the unit Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Culture of safety leadership — champions patient safety reporting norms among peers, reducing near-miss concealment through visible personal accountability Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Staff development facilitation — identifies skill gaps in nursing aides and junior LPNs and implements targeted on-unit coaching to elevate care team performance Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
3Metacognition9 statements
- Skill gap recognition — identifies personal clinical procedures requiring additional supervised practice and communicates development needs to charge nurses Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Chart review self-check — reviews completed patient documentation before submission to catch omissions or transcription errors Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Clinical reasoning reflection — after patient assessment, pauses to evaluate whether gathered data is sufficient to support the reported conclusion before escalating Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Learning strategy adaptation — selects targeted resources such as clinical manuals or peer consultation when encountering unfamiliar diagnoses or medications Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Intervention outcome evaluation — systematically reviews the effectiveness of implemented nursing interventions by comparing patient response to expected outcomes and adjusting approach accordingly Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Priority calibration — monitors own cognitive load during high-census shifts and deliberately re-sequences patient tasks to maintain accuracy under pressure Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Error pattern analysis — reflects on recurring documentation or procedural mistakes and implements personal corrective strategies between shifts Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Metacognitive modeling — makes clinical reasoning processes transparent to nursing students and aides during bedside teaching, demonstrating how to monitor and adjust one's own assessments Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Systematic practice audit — periodically evaluates own clinical habits against current evidence-based guidelines and initiates targeted self-improvement plans Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
4Critical Thinking10 statements
- Vital signs interpretation — compares measured vital sign values against normal ranges and flags deviations for supervisor review Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Medication verification — cross-checks prescribed medication orders against the five rights of medication administration before dispensing O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Symptom pattern recognition — distinguishes expected post-procedure symptoms from signs of complication through systematic patient observation and chart review Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Care plan evaluation — assesses whether current nursing interventions align with documented patient goals and identifies discrepancies for team discussion Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Adverse reaction analysis — evaluates temporal relationships between medication administration and patient symptom onset to identify probable adverse reactions and support clinical decision-making Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Evidence-based intervention selection — chooses wound care techniques or comfort measures based on patient condition data and current clinical guidelines rather than habit Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Triage prioritization — analyzes competing patient needs across a multi-patient assignment and allocates time and resources based on acuity and risk Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Complex case reasoning — synthesizes multi-system assessment findings, medication history, and psychosocial factors to form nuanced nursing conclusions that inform physician consultations Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Assumption challenging — identifies and questions assumptions embedded in standing care orders when patient presentation has changed, advocating for order reassessment Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Quality improvement analysis — applies critical analysis to unit-level patient outcome data to identify systemic care gaps and propose evidence-based process changes Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
5Collaboration10 statements
- Healthcare team participation — attends care planning meetings and contributes direct patient observation data when asked by RNs or physicians Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Aide coordination — works alongside nursing assistants to complete patient hygiene or mobility tasks requiring two-person technique O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Interdisciplinary care contribution — shares patient behavioral and physical observations with therapists, social workers, and dietitians during interdisciplinary rounds Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Conflict de-escalation — addresses scheduling or task disagreements with nursing aides through direct, respectful conversation before involving supervisors Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Coordinated care implementation — collaborates with RNs, physicians, and ancillary staff to execute multi-component care plans, adjusting own tasks in response to team decisions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Cross-shift collaboration — communicates actionable patient information to oncoming team members that enables seamless continuation of care O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Diverse team navigation — adapts communication and working style when collaborating with team members across cultural, generational, and professional backgrounds Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Team process improvement — facilitates post-incident debriefs with nursing aides and peers to identify collaborative breakdowns and co-create improved care delivery processes Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Mentored collaboration — coaches junior LPNs in effective interdisciplinary communication strategies, improving team integration across the unit Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Complex discharge planning — coordinates with social work, pharmacy, and home health agencies to ensure all team members are aligned on patient discharge needs and follow-up care O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
6Character10 statements
- Patient dignity maintenance — performs all personal care procedures with consistent respect for patient privacy, modesty, and expressed preferences Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Documentation honesty — records only directly observed data in patient charts and avoids assumptions or unsupported inferences Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Medication accountability — accurately documents medication administration times and amounts, reporting errors immediately without concealment Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Confidentiality adherence — handles all patient health information in compliance with HIPAA requirements in verbal, written, and digital interactions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Error reporting integrity — discloses clinical errors or near-misses to supervisors promptly and completely, prioritizing patient safety over personal reputation Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Ethical boundary maintenance — recognizes and declines requests from patients or families that would exceed scope of practice or violate professional ethics Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Consistent professionalism — maintains respectful, composed demeanor with patients, families, and team members across demanding and emotionally charged situations Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Ethical climate stewardship — speaks up when observing peers engage in documentation irregularities, boundary violations, or care shortcuts, and supports corrective action Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Patient advocacy integrity — persistently advocates for patient rights and care quality needs even when doing so creates friction with institutional or team pressures Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Role model accountability — demonstrates consistent alignment between stated values and clinical actions, establishing a standard of professional character that peers reference Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
7Creativity9 statements
- Patient comfort adaptation — identifies alternative positioning or distraction techniques to reduce patient discomfort during routine procedures when standard approaches are ineffective Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Resource improvisation — uses available materials creatively to maintain patient comfort or safety when standard supplies are temporarily unavailable Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Individualized care tailoring — modifies standard care routines to accommodate patient-specific mobility limitations, cultural preferences, or cognitive status Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Communication workaround — develops alternative communication strategies for non-verbal or language-limited patients using visual aids, gesture systems, or interpreter resources Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Problem-solving under constraint — generates effective interim nursing solutions for unexpected patient care challenges while awaiting physician orders or additional resources Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Patient engagement innovation — introduces novel motivational approaches to increase patient participation in prescribed treatments, exercises, or medication adherence Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Care workflow redesign — identifies and tests modified task sequences that improve care delivery efficiency without compromising patient safety Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Unit practice innovation — proposes and pilots creative solutions to recurring care challenges, such as novel wound care staging tools or patient rounding checklists, that are adopted unit-wide Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Teaching creativity — designs engaging scenario-based instruction methods for nursing aides and students that improve skill retention beyond standard demonstration Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
8Growth Mindset10 statements
- Feedback receptivity — accepts corrective feedback from supervising RNs on clinical technique without defensiveness and applies corrections on subsequent attempts Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Skill discomfort tolerance — attempts unfamiliar procedures under supervision rather than deferring to others out of performance anxiety Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Continuing education engagement — voluntarily participates in unit in-services, CEU courses, and clinical skills updates to expand nursing competence Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Error learning — analyzes personal medication or documentation errors to extract specific lessons that inform future practice improvement Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Challenge pursuit — seeks assignment to higher-acuity patients or complex care situations as opportunities to develop clinical depth Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Persistent skill building — continues refining difficult clinical skills such as IV catheterization or catheter care through deliberate practice until consistent competence is achieved Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Feedback integration — systematically incorporates supervisor and peer feedback into revised clinical behaviors and tracks own improvement over time Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Growth culture modeling — openly shares personal learning experiences and past clinical mistakes with junior staff to normalize growth through error and effort Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Stretch goal setting — establishes progressive professional development targets aligned with scope expansion or specialty certification and pursues them systematically Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Resilience through complexity — treats shifts with multiple simultaneous patient crises as developmental experiences, extracting transferable lessons to improve future crisis management Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
9Mindfulness10 statements
- Procedural presence — maintains focused attention during medication preparation, minimizing distraction to reduce administration errors Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Emotional awareness — recognizes personal stress responses during difficult patient interactions and pauses briefly before responding Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Patient observation attentiveness — sustains deliberate, systematic attention during patient assessments to detect subtle condition changes such as skin color shifts or breathing irregularities Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Workload self-monitoring — notices early signs of task overload during high-census periods and proactively communicates capacity limits to charge nurses Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Intentional de-escalation — responds to agitated or distressed patients with regulated tone, paced breathing, and deliberate body language to reduce escalation risk Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Compassion fatigue awareness — recognizes personal emotional depletion signals after cumulative difficult patient experiences and applies targeted self-care strategies between shifts Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Present-moment assessment — performs each patient assessment with full attentional focus, resisting the pull of pending tasks that could cause assessment shortcuts Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Mindful team environment — models and encourages intentional pause practices before high-risk procedures across the nursing team, reducing error from rushed execution Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Sustained emotional regulation — maintains composed, patient-centered presence across an entire high-demand shift involving multiple critical patients and family conflicts Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Attentional leadership — identifies when team members show signs of inattentiveness or emotional flooding and intervenes constructively to restore safe care delivery Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
10Fortitude10 statements
- Procedure persistence — completes challenging clinical tasks such as difficult catheterizations or wound dressings without abandoning the procedure prematurely when initial attempts are uncomfortable Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Distressing situation tolerance — remains present and functional when assigned to patients with severe wounds, terminal illness, or acute emotional distress Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- High-demand shift endurance — sustains clinical accuracy and patient attentiveness across full shifts with high patient loads or staffing shortages Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Difficult feedback acceptance — receives critical performance evaluations without withdrawal, using the experience to strengthen professional resolve Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Crisis composure — maintains organized, deliberate clinical action during acute patient deterioration events, executing emergency protocols accurately under high stress Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Sustained advocacy — continues advocating for a patient's unaddressed care need through multiple communications and escalation attempts despite initial non-response from providers Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Cumulative adversity management — performs effectively through extended periods of institutional strain such as staffing crises, outbreak management, or facility transitions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Team resilience anchoring — provides stabilizing presence and practical support to distressed colleagues during unit-wide crises, preventing performance deterioration across the team Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Courageous advocacy — raises documented patient safety concerns to administration or risk management when unit-level responses are inadequate, accepting personal professional risk to protect patients Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Post-crisis recovery leadership — leads structured team debriefs after traumatic patient events, facilitating peer processing and re-establishing unit operational capacity Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Show O*NET source anchors58 anchors · skillscrosswalk.com
O*NET enrichment · skillscrosswalk.com
Suggest an O*NET correctionSource anchors that ground each statement
- Observe patients, charting and reporting changes in patients' conditions, such as adverse reactions to medication or treatment, and taking any necessary action.
- Measure and record patients' vital signs, such as height, weight, temperature, blood pressure, pulse, or respiration.
- Administer prescribed medications or start intravenous fluids, noting times and amounts on patients' charts.
- Provide basic patient care or treatments, such as taking temperatures or blood pressures, dressing wounds, treating bedsores, giving enemas or douches, rubbing with alcohol, massaging, or performing catheterizations.
- Answer patients' calls and determine how to assist them.
- Supervise nurses' aides or assistants.
- Evaluate nursing intervention outcomes, conferring with other healthcare team members as necessary.
- Work as part of a healthcare team to assess patient needs, plan and modify care, and implement interventions.
Sources: O*NET v30.2 (CC BY 4.0), SkillsCrosswalk.com, LER.me, Anthropic Economic Index, SAFI (Jadhav & Danve, 2026), WEF Skills Taxonomy 2021, Pathsmith Durable Skills Framework. © 2026 EBSCOed.