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practical nurse
noun
: a nurse who cares for the sick professionally without having the training or experience required of a registered nurse
especially
: licensed practical nurse
Examples of practical nurse in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Among other things, the passage rate for students taking the national licensing examination for practical nurses had slipped below 80%, a standard set in state law.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 16 Feb. 2024
Along with Hussin, the van, which is stocked with medication and equipment, including an ultrasound machine, is staffed with a doctor, practical nurse, lab technician and a medical assistant.
—D. Parvaz, NPR, 4 Mar. 2024
Nurses delegate more straightforward clinical roles to licensed practical nurses.
—Jordan Rau, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2023
After admitting Betty, a practical nurse collected her vital signs.
—Niran Al-Agba, The New Republic, 21 Feb. 2022
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Word History
First Known Use
1921, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near practical nurse
Cite this Entry
“Practical nurse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/practical%20nurse. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
practical nurse
noun
: a nurse who cares for the sick professionally without having the training or experience required of a registered nurse
especially
: licensed practical nurse
Medical Definition
practical nurse
noun
prac·ti·cal nurse
ˈprak-ti-kəl-
: a nurse who cares for the sick professionally without having the training or experience required of a registered nurse
especially
: licensed practical nurse
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