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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The practical nurse had lost her husband and his income just three months earlier. — Ames Alexander, Charlotte Observer, 20 Mar. 2025 Barbara Hoare is a licensed practical nurse and resident of Wheaton. — Barbara Hoare, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026 After admitting Betty, a practical nurse collected her vital signs. — Niran Al-Agba, The New Republic, 21 Feb. 2022 Nurses delegate more straightforward clinical roles to licensed practical nurses. — Jordan Rau, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2023 See All Example Sentences for practical nurse

Word History

First Known Use

1921, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of practical nurse was in 1921

Rhymes for practical nurse

See All Rhymes for practical nurse

Browse Nearby Words

practicalness
practical nurse
practical politics
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Cite this Entry

“Practical nurse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/practical%20nurse. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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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- How to pronounce practical nurse (audio)
: a nurse who cares for the sick professionally without having the training or experience required of a registered nurse
especially : licensed practical nurse
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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