LPN vs. RN: What Are They and What's the Difference?
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An LPN is a licensed practical nurse. These are healthcare professionals focused on providing comfort and recovery support to patients. An RN is a registered nurse. This type of nurse provides direct patient care, including treatment, medication and testing. While these are both healthcare professions, they still have major distinctions to consider for anyone entering the nursing field.
Nurses play a big role in the healthcare system and can make a lasting impact on patients' lives.?
People interested in the field often confuse the two most common types of nurses: licensed practical nurses and registered nurses.
While LPNs and RNs do have differences to take into consideration, Milissa Santos , president at Eagle Staffing Company, states that the type of people who become nurses, whether RNs or LPNs, usually have common values.?
“This is definitely a career path that takes discipline,” said Santos. “Also, these are people who are really vested and interested in making a difference in the lives of others as far as health care is concerned.”?
We explore the differences in these professions and how to choose the right path for you below.?
What Does a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Do?
An LPN is a nurse that works with patients to provide basic medical care. The day-to-day responsibilities of an LPN include:
This is a very important role because an LPN is responsible for patient comfort and well-being. While a patient is in the hospital, LPNs should regularly monitor their needs to provide the patient with what they need to rest and recover.??
LPNs will assist doctors or RNs with medical tasks and communicate with the rest of the healthcare team in charge of patient care.
What Does a Registered Nurse (RN) Do?
An RN works with patients and other healthcare professionals to ensure patients receive the right treatment based on their personalized care plans.?
The daily duties of an RN include:
RNs provide direct treatment and care to patients. RNs act as supervisors or managers for other nurses (including LPNs) in many healthcare settings.
What's the Difference Between an RN vs. LPN?
“The basic difference between the two is the schooling,” said Santos. “The length of time for schooling for an LPN is anywhere from 12 to 18 months whereas an RN is pretty much required to have a BSN.”?
Another key difference between an LPN and an RN is their day-to-day responsibilities, but here are some other differences between the two professions to consider:?
Matt Warzel , career coach and resume writer, also adds that registered nurses RNs directly care for patients while LPNs assist doctors or RNs.
If you’re considering a nursing path, knowing the distinctions between an LPN and an RN will help you make the right decision.
Education
RNs must earn a professional nursing degree, such as an associate degree or a bachelor of science in nursing.?
An associate degree typically takes two years to complete, while a bachelor’s degree typically takes four years. Schools must have accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.?
RN programs involve in-depth classes and coursework covering social, physical and behavioral sciences. Required courses may include:
Students in these programs also must complete clinical experience before they graduate.?
LPNs need a Practical Nursing diploma from a technical school or community college. To earn this diploma, students must complete a program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.?
Becoming an LPN can take as little as 12 months.?
Some of the courses that LPNs need to take for their diploma include:
Students also need to have clinical experience before graduating from this program.
Certification
The NCLEX, which stands for National Council Licensure Examination, has two standardized tests.
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RNs must pass the NCLEX-RN exam after they graduate. LPNs must pass the NCLEX-PN upon graduation. For either nursing profession, professionals cannot practice until passing these exams and earning their licenses.
These two exams are similar, but the number of questions, time limit and content are different.?
If you fail the exam, you are welcome to retake it at a later date.
Compensation
RNs have to complete more schooling and training than LPNs, and since the scope of their work is slightly more involved, they have higher salaries. RNs have a higher starting pay rate and earning potential.
The median annual salary for an RN in 2021 was $77,600. Registered nurses working for the government or hospitals made slightly more than those in other work environments.?
For LPNs in 2021, the median annual salary was $48,070. Licensed practical nurses working in residential care facilities or government facilities had a slightly higher wage than other LPNs.?
These numbers do not include additional pay that many nurses receive, including:
Work Setting
Most nurses work at hospitals, doctor’s offices or nursing care facilities. Some also work in outpatient clinics or as home healthcare nurses.
Some nurses choose to specialize in areas of interest to work in a specific part of a hospital, such as a pregnancy ward or emergency room.?
RNs can choose a variety of specialties that open up additional work setting possibilities. Some of the other work settings for an RN include:
LPNs can work in many of these same locations under the supervision of an RN. Additionally, other locations for LPNs to work include:
Job Outlook
“Both LPN and RN careers are expected to grow over the next five years by at least 17% as far as salary is concerned,” said Santos.?
Santos points out that pre-pandemic, LPNs made anywhere between, $23 to $24 coming out of school but that the salary continues to trend upward.??
“Now, we're paying an average of $30 an hour for them coming out of school,” said Santos. “The same with RNs; pre-pandemic, the average pay was anywhere between $35 to $37 an hour. Now, we pay anywhere between $40 to $45 an hour.”
The demand for health care is not going anywhere.?
In fact, the demand for health services will increase in the next ten years (or more) due to many aging people in the U.S.?
The U.S. population is growing older, and an older population needs more care. In fact, according to research from the Urban Institute , the number of Americans ages 65 and older will more than double over the next 40 years, reaching 80 million in 2040. Additionally, the 85- and-older age group will nearly quadruple between 2000 and 2040.
Healthcare organizations will need professionals with expertise and experience, including nurses. An increase in chronic conditions also suggests that nurses and the healthcare industry are in high demand for the next decade.?
Specifically, Warzel points out that according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of LPNs is projected to grow by 12% from 2018 to 2028. This is faster than the national average for all occupations.
Warzel further states that according to the BLS , in 2020, there were more than 3 million job openings for RNs and 688,000 openings for LPNs. And this is only expected to grow.?
Santos emphasizes that salaries are still expected to grow over the next five years, at least.?
“The demand for nursing is also expected to grow over the next 10 years pretty significantly, so it's definitely worth getting into either one of these fields.”
Top Takeaways
LPN vs. RN
(Reporting by NPD and Helen Harris )
LPN Charge Nurse at Veteran Home
1 年LPNs skills have advanced over the years we are doing more than basic nursing care. We are not just taking vital signs and passing meds. We are working in woundcare, working in dialysis centers, and we are even working in management positions in long-term care. We are not basic nurses.
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2 年Helen Harris - Once again you offer practical advice. I think this article should get broader distribution into schools and communities where people can benefit from this. This would be useful in community news websites.
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2 年Thank you again for the feature Helen!!