The Differences Between an LPN and an RN
There are many fundamental differences between an LPN and an RN. The acronym LPN stands for licensed practical nurse, while RN stands for registered nurse. The traditional nurses we think of who work in hospitals and work alongside doctors are typically RNs. These nursing professionals usually enter the profession after completing a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing and then they successfully pass the National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse. Licensed practical nurses, on the other hand, may enter the profession after only one year of study and after passing a similar licensure examination. The differences don't end there, though.
As a licensed practical nurse, you may begin working in healthcare settings after only a year of study and the passage of an exam, and you will be able to perform many of the basic functions of an RN. You will have to work under the guidance and supervision of a doctor or head registered nurse at all times, though, unlike a registered nurse who can work independently and even administer IVs, which an LPN cannot do. A licensed practical nurse also cannot provide medications to patients, cannot manage care plans or make decisions independently of supervision like a registered nurse can.
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Licensed practical nurses provide medical care, but their responsibilities are not as complex and varied as that of a registered nurse. Because of this, some nurses may say it is more rewarding to be an RN than it is to be an LPN. Many others might say it has more to do with the salary. Full-time licensed practical nurses generally make between $33,000 and $45,000 per year depending on experience and specialization, while registered nurses can make at least $70,000 per year with opportunities to make much more with experience, specialization and overtime hours.
Many nursing professionals use their LPN career as a stepping stone to an RN career. Since a great deal of the coursework to become an LPN may apply towards the Bachelor of Science in Nursing required to become an RN, it is a logical next step. Some schools have a waiting list for the RN program, so starting your work on the LPN degree makes sense while you wait for an opening in the RN program. Working as an LPN is also great experience for future RNs, and many people prefer it altogether.
