Licensed Practical Nurse Vs. Registered Nurse: What’s The Difference?

If you’re interested in getting started in the nursing field, you may be wondering about the different nuances of nursing careers. One of the most common questions surrounds the differences between Licensed Practical Nurses, or LPNs, and Registered Nurses, also known as RNs.

The demand for healthcare continues to rise. Nursing is an ideal career to pursue if you enjoy working with people and the idea of providing front-line patient care. Although only a single letter differentiates the name of these nursing fields, LRNs and RNs can differ significantly. Below, we’ll discuss these differences in more detail.

Key Takeaways:

What Is an LPN?

A Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) can sometimes be referred to as a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN). These nurses have completed schooling with a specific LPN program which typically takes about two years to complete and can be found at most community or vocational colleges.

LPNs achieve a different professional license than an RN, which determines the scope of practice they can legally perform. Typically, LPNs also report to RNs in many hospitals. They perform a variety of duties which can include:

• Vital signs. LPNs collect vital signs through different means, such as taking temperatures or blood pressure with medical devices. They are then responsible for charting these signs in the patient’s paperwork.

• Oral medication. LPNs are licensed to dose and distribute oral medications. This can be anything from over-the-counter medication to prescribed medications from the doctor.

• Blood sugar. LPNs are able to assess blood sugar levels for patients, especially those with diabetes concerns. This can typically include a finger prick test which provides information the LPN must record in the patient’s records.

• Assistance. LPNs are responsible for the assistance of any daily activities for patients. This can include helping them get movement, getting dressed, eating, or drinking.

• Hygiene. LPNs are typically responsible for assisting patients with things like bathing, showering, and general hygiene such as brushing one’s teeth, combing hair, as well as assisting with toileting.

• General patient care. LPNs are generally tasked with all other general patient care tasks of anything that does not fall into the above categories.

To become an LPN, you must attend schooling. Classes for LPN include classes in ethics and nursing skills as well as successful completion of clinical rotations. However, education for LPNs differs slightly from an RN. As mentioned above, classes for LPNs can typically be found at vocational schools or junior colleges, lasting about one to two years.

An LPN must complete classroom and clinical hours in order to become fully licensed. The typical curriculum for LPNs includes classes such as an introduction to nursing, legal and ethical aspects of the career, nursing theory, anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, patient safety, medical administration, basic patient care, mental health, and more.

Depending on the state you reside or work in, the licensure for an LPN may differ. It’s important to research and fully understand your state’s requirements; however, the most typical LPN licensure will include:

• Diploma. An LPN must secure a diploma from an accredited, licensed vocational, or junior college LPN program in order to be properly licensed.

• Pass NCLEX-PN. An LPN must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN) in order to be certified to practice in the United States.

• Renewals. LPNs must renew their licenses every two years by completing the state’s required hours for continued education.

As you can imagine, the salary of an LPN differs from an RN. The median annual salary for LPNs is $48,820, but for both LPNs and RNs, there is a projected 9% increase in job growth through 2030. This growth is extraordinary compared to other occupations. An increase of 65,700 LPNs will be needed for this growth.

If you’re looking to break into an LPN career, be rest assured there is plenty of career growth opportunities. These can be anything from moving into physician offices, mental health offices, geriatric institutions, and home health care. Additionally, you can consider furthering your education as an RN if you so choose.

What Is an RN?

An RN is a Registered Nurse. An RN has completed an Associate Degree in Nursing, referred to as an ADN, or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, also referred to as a BSN. They have taken and passed an NCLEX-RN licensure exam to become certified to practice as a registered nurse.

Just like LPNs, RNs are responsible for a wide range of patient duties. However, there are distinctions between what the two can practice, with the LPNs providing more basic care and RNs providing a higher level of patient care. Unlike LPNs, RNs are able to work independently in most areas. Some duties may include

• Patient assessments. RNs are responsible for a complete assessment of a patient, which will then be provided to the doctor. This can include looking through vital signs, a visual assessment, and recommendations for further, more in-depth assessments.

• IVs. RNs are responsible for starting IV lines for patients. This requires the ability to insert a needle into the patient’s vein and begin a saline solution or IV medication.

• Medications. Just like LPNs, RNs are licensed to dose and distribute oral medication to their patients.

• Blood samples. RNs are also licensed to take blood samples from patients and distribute them to the appropriate parties.

• Physical exams. Before the doctor comes in to assess the patient, the RN is typically responsible for performing a physical exam on the patient.

• Diagnostic tests. Depending on the patient’s symptoms, the RN may decide whether the patient is eligible for certain diagnostic tests. RNs are licensed to perform most, if not all, of these tests.

• Partnering with physicians. An RN is the right arm of a physician and typically works together with them to determine the overall patient treatment plan.

• Patient counseling. Being sick or needing medical care can be scary. RNs are licensed to help counsel patients with reassurance and answer any questions they may have.

• Coordinating treatment. An RN is also licensed to recommend follow-up treatment such as physical therapy, cosmetic consults, and nutrition consults, among other things.

Because RNs are able to perform more in-depth care for patients, their educational background differs significantly from an LPN. RNs are typically in school for anywhere from two years for an associate’s degree to four years for a bachelor’s degree. The cost of schooling in this area will differ depending on which degree you pursue.

When pursuing a degree in nursing, RNs will study subjects such as nursing fundamentals, ethics, nursing theory, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, chemistry, nutrition, psychology, pharmacology, gerontology, mental health, obstetrics, emergency care, and will be required to complete clinical rotations for each specialty.

In order to become a licensed RN, they must accomplish the following:

• Graduate with a nursing degree. RNs must complete graduation from a nursing school accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

• Pass NCLEX-RN. RNs must also pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) in order to be fully licensed.

• Renewals. Just like an LPN, RNs must renew their license every two years by completing their state’s continuing education requirements.

As with most jobs, because RNs complete more schooling and are more highly skilled than LPNs, their salary often reflects this. The median annual salary for an RN is $75,330. Just like careers as an LPN, the projected growth for RNs is 9% through the end of 2030.

RNs have plenty of career growth opportunities and can move into different specialties or areas of the hospital. RNs may also consider moving into leadership positions or educational roles to gain higher administrative experience. Additionally, RNs can pursue higher education to further their growth.

LRN vs. RN FAQ

1. Can I become an RN or LPN online?

   No, you can not take fully online degree programs to enter the nursing field as an RN or LPN because hands-on clinical skills training and experience are required to be fully licensed. However, you may be able to take a few classes online.

2. How do you decide between becoming an RN or LPN?

   To decide between becoming an RN or LPN, consider your ultimate career goals, financial situation, and how much time you’re willing to invest in getting into a career that fits you.

3. How long does it take to become an LPN or RN?

   It takes about one year to become an LPN, while the time it takes to become an RN can vary from two to four years.

Author

Caitlin Mazur

Caitlin Mazur is a freelance writer at Zippia. Caitlin is passionate about helping Zippia’s readers land the jobs of their dreams by offering content that discusses job-seeking advice based on experience and extensive research. Caitlin holds a degree in English from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, PA.