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The differences between licensed practical nurses and nurses can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a licensed practical nurse and a nurse. Additionally, a nurse has an average salary of $57,564, which is higher than the $52,912 average annual salary of a licensed practical nurse.
The top three skills for a licensed practical nurse include patients, CPR and home health. The most important skills for a nurse are patients, home health, and CPR.
| Licensed Practical Nurse | Nurse | |
| Yearly salary | $52,912 | $57,564 |
| Hourly rate | $25.44 | $27.68 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 614,369 | 696,124 |
| Job satisfaction | 3.33 | 4 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 33% | Bachelor's Degree, 43% |
| Average age | 46 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Licensed practical nurses are considered leading front liners in the clinic or hospital setting. They assist nurses and doctors in conducting various activities related to sick or injured patients. Licensed practical nurses are primarily expected to provide routine care for patients and assist registered nurses in creating care plans. They maintain and update medical records, prepare patients for medical examinations, help patients dress, bath, or eat, take vital signs, administer and monitor medicine intake, monitor patients and update nurses and doctors on patient status, and assist during medical examinations.
Nurses are medical professionals assigned to a specific department in the hospital and provide their trusted department services. Nurses are in charge of taking patients' medical histories, getting vital signs, preparing patients for checkups or procedures, explaining upcoming practices, answering any questions, and communicating any concerns to the assigned doctor. Nurses should ensure that patients follow the medical advice given to them. They also assist patients in completing administrative requirements, such as filling out forms, validating details, and endorsing payments.
Licensed practical nurses and nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Licensed Practical Nurse | Nurse | |
| Average salary | $52,912 | $57,564 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $74,000 | Between $38,000 And $86,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | California |
| Best paying company | The Citadel | Conviva |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Government |
There are a few differences between a licensed practical nurse and a nurse in terms of educational background:
| Licensed Practical Nurse | Nurse | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 33% | Bachelor's Degree, 43% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Nursing |
| Most common college | Emory University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between licensed practical nurses' and nurses' demographics:
| Licensed Practical Nurse | Nurse | |
| Average age | 46 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 11.3% Female, 88.7% | Male, 14.0% Female, 86.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 6.5% White, 59.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 9% |