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The differences between licensed practical nurses and oncology registered 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 an oncology registered nurse. Additionally, an oncology registered nurse has an average salary of $74,716, 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 an oncology registered nurse are patients, acute care, and chemotherapy.
| Licensed Practical Nurse | Oncology Registered Nurse | |
| Yearly salary | $52,912 | $74,716 |
| Hourly rate | $25.44 | $35.92 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 614,369 | 636,524 |
| Job satisfaction | 3.33 | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 33% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| 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.
An oncology registered nurse is in charge of taking care of patients with cancer. Their responsibilities revolve around coordinating with physicians to devise particular care plans for patients, monitoring their daily condition and progress, administering medicine, preparing nutritious meals, and evaluating treatment results, reporting to the physician should there be any issues. Furthermore, as an oncology registered nurse, it is vital to provide physical and emotional support to patients as the treatments tend to be stressful and emotionally tolling.
Licensed practical nurses and oncology registered nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Licensed Practical Nurse | Oncology Registered Nurse | |
| Average salary | $52,912 | $74,716 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $74,000 | Between $38,000 And $145,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Los Angeles, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | California |
| Best paying company | The Citadel | Dignity Health |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a licensed practical nurse and an oncology registered nurse in terms of educational background:
| Licensed Practical Nurse | Oncology Registered Nurse | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 33% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Nursing |
| Most common college | Emory University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between licensed practical nurses' and oncology registered nurses' demographics:
| Licensed Practical Nurse | Oncology Registered Nurse | |
| Average age | 46 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 11.3% Female, 88.7% | Male, 8.9% Female, 91.1% |
| 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, 11.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 9.0% White, 66.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 9% |