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The differences between licensed practical nurses and private duty 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 private duty nurse. Additionally, a private duty nurse has an average salary of $55,518, 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 private duty nurse are home health, patients, and medication administration.
| Licensed Practical Nurse | Private Duty Nurse | |
| Yearly salary | $52,912 | $55,518 |
| Hourly rate | $25.44 | $26.69 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 614,369 | 256,740 |
| Job satisfaction | 3.33 | 5 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 33% | Associate Degree, 36% |
| 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.
A private duty nurse is responsible for providing quality health care services for a specific patient's medical needs. Private duty nurses work within a large health care institution or in a private household setting, depending on their scope and availability. They assist the medical staff in administering medications for the patients, conducting medical procedures, evaluating the patients' condition, and reporting progress and any updates to the attending physician for immediate attention. A private duty nurse must be highly attentive, especially on supporting the patient's daily activities and self-care needs.
Licensed practical nurses and private duty nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Licensed Practical Nurse | Private Duty Nurse | |
| Average salary | $52,912 | $55,518 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $74,000 | Between $41,000 And $74,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Springfield, MA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | The Citadel | Health First |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Government |
There are a few differences between a licensed practical nurse and a private duty nurse in terms of educational background:
| Licensed Practical Nurse | Private Duty Nurse | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 33% | Associate Degree, 36% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Nursing |
| Most common college | Emory University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between licensed practical nurses' and private duty nurses' demographics:
| Licensed Practical Nurse | Private Duty Nurse | |
| Average age | 46 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 11.3% Female, 88.7% | Male, 9.6% Female, 90.4% |
| 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, 11.8% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 9% |