Post job

Licensed practical nurse vs staff nurse

The differences between licensed practical nurses and staff 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 staff nurse. Additionally, a staff nurse has an average salary of $68,342, 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 staff nurse are patients, BLS, and CPR.

Licensed practical nurse vs staff nurse overview

Licensed Practical NurseStaff Nurse
Yearly salary$52,912$68,342
Hourly rate$25.44$32.86
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs614,369699,636
Job satisfaction3.33-
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 33%Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Average age4644
Years of experience22

What does a licensed practical nurse do?

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.

What does a staff nurse do?

Staff nurses are registered nurses who are usually assigned to work in a care home, a company, or in a clinical setting. They advise the physical assessments of patients, employees, and residents. They also handle the checking of vital signs, providing basic medical procedures, giving first aid, and, if possible, providing over the counter medication. Staff nurses provide medical attention to the people in their place of assignment. They help pave the path to their patients' full recovery. Staff nurses are expected to be patient and have good interpersonal skills.

Licensed practical nurse vs staff nurse salary

Licensed practical nurses and staff nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.

Licensed Practical NurseStaff Nurse
Average salary$52,912$68,342
Salary rangeBetween $37,000 And $74,000Between $42,000 And $109,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MABurlingame, CA
Highest paying stateHawaiiCalifornia
Best paying companyThe CitadelWashington Hospital Healthcare System
Best paying industryHealth CareHealth Care

Differences between licensed practical nurse and staff nurse education

There are a few differences between a licensed practical nurse and a staff nurse in terms of educational background:

Licensed Practical NurseStaff Nurse
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 33%Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeEmory UniversityDuke University

Licensed practical nurse vs staff nurse demographics

Here are the differences between licensed practical nurses' and staff nurses' demographics:

Licensed Practical NurseStaff Nurse
Average age4644
Gender ratioMale, 11.3% Female, 88.7%Male, 12.3% Female, 87.7%
Race ratioBlack 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 Percentage7%9%

Differences between licensed practical nurse and staff nurse duties and responsibilities

Licensed practical nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage all operational aspects of the organizations open heart program while also serving in the role of APN.
  • Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
  • Provide nursing care for med/surg patients in the transitional phase of recovery.
  • Work up patients for the Dr, administer allergy testing, mix allergens.
  • Perform emergency medical procedures, such as BLS, ACLS, and other condition stabilizing interventions.
  • Drug screens, phlebotomy wind care education of safety practices communications with treatment facilities as indicated/.
  • Show more

Staff nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage and further help stabilize elective and urgent care surgical patients in their post-operative/post PACU admission to the floor.
  • Accomplish extensive critical care course with EKG interpretation and yearly critical care medication exam.
  • Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
  • Participate in discharge planning including teaching family members and patients wind care and medication administration process after discharge.
  • Provide direct nursing care to patients in a variety of settings with an emphasis in critical care and PACU settings.
  • Prepare patients for surgery and endoscopy procedures including initiating intravenous lines, physical assessments and administering medications.
  • Show more

Licensed practical nurse vs staff nurse skills

Common licensed practical nurse skills
  • Patients, 23%
  • CPR, 11%
  • Home Health, 10%
  • Medication Administration, 4%
  • Quality Care, 4%
  • Vital Signs, 4%
Common staff nurse skills
  • Patients, 28%
  • BLS, 9%
  • CPR, 6%
  • Acls, 5%
  • Acute Care, 4%
  • Direct Patient Care, 3%

Browse healthcare practitioner and technical jobs