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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 | Staff Nurse | |
| Yearly salary | $52,912 | $68,342 |
| Hourly rate | $25.44 | $32.86 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 614,369 | 699,636 |
| Job satisfaction | 3.33 | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 33% | Bachelor's Degree, 44% |
| 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.
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 nurses and staff nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Licensed Practical Nurse | Staff Nurse | |
| Average salary | $52,912 | $68,342 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $74,000 | Between $42,000 And $109,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Burlingame, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | California |
| Best paying company | The Citadel | Washington Hospital Healthcare System |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a licensed practical nurse and a staff nurse in terms of educational background:
| Licensed Practical Nurse | Staff Nurse | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 33% | Bachelor's Degree, 44% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Nursing |
| Most common college | Emory University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between licensed practical nurses' and staff nurses' demographics:
| Licensed Practical Nurse | Staff Nurse | |
| Average age | 46 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 11.3% Female, 88.7% | Male, 12.3% Female, 87.7% |
| 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% |