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Licensed practical nurse staff nurse vs registered nurse

The differences between licensed practical nurses staff nurses and 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 staff nurse and a registered nurse. Additionally, a registered nurse has an average salary of $73,349, which is higher than the $52,403 average annual salary of a licensed practical nurse staff nurse.

The top three skills for a licensed practical nurse staff nurse include patients, vital signs and CPR. The most important skills for a registered nurse are patients, BLS, and CPR.

Licensed practical nurse staff nurse vs registered nurse overview

Licensed Practical Nurse Staff NurseRegistered Nurse
Yearly salary$52,403$73,349
Hourly rate$25.19$35.26
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs617,172646,159
Job satisfaction-2.75
Most common degreeDiploma, 36%Associate Degree, 46%
Average age4644
Years of experience22

What does a licensed practical nurse staff nurse do?

A licensed practical nurse is responsible for assisting patients with quality care under the supervision of a direct physician and registered nurse. Licensed practical nurses provide help on collecting samples and performing medical procedures such as taking patients' temperatures and vital signs. Staff nurses monitor a patient's condition, assist on medications and feeding, and report to the patient's physician. Licensed practical nurses also respond to patients' inquiries, as well as updating the patient's family on any changes to the patient's condition.

What does a registered nurse do?

The primary responsibilities of a registered nurse involve caring for a variety of patients, from ill and injured to those who are healthy and wanting to stay that way. Nurses have different specialization and work with particular patients, such as newborn babies or those who are suffering from particular medical conditions. They work on different settings which includes hospital, outpatient facility, rehabilitation center, nursing home, dialysis center, home healthcare agency, and other offices. They can administer medications, wound care, and other aids or treatment plan. They also conduct medical tests, interpret the results, and monitor patients' recovery and progress.

Licensed practical nurse staff nurse vs registered nurse salary

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

Licensed Practical Nurse Staff NurseRegistered Nurse
Average salary$52,403$73,349
Salary rangeBetween $37,000 And $73,000Between $45,000 And $117,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateHawaiiCalifornia
Best paying companyLife Care Centers of AmericaNORCAL Ambulance
Best paying industryHealth CareHealth Care

Differences between licensed practical nurse staff nurse and registered nurse education

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

Licensed Practical Nurse Staff NurseRegistered Nurse
Most common degreeDiploma, 36%Associate Degree, 46%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeEmory UniversityDuke University

Licensed practical nurse staff nurse vs registered nurse demographics

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

Licensed Practical Nurse Staff NurseRegistered Nurse
Average age4644
Gender ratioMale, 9.8% Female, 90.2%Male, 12.3% Female, 87.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 7.2% White, 62.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 9.0% White, 66.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage7%9%

Differences between licensed practical nurse staff nurse and registered nurse duties and responsibilities

Licensed practical nurse staff nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
  • Perform a number of medical procedures, including temperature, pulse and blood pressure readings, TB testing and EKG's.
  • Time management, and compassion for patients and their families
  • Assist with treatment of emergency and priority patients, including the use of CPR, if necessary.
  • Demonstrate ability to work as a team player and provide excellent care and compassion to residents.
  • Assist patients with ADL's as needed, teach patients how to control their pain with and without medication.
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Registered nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage patient care for individuals with multiple diagnoses including COPD, diabetes, stroke and cardiac issues.
  • Organize and manage regular clinics involving external physicians, including ophthalmology, ENT, Med/Surg, orthopedics, and podiatry professionals.
  • Manage surgical recovery patients including vascular, ENT, GI urological and neurological cases, coronary bypass surgery patients.
  • Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
  • Provide care for cardiac patients in arrhythmia critical care unit, providing patient education and monitoring telemetry
  • Re-Cover surgical patients immediately after heart and vascular surgery until transfer out of ICU.
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Licensed practical nurse staff nurse vs registered nurse skills

Common licensed practical nurse staff nurse skills
  • Patients, 21%
  • Vital Signs, 8%
  • CPR, 6%
  • Resident Care, 6%
  • Triage, 6%
  • Quality Care, 5%
Common registered nurse skills
  • Patients, 24%
  • BLS, 10%
  • CPR, 6%
  • Acute Care, 5%
  • Acls, 5%
  • Home Health, 4%

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