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Paramedic vs licensed practical nurse

The differences between paramedics and licensed practical nurses can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a licensed practical nurse has an average salary of $52,912, which is higher than the $44,640 average annual salary of a paramedic.

The top three skills for a paramedic include patients, acls and CPR. The most important skills for a licensed practical nurse are patients, CPR, and home health.

Paramedic vs licensed practical nurse overview

ParamedicLicensed Practical Nurse
Yearly salary$44,640$52,912
Hourly rate$21.46$25.44
Growth rate7%6%
Number of jobs27,896614,369
Job satisfaction-3.33
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 45%Associate Degree, 33%
Average age3646
Years of experience-2

What does a paramedic do?

A paramedic is a healthcare professional who provides advanced medical care and emergency treatment to patients in the field. Although they can work on ambulances or hospital emergency rooms, paramedics may work as part of a helicopter's flight crew to transport critically ill patients to a specialized hospital. Paramedics are required to create a patient care report and document the medical care of patients they are treating. Also, paramedics need to follow the guidelines they learned in training from their physician who supervises their work.

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.

Paramedic vs licensed practical nurse salary

Paramedics and licensed practical nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.

ParamedicLicensed Practical Nurse
Average salary$44,640$52,912
Salary rangeBetween $33,000 And $59,000Between $37,000 And $74,000
Highest paying CityArlington, MABoston, MA
Highest paying stateMassachusettsHawaii
Best paying companyMission Regional Medical CenterThe Citadel
Best paying industryGovernmentHealth Care

Differences between paramedic and licensed practical nurse education

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

ParamedicLicensed Practical Nurse
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 45%Associate Degree, 33%
Most common majorMedical TechnicianNursing
Most common college-Emory University

Paramedic vs licensed practical nurse demographics

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

ParamedicLicensed Practical Nurse
Average age3646
Gender ratioMale, 68.4% Female, 31.6%Male, 11.3% Female, 88.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.6% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 4.5% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%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%
LGBT Percentage8%7%

Differences between paramedic and licensed practical nurse duties and responsibilities

Paramedic example responsibilities.

  • Manage critically ill/injure patients effectively with rapid assessments, aggressive resuscitation, packaging and transport to appropriate definitive care emergency departments.
  • Attend safety training seminars yearly as well as Haz-Mat safety, SCBA training and OSHA regulation training.
  • Perform Phlebotomy and specimen collection duties.
  • Administer emergency medical treatment to patients including CPR, medications/drugs.
  • Provide inter-facility transport to patients who require EKG monitoring, medication infusion and/or ventilator support during transport.
  • Provide medical care for critically ill or injure patients during inter-facility transports to higher level of care facilities.
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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/.
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Paramedic vs licensed practical nurse skills

Common paramedic skills
  • Patients, 16%
  • Acls, 7%
  • CPR, 7%
  • EMS, 6%
  • BLS, 5%
  • EMT, 5%
Common licensed practical nurse skills
  • Patients, 23%
  • CPR, 11%
  • Home Health, 10%
  • Medication Administration, 4%
  • Quality Care, 4%
  • Vital Signs, 4%

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