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The differences between registered nurses and licensed practical 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 registered nurse and a licensed practical nurse. Additionally, a registered nurse has an average salary of $73,349, which is higher than the $52,912 average annual salary of a licensed practical nurse.
The top three skills for a registered nurse include patients, BLS and CPR. The most important skills for a licensed practical nurse are patients, CPR, and home health.
| Registered Nurse | Licensed Practical Nurse | |
| Yearly salary | $73,349 | $52,912 |
| Hourly rate | $35.26 | $25.44 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 646,159 | 614,369 |
| Job satisfaction | 2.75 | 3.33 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 46% | Associate Degree, 33% |
| Average age | 44 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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 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.
Registered nurses and licensed practical nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Registered Nurse | Licensed Practical Nurse | |
| Average salary | $73,349 | $52,912 |
| Salary range | Between $45,000 And $117,000 | Between $37,000 And $74,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | California | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | NORCAL Ambulance | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a registered nurse and a licensed practical nurse in terms of educational background:
| Registered Nurse | Licensed Practical Nurse | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 46% | Associate Degree, 33% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Nursing |
| Most common college | Duke University | Emory University |
Here are the differences between registered nurses' and licensed practical nurses' demographics:
| Registered Nurse | Licensed Practical Nurse | |
| Average age | 44 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 12.3% Female, 87.7% | Male, 11.3% Female, 88.7% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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 Percentage | 9% | 7% |