Introduction
Nursing is a noble profession that allows individuals to assist those in need of medical care. LPN and RN are two different degrees that qualify someone to become a nurse and work in the healthcare industry. It is important to understand the differences between these two courses before making a decision. This article aims to highlight these differences.
LPN vs RN
LPN stands for Licensed Practical/Professional Nurse, while RN refers to Registered Nurse. The training for these two courses differ. RN focuses more on practical patient care and exclusively deals with patient nursing. On the other hand, LPN provides basic nursing training along with administrative and management training. This means RN nurses have a deeper and broader understanding of topics such as physiology, clinical practice, delivery systems, and pharmacology.
The duration of the courses also differ. RN takes 2 years to complete, while LPN is a one year course. Additionally, there is a bachelor’s degree option for RN, which takes approximately 4 years to complete.
The certification for RN is either an associate’s or a bachelor’s degree in science, while LPN is a diploma or a certificate. After completing either degree, students must pass a qualifying examination to join the healthcare industry. RN candidates need to pass NCLEX-RN, while LPN candidates need to pass LCLEX-PN, a national licensing examination for practical nurses. RNs are given jobs with greater responsibilities compared to LPNs.
RN nurses have the authority to make independent decisions in critical situations, while LPN nurses do not. In terms of organizational hierarchy, RN nurses are placed higher than LPN nurses, which is reflected in their pay scales. The hourly wages for LPN nurses range from $12-$14, while RN nurses earn around $18-$20.
Difference Between LPN and RN
- RN and LPN are two different paths to becoming a nurse.
- RN is a registered nurse, while LPN is a licensed practical nurse.
- RN courses are longer and focus more on practical aspects of patient care, while LPN provides administrative and management training.
- RN can even be a bachelor’s degree, while LPN is mostly a diploma or certificate.
- RNs are considered superior in terms of organizational hierarchy and receive higher salaries.
- More responsibilities are delegated to RNs compared to LPN nurses.
Key Takeaways
1. The article discusses the differences between LPN (Licensed Practical/Professional Nurse) and RN (Registered Nurse) courses in terms of training, duration, and degree of certification.
2. RN courses focus more on practical patient care and provide a deeper and broader understanding of necessary topics, while LPN courses offer basic nursing training along with administrative and management training.
3. RN nurses have higher job responsibilities, greater authority to make independent decisions in critical situations, and higher salaries compared to LPN nurses.
