Difference between LPN/RN?

[lizzieh]

Sorry for the newbie-ness of this question but I don't understand what the difference between an LPN/LVN and an RN is? I thought you could consider yourself an RN after either an associates or bachelor's degree in nursing? But I hear people saying stuff like, 'I was an LPN for years before I became an RN.'

[NICUismylife, ADN, BSN, RN]

One can be an RN (registered nurse) with an ADN or BSN.

An LPN (licensed practical nurse) is a 12-month course (YMMV) that is not awarded a degree. Usually there are fewer, if any pre-reqs.

An LPN also has a narrower scope of practice and a lower wage. In my area, LPNs also do not work in hospitals/acute care. They are hired in clinics, mental health facilities, and skilled nursing.

[AliNajaCat]

I think we often forget that there are a lot of people who think you get a license from a school; some for profit schools subtly encourage this in their advertising, but it's misleading of them to do it.

RN and LPN are not degrees granted by schools, they're licenses granted by state Boards of Nursing. No school gives you an RN or an LPN. What it gives you, if it is accredited and approved by the BoN, is a degree that entitles you to apply for and sit for the licensure exam (NCLEX-RN for RN, NCLEX-PN for LPN/LVN). When you pass the exam, the BoN grants you a license.

Approved degree programs that will allow you to sit for NCLEX-RN (often abbreviated as NCLEX) can be nursing associate's, bachelor's, or even entry-level accelerated master's programs. There are a few old-style "diploma" programs out there, but fewer and fewer, and HR departments almost always want BSNs nowadays.

[Ilargia99, LVN, RN]

I don't know how other LVN programs work but mine has nearly the same amount of prereqs as the RN program and is only one semester shorter. We've been so busy that I can't imagine being in a program that has all the core nursing classes plus prereqs all condensed into 12 months or less.

The RN program at my school is extremely hard to get into due to having so many applicants (North bay CA).

[rachaelofcourse]

I found this article helpful: LPN vs RN + Roles & Responsibilities | 2