Differences Between LPNs/LVNs and RNs

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in ICU, CCU, Trauma, neuro, Geriatrics.

The biggest difference is the critical thinking skills, evaluating the vitals you take compared to the patients condition and what needs to be done. Also evaluating lab results and x-ray results. How to explain to the patient and family what is going on and what might happen. How to tell the nurse aids what is going on and what to expect and most of all...what to say to family and patient as these things happen. You become the leader in the patient care, the doctor relies on your assessment and knowledge on when to call them and what to say to family and how to work with the other staff.

LPNer

252 Posts

Ever try to compare a fresh grad LPN and a fresh grad RN,,,,, well I have ...guess what ...No comparison! :nono:

Grad RN's have a wider base of knowledge, more competent thinking for medical and physiological problem solving when compared to grad LPN's.

WhY???? Simple.

Because grad RN's are prepared to function at a higher level than LPN grads right off the bat since day one of their schooling. The lessons are more indepth, intense, comprehensive, and hell just plain longer.... to be able to cram all that info in 4 years!!!!!!!!!

Of course theory can be learnt on the job, during the years, as it should be in order to keep current, up to date and competent.

But take that grad RN 5 years into the futute and if they maintain their professional obligation to stay current and up to date they will still be far ahead in their knowledge base and thought processess than the LPN grad in 5 years as.... they (the grad RN) started out way ahead of the LP grad to begin with!

Bottom line LPN's as a profession in whole (individuals aside) cannot currently function to the capacity and extent of Registered Nurses,

(and why would they want to... I mean in that case they should have gone to RN school)

News FLASH....... as the LPN course increases in scope and education so does the RN's scope and education increase. Yep oh yes it does....hence and case in point....On my unit alone management is already discussing RN's transering over the medical function of chest tube removal. Oh and the fun doesn't stop there. Hello that's an MD's job. But hey that's how it goes... MD's over burdened with work shove extra tasks over to RN's who overburdened with work shove extra tasks over to LPN's. And down the proverbial ladder we go untill unit aides are doing nursing assigned tasks. :eek: Get real , real quick...everyone is needed in our health care system and everyone has a job to do. So just do it and quit being so darn territorial Everyone!

There will always be crappy nurses RN or LPN who cares, as the LPN's scope increases so does the RN's. Lah dee Dah.

RN and proud, peace:smokin:

I really don't know if your post is directed at me or not because it doesn't say anything different than I have been saying. I have read every post here, but to tell you the truth, I don't remember anyone saying an LPN right out of school could compare with an RN right out of school.

We are talking only about LPNs who have taken upon themselves to continue learning, without the benefit of college credits and a method of allowing them certification or something to further their career as an LPN. Much the same way that RNs can become certified in specific areas of practice (not advanced nurse practitioners, that is a totally different subject requiring additional formal education.)

Yes, the scope has increased in some areas for the LPN since I graduated in 1977, but in other areas, it has decreased as the push for BSN entry level continues.

Oh well, I suppose no matter what one wrights, someone else will surely misunderstand it.

Again, I will repeat, RNs ARE better educated then LPNs and should be recognized for that.

mmeow

32 Posts

"Oh well, I suppose no matter what one wrights, someone else will surely misunderstand it"

First: ............my previous post wasn't directed towards your posted comment .......don't know how it got mixed up with your thread soooooooo do not personalize what was not meant personally towards you in that post.

However....The rest of this post relates to your previous thread and comments.

"Yes, the scope has increased in some areas for the LPN since I graduated in 1977, but in other areas, it has decreased as the push for BSN entry level continues."

Second: That's too bad that your professional organization has allowed that loss in scope.....in Canada LPN's have unions ie:cupe / SEIU that have fought and lost few but won many such battles through grienvances on individual and organizational platforms. I am proud to say that our sister organization of LPN nurses here in canada is fighting for their rights and I hope they continue to win and move forward as the RN profession is currently doing and will continue to do.

"We are talking only about LPNs who have taken upon themselves to continue learning, without the benefit of college credits and a method of allowing them certification or something to further their career as an LPN."

Third: of course they should take it upon themselves to continue learning, my word what profession are we in again, oh yeah we deal with life and death situations, where what we learned in school could be irrelevant the next year! it would be irresponsible of a professional ie: RN LPN MD ect ect not to keep current within their profession and on current health trends.

RN and proud, peace:smokin:

LPNer

252 Posts

The biggest difference is the critical thinking skills, evaluating the vitals you take compared to the patients condition and what needs to be done. Also evaluating lab results and x-ray results. How to explain to the patient and family what is going on and what might happen. How to tell the nurse aids what is going on and what to expect and most of all...what to say to family and patient as these things happen. You become the leader in the patient care, the doctor relies on your assessment and knowledge on when to call them and what to say to family and how to work with the other staff.

Though you are right, that is also what I do. And I understand what I am doing. So, though you are correct in saying the RN does have these duties, so do many LPNs.

LPNer

252 Posts

"Oh well, I suppose no matter what one wrights, someone else will surely misunderstand it"

First: ............my previous post wasn't directed towards your posted comment .......don't know how it got mixed up with your thread soooooooo do not personalize what was not meant personally towards you in that post.

However....The rest of this post relates to your previous thread and comments.

"Yes, the scope has increased in some areas for the LPN since I graduated in 1977, but in other areas, it has decreased as the push for BSN entry level continues."

Second: That's too bad that your professional organization has allowed that loss in scope.....in Canada LPN's have unions ie:cupe / SEIU that have fought and lost few but won many such battles through grienvances on individual and organizational platforms. I am proud to say that our sister organization of LPN nurses here in canada is fighting for their rights and I hope they continue to win and move forward as the RN profession is currently doing and will continue to do.

"We are talking only about LPNs who have taken upon themselves to continue learning, without the benefit of college credits and a method of allowing them certification or something to further their career as an LPN."

Third: of course they should take it upon themselves to continue learning, my word what profession are we in again, oh yeah we deal with life and death situations, where what we learned in school could be irrelevant the next year! it would be irresponsible of a professional ie: RN LPN MD ect ect not to keep current within their profession and on current health trends.

RN and proud, peace:smokin:

Please accept my apologies, as I said in my first sentence, I don't know if this is directed at my post....

Again, I apologize so please calm down.

soniblvn

33 Posts

LVN and LPN are the exact same liscense, ones vocational and ones practical, it just depends the state your in on which title you have, I believe texas is the only state that calls an LPN an LVN.......... no difference in the two at all.

California is LVN too. I believe the east coast and midwest are LPN. Oh and some of the south.

mmeow

32 Posts

This is calm for me hehehehe. Type A all the way!

:smokin:

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