LPN or RN any difference?

JLChasteen · Aug 20, 2011

Big difference... LPN is usually a one year... RN usually 2 or 4. If it is a community college the RN is a 2 year program. LPN's don't get paid nearly as much as RN's USUALLY. (Unless an LPN has a ton of experience) LPNS still have to work under an RN, so a lot of places don't hire them as much anymore. If you are going to do it, might as well just go at it all at once.. go for the RN. You will find a job easier, have it all done, and get paid more.

cnmbfa · Aug 20, 2011

LPNs have far more limited opportunities, and often end up in nursing homes, so consider whether you have the patience, empathy, strong back, and ability to care for ill, fragaile, often mentally confuesed, often incontinent elders. There are some LPN jobs in hospitals, but limited numbers. In most ouptatient settings, they pay and benefits are bad because they can train a medical assistant and pay him or her less.

LPNs also have little power and influence, and a limited voice in changing things on their unit, so if you don't like being told what to do and being low man on the totem pole, either go the RN route, or plan to go right back to become an RN. Before anyone flames me, yes, I am sure there are LPNs who have worked in extended care for a long time and who are valued by management and have a voice, but most LPNs are in pretty low status jobs. I know--I was an LPN for 15 years. My status, and my voice in things, grew tremendously as soon as the initials behind my name changed.

That said, If what you love is the patients and providing care, than being an LPN might be more fulfilling because you are not expected to do more and more things away from the bedside. I have many memorable moments, and made a real difference to many patients in my days as an LPN. It made me an excellent bedside nurse, who could quickly perceive and focus on patient needs and priorities, and able to connect with them on a deep level. even though I have a Master's degree, practiced as an APN for over 10 years, and now teach in a School of Nursing, I am very grateful that I was an LPN first. It shaped me into who I became and gave me a better perspectvie of what it means to really care for the needs of your fellow human beings.

In addition, there are some of us who really dislike having to deal with and manage others. If you don't want to have to figure out what to do about uncooperative CNAs, don't be an RN. If you are not sure that you want to take care of critically ill persons, or don't envision yourself working in L&D, NICU, OR, ER, or other specialty areas, don't be an LPN becuase they rarely, if ever, work there. The upside of that is that if real true bottom line responsibility scares you, you will face far less of it as an LPN. The R in RN should stand for RESPONSIBLE, because the smooth functioning of most of the hospital and of patient care, along with that person's entire well-being, is in their hands.

However, if you like challenges, get bored easily, and want maximum opportunities to grow and learn as a nurse, you won't get them as an LPN. To get a license as either will be a lot of work, and requires critical thinking skills, and the ability to read, comprehend, and apply huge chunks of science-based information. I hope what I am about to say comes across as straight forward, and not as meant to deride anyone (you in particular): there are hundreds of thousands of people on this board who vastly underestimate how tough nursing is, both to get through school, and then work in the field. Yes, you need to be able to do algebra. Yes, you need to take and actually understand and apply microbiology. Yes, you need to be able to think through and write a complex plan of care, and do so without copying it from a book. And please promise me that there will be no whining or questioning why you have to learn and do these things while you are in school. What good does that do? Just buckle down and do it.

You will need major people skills, and an ability to listen well and get along with people from very diverse background, and to work with others as a member of an effective team. You will need to be flexible and creative, and to possess a very high level of critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Nurses need to be tough and SMART. Sadly, for many reasons most of the general public doesn't yet understand the smart part, or recognize that nearly everyone in the hospitals now is far sicker than 20 years ago, and that to care for them using the complex technology of today requires high level skills. Lots of peple are flocking to nursing programs because they believe it will be a manageable job with good pay that cannot possibly get sent to China. Thus many nursing students are shocked at how much thinking, hard work, and intellectual skills are required to make it through nursing school, even as an LPN. That's why the schools of nursing ask for high GPAs to get in. In addition, why should they admit folks and then saddle them with thousands in debt when that person does not have what it take to pass NCLEX? FYI: there is no such thing as a fast or easy route to nursing. There is certainly no such thing as an easy nursing program.

You need all these things and more: stamina to do a physically demanding job. If you don't think you can handle 10-12 hours on your feet, running around with two bathrooom breaks and two 15-20 minute quick meals, don't be a nurse. If you cannot handle strong smells, yucky things, and dealing intimtatley with someone else's body, this may not be for you. You also need the emotional maturity to focus on the needs of others, and to be there for others who are in emotional pain, or who are anxious, scared, or suffering.

I am not sure if this is possible, but see if you can talk to 2-3 grads of any program you are considering. (Be sure they don't just direct you to the really smart ones, or to ones that didn't work while in school.) Ask them what the program was like, how many hours per week they spent on their courses, etc. Ask how many of their peers flunked out along the way. Check the state baord's website for NCLEX pass rates. Ask these nurses how long it took them to get a job, and how many months or years they spent on the night shift. Ask them about a typical work day--aak how many breaks they get and for how long. Go into this for the right reasons (because you care deeply about other people and want to do something that makes a difference in their lives.) and with your eyes wide open. If it is right for you, you'll know it, and God speed.

emt back to school · Aug 22, 2011

LPNs have far more limited opportunities, and often end up in nursing homes, so consider whether you have the patience, empathy, strong back, and ability to care for ill, fragaile, often mentally confuesed, often incontinent elders. There are some LPN jobs in hospitals, but limited numbers. In most ouptatient settings, they pay and benefits are bad because they can train a medical assistant and pay him or her less.
LPNs also have little power and influence, and a limited voice in changing things on their unit, so if you don't like being told what to do and being low man on the totem pole, either go the RN route, or plan to go right back to become an RN. Before anyone flames me, yes, I am sure there are LPNs who have worked in extended care for a long time and who are valued by management and have a voice, but most LPNs are in pretty low status jobs. I know--I was an LPN for 15 years. My status, and my voice in things, grew tremendously as soon as the initials behind my name changed.
That said, If what you love is the patients and providing care, than being an LPN might be more fulfilling because you are not expected to do more and more things away from the bedside. I have many memorable moments, and made a real difference to many patients in my days as an LPN. It made me an excellent bedside nurse, who could quickly perceive and focus on patient needs and priorities, and able to connect with them on a deep level. even though I have a Master's degree, practiced as an APN for over 10 years, and now teach in a School of Nursing, I am very grateful that I was an LPN first. It shaped me into who I became and gave me a better perspectvie of what it means to really care for the needs of your fellow human beings.
In addition, there are some of us who really dislike having to deal with and manage others. If you don't want to have to figure out what to do about uncooperative CNAs, don't be an RN. If you are not sure that you want to take care of critically ill persons, or don't envision yourself working in L&D, NICU, OR, ER, or other specialty areas, don't be an LPN becuase they rarely, if ever, work there. The upside of that is that if real true bottom line responsibility scares you, you will face far less of it as an LPN. The R in RN should stand for RESPONSIBLE, because the smooth functioning of most of the hospital and of patient care, along with that person's entire well-being, is in their hands.
However, if you like challenges, get bored easily, and want maximum opportunities to grow and learn as a nurse, you won't get them as an LPN. To get a license as either will be a lot of work, and requires critical thinking skills, and the ability to read, comprehend, and apply huge chunks of science-based information. I hope what I am about to say comes across as straight forward, and not as meant to deride anyone (you in particular): there are hundreds of thousands of people on this board who vastly underestimate how tough nursing is, both to get through school, and then work in the field. Yes, you need to be able to do algebra. Yes, you need to take and actually understand and apply microbiology. Yes, you need to be able to think through and write a complex plan of care, and do so without copying it from a book. And please promise me that there will be no whining or questioning why you have to learn and do these things while you are in school. What good does that do? Just buckle down and do it.
You will need major people skills, and an ability to listen well and get along with people from very diverse background, and to work with others as a member of an effective team. You will need to be flexible and creative, and to possess a very high level of critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Nurses need to be tough and SMART. Sadly, for many reasons most of the general public doesn't yet understand the smart part, or recognize that nearly everyone in the hospitals now is far sicker than 20 years ago, and that to care for them using the complex technology of today requires high level skills. Lots of peple are flocking to nursing programs because they believe it will be a manageable job with good pay that cannot possibly get sent to China. Thus many nursing students are shocked at how much thinking, hard work, and intellectual skills are required to make it through nursing school, even as an LPN. That's why the schools of nursing ask for high GPAs to get in. In addition, why should they admit folks and then saddle them with thousands in debt when that person does not have what it take to pass NCLEX? FYI: there is no such thing as a fast or easy route to nursing. There is certainly no such thing as an easy nursing program.
You need all these things and more: stamina to do a physically demanding job. If you don't think you can handle 10-12 hours on your feet, running around with two bathrooom breaks and two 15-20 minute quick meals, don't be a nurse. If you cannot handle strong smells, yucky things, and dealing intimtatley with someone else's body, this may not be for you. You also need the emotional maturity to focus on the needs of others, and to be there for others who are in emotional pain, or who are anxious, scared, or suffering.
I am not sure if this is possible, but see if you can talk to 2-3 grads of any program you are considering. (Be sure they don't just direct you to the really smart ones, or to ones that didn't work while in school.) Ask them what the program was like, how many hours per week they spent on their courses, etc. Ask how many of their peers flunked out along the way. Check the state baord's website for NCLEX pass rates. Ask these nurses how long it took them to get a job, and how many months or years they spent on the night shift. Ask them about a typical work day--aak how many breaks they get and for how long. Go into this for the right reasons (because you care deeply about other people and want to do something that makes a difference in their lives.) and with your eyes wide open. If it is right for you, you'll know it, and God speed.

very well written and informative

darling2014 · Aug 22, 2011

Thank you for the great advice.