LVN Vs. RN?

HappyNurse2005, RN · Mar 7, 2005

That really depends on what state you live in, as to the what they can do. That is up to the nurse practice act of that state. You can look on your state's board of nursing website to see this. As for demand? Here, the LPN (LVN) is most in demand in LTC and Dr's offices. Pay? I don't know. Not as much as a RN.

Again, it all depends

tiredfeetED · Mar 7, 2005

Can anyone tell me the difference between LVN and RN? Is LVN in demand just like RNs? How much do they usually make and what exactly do they do? Thanks!!!

Sure there are jobs out there for LVNs, there through out california. In our ED we have VNs.. They make about 10 dollars less than our RNs (which is around 16-18). The LVNs do about everything...They Start alot of IVs, hang Boluses, They take there own assignment in our ED another RN does the IV meds. We use collection data process so they do the assessment and a RN cosigns later. Only place they dont work is our Trauma rooms or take ICU patients. Ideally our DON would like 100% RNs, but we are real short on RNs. Bottom line they work there bottom off for alot less pay!!

The Veridican · Mar 7, 2005

Nursing is really a broad term. But in modern health care you have either an MD or an RN, everyone else is an assistant to one or the other of them.

MD

PA, NP, PT, OT, radiology tech, RD, RT, etc.

RN

LPN, CNA, medication tech, evironmental services, dietary services, laundry services, psych tech, etc.

There is no escaping this fact. I suggest if one wants to be a nurse, they become an RN.

The Veridican

Fiona59 · Mar 7, 2005

Sorry, but I am not an assistant!!:angryfire

I do my own assessment, prn meds, charting, wound care, and family conferences.

Perhaps where you work an LPN is an "assistant" to an RN but in my province we are licensed nurses who work their own patient assignment in acute and LTC.

Nurse Hatchett · Mar 7, 2005

Sorry, but I am not an assistant!!:angryfire
I do my own assessment, prn meds, charting, wound care, and family conferences.
Perhaps where you work an LPN is an "assistant" to an RN but in my province we are licensed nurses who work their own patient assignment in acute and LTC.

I agree with you, I am assigned to an avg of 45 pts and am often times the only nurse on the hall. I am the charge nurse of my hall, give IV push meds, chart, respond to codes, oversee CNA's etc. I work in LTC, and am aware that things are different in a hospital setting, but not all LPN's are assistants!!!

GN1974 · Mar 7, 2005

I have been an LPN for almost 10 years. I have worked in a variety of settings. For the past 5-7 years I have been doing homecare--and I really enjoy it. I recently completed an ADN program (associate degree RN program). I am moving my career in a different path now. The pay is definately an upgrade from the LPN wage. When I first graduated from LPN school, LPNs did nothing with IVs other than D/C them...today they start and maintain them! I see the two catagories like this (and this is how most boards of nursing see it):

LPN/VN=a certificate program that enables the graduate to sit for LPN boards and care for clients who are stable and predictable under the direction of the professional nurse.

RN=the professional nurse who is responsible for overseeing the care provided by other members of the nursing team and delegating tasks to the members within their scope of practice. The RN cares for the more unstable and complicated clients.

LPN is a great way to go if you can't or don't want to go for 3 years of school. If you chose to go back your LPN experience will be a wonderful foundation for you. If you can devote 3 years to college (1 pre-req and 2 nursing) I recommend it. I think more hospitals in MY area are doing away with LPNs in the acute setting. The local women and children's hospitals only use them in mother/baby...as these patients are usually predictable and stable. Other area hospitals use them to pass medications. One hospital in town does use them in similar roles as the RN (the only things they can't do are delegate, spike blood, and do IV pushes). I see LPNs more in homecare and LTC settings. Both types of nursing have a place..it depends upon your desires, family situations, job situations, and goals in what direction you should go.

Best Wishes,

Karen

NPinWCH · Mar 7, 2005

I work in OB, and we have only 1 LPN on our unit but she is NOT an assistant. Somedays I don't know what we would do without her. She takes a full patient load (up to 4-5 mother baby couplets), she does newborn care in the delivery room (NRP certified), helps with labors, helps with outpatients, does vag exams, does her own assessments on stable patients, passes meds, does teaching and her patients LOVE her. Honestly, I would much rather work with her than some of my RN associates as her assessment skills are excellent!

I admit RNs get paid much better than LPNs/LVNs and she is going on to get her RN, but don't let anyone tell you that you are a "lesser nurse" because you aren't an RN!

Debbie

nursepenny · Mar 7, 2005

Nursing is really a broad term. But in modern health care you have either an MD or an RN, everyone else is an assistant to one or the other of them.
MD
PA, NP, PT, OT, radiology tech, RD, RT, etc.
RN
LPN, CNA, medication tech, evironmental services, dietary services, laundry services, psych tech, etc.
There is no escaping this fact. I suggest if one wants to be a nurse, they become an RN.
The Veridican

I humbly beg your pardon! I am not an LPNA (licensed practical nursing assistant). I am an LPN (Licensed Practical NURSE). Period.

I work in acute care. I work ICU/SDU. I can do anything the RN does, with the one exception of 1 HTA each shift. We do complete HTA q 4 hrs here. The RN has to do 1 assessment on LPN patients in 12 hours. While the RN does my assessments, I do her HTA's. I also chart, give IV push meds and narcotics, hang blood, admit pts, monitor telemetry, insert foley cath's, monitor and care for central lines and CVP lines, call the doctors for orders, start IV's, care for vent and monitor vent patients, etc... Oops forgot to mention, I am ACLS certified.

I would say there may be 5 minutes per patient, I am not in my patient's primary nurse with all the duties that entails.

As far as pay, I have been a nurse for 8 1/2 yrs. I make as much/hr as a new entry RN.

I went to school 18 months for my LPN degree ( yes, it is a degree, and yes I went to college to obtain it). I studied anatomy, chemistry, math, english, history, political science, physcology, microbiology, the whole nine yards.

I had 700 clinical hours when I graduated. I forget the number of class lecture hours.

I'm sorry. I don't usually respond to these type of remarks about LPN being assistants, but tonight it hit a raw nerve. My nurse manager told me she had rather have my assessments that she had some of the RN's working for her, but she needed the TITLE of RN.

LPNer · Mar 8, 2005

Nursing is really a broad term. But in modern health care you have either an MD or an RN, everyone else is an assistant to one or the other of them.
MD
PA, NP, PT, OT, radiology tech, RD, RT, etc.
RN
LPN, CNA, medication tech, evironmental services, dietary services, laundry services, psych tech, etc.
There is no escaping this fact. I suggest if one wants to be a nurse, they become an RN.
The Veridican

What side of the moon have you been living on? I am not an assistant to anyone. I am an LPN. I hav my own pts to care for, just the same as the RNs.

If one of my pts does require an IVP med, I prepare it and ask one of my co-workers to pop into the room and give it. We work as a team, all nurses, providing the same care to our post op ortho pts.

Assistant to an RN. Please.

SmilingBluEyes · Mar 8, 2005

LPNs have a distinct and separate scope of practice. I am quite certain the NPA does not discuss the term "assistant" to RN in any place for the scope of practice of LPN in my state.

tiredfeetED · Mar 8, 2005

I humbly beg your pardon! I am not a I am not a LPNA (licensed practical nursing assistant). I am an LPN (Licensed Practical NURSE). Period.
I work in acute care. I work ICU/SDU. I can do anything the RN does, with the one exception of 1 HTA each shift. We do complete HTA q 4 hrs here. The RN has to do 1 assessment on LPN patients in 12 hours. While the RN does my assessments, I do her HTA's. I also chart, give IV push meds and narcotics, hang blood, admit pts, monitor telemetry, insert foley cath's, monitor and care for central lines and CVP lines, call the doctors for orders, start IV's, care for vent and monitor vent patients, etc... Oops forgot to mention, I am ACLS certified.
I would say there may be 5 minutes per patient, I am not in my patient's primary nurse with all the duties that entails.
As far as pay, I have been a nurse for 8 1/2 yrs. I make as much/hr as a new entry RN.
I went to school 18 months for my LPN degree ( yes, it is a degree, and yes I went to college to obtain it). I studied anatomy, chemistry, math, english, history, political science, physcology, microbiology, the whole nine yards.
I had 700 clinical hours when I graduated. I forget the number of class lecture hours.
I'm sorry. I don't usually respond to these type of remarks about LPN being assistants, but tonight it hit a raw nerve. My nurse manager told me she had rather have my assessments that she had some of the RN's working for her, but she needed the TITLE of RN.

Wow...you sound like our LVNs...they are strong, one has way more experience than i do 30yrs and thats ICU-neuro, Cardio,shoot she taught me things I never seen....We have another that is a Medic aswell, she has intubated 2 month old when the Doctors ( thats right 2 diff docs) couldnt.

I have LVNs that start any IV, 50 y/o herion user, 5 month old chunky babys..They have Mad skills!

We do have a nursing tier system, As a Charge RN I oversee the nurses that work in the ED, RNs and LVNs and I answer to my clinical sups and DON. I really work close with my MDs/DOs and FNPs/PAs