Nurse Practitioner vs. RN vs. practical nurse???

Dave ARNP · Jan 9, 2004

I can't really speak about RN vs LPN as I've never really worked in those roles, however when you compare them to NP... you're getting into a whole new ballgame.

This is not to say that as a NP you do not use ALOT of your nursing skills, you just simply use them in a different way (INHO).

NP's are about dx'ing and treating. We do procedures and treatments, but not like you would find a hospital RN doing.

Dave

fergus51 · Jan 9, 2004

LPNs or LVNs function and roles depend greatly on the province and the individual facility. Where I have worked, they were used mainly as aides (to do baths and vital signs), in Long term care, or not used at all. My current hospital employs no LPNs.

RNs are the bedside nurses in most hospital areas. They sometimes work on teams with LPNs to do patient care, and sometimes do primary nursing (they do all the bedside care for their patients). There are WAY more job opportunities for RNs in Canada than LPNs.

NPs tend to function like resident doctors in my hospital. They do procedures and collaborate with the medical staff. They are allowed to prescribe medications as well.

carz · Jan 11, 2004

Just a reply to let you know I have been a l.p.n for the past 11 years and have never worked in a "aide capacity . LPN's now work to the extent of there scope including med administration,injections both subQ and IM as well as IV starts. To say that we are aides is not a accurate statement, we are and have been a bed side nurse.

fergus51 · Jan 11, 2004

To be clear, I didn't say you are all aides. I said it depends greatly on the province and the facility and shared my own experience (I have only worked in BC and Ontario). It was in no way meant as the definitive job description of LPNs across the country or anything.

TT2004 · Jan 23, 2004

Wow, so many responses, thank you all very very much!!!

The information you gave me are kind of different than what I thought! Well, I am in Ontario, and we have programs for practical nurses and it takes a shorter period of time to complete(on the other hand, nurse practitioner requires one more year of study), that's why I am wondering about the difference between practical nurse, registered nurse, and nurse practitioner. Now I know which one to choose!!!

Thanks again!!!

madeleine · Jan 23, 2004

So which one are you going to choose? :)

TT2004 · Jan 24, 2004

Probably RN, cuz i am kind of worried about job security...but now i have to choose a field...

jma_myangels · Jan 24, 2004

Good luck on your schooling:)

mmeow · Apr 18, 2004

Just a reply to let you know I have been a l.p.n for the past 11 years and have never worked in a "aide capacity . LPN's now work to the extent of there scope including med administration,injections both subQ and IM as well as IV starts. To say that we are aides is not a accurate statement, we are and have been a bed side nurse.

In the facility where you work is the LPN or the RN the primary nurse for the patient ..... meaning who is in charge of interdisciplinary collaboration between other professions involced in the pateint's care and who provides task oriented procedures.

carz · Apr 19, 2004

In the facility where you work is the LPN or the RN the primary nurse for the patient ..... meaning who is in charge of interdisciplinary collaboration between other professions involced in the pateint's care and who provides task oriented procedures.

In the facility where I am employed we have a combination of RN,s and LPN,s. we both have a patient assignment consisting of approximately 5-7 patients each. We are expected to do total care for our own assigned patients which includes meds,glucose monitoring ect. If my patients status changes I report it to the charge nurse then I put a call in to the doc and recieve orders I do not expect the RN to leave her patient load and assist me. This being said I am also aware that if my assigned patient turns sour and is no longer within my scope of practice I will not hesitate to have the RN on the floor assess. We both complete admissions, discharges ect.

I am not trying to say my education is of the same quality, obviously not ,RNs attend school much longer. I just have a hard time with being quoted as being a aide, we all have a place in the health care sytem and need to respect what each divison is capable of.

Juswonderin · Apr 20, 2004

i am a little confused what is an LPN? where i am from in Ontario we have the chioce of schooling for a BScN to become an RN or we have a diploma program to become an RPN. and as i understand both are equally in demand.

I am in the same sittuation i am not sure which of the two programs to take.