What's the difference between and RN and an LPN

[Nolander]

Do RN's just have more schooling and make more money? Is it recommended to become an LPN before an RN? How does an LPN compare to a CNA? Thanks for your responses.

[babyNP., APRN]

The subject is beat to death and you can do a quick search on it here, but my take is:

Do not become a LPN. Just go straight to RN. You can get your CNA stuff done for the experience, but LPNs are extraordinarily restricted compared to RNs; basically they cannot do as much legally as compared to the RN. These days they're mostly restricted to clinics and long-term care environment and I've seen many hospitals phase them out (although the VA system is holding onto them from what I've read). If you want to just do clinic/ltc, by all means. But I think it will severely limit you.

[lvbnme1979]

RN, LPN, CNA are all different jobs. They all have different scopes of practice. RNs delegate to LPN, CNA.

[LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN]

Scope of practice vary by state. In the LTC setting there is not much difference (at least in my experience) RNs generally get paid more than LPNs. Hospitals in my area do not hire LPNs and only hire RNs with a BSN.

Starting out as a CNA before going in to nursing school is a good idea as it will give you some idea of what nursing is, before you invest in nursing school

[Brea LPN]

LPNs know everything a RN knows but not as deep. I personally love being an LPN but i new from the first day of clinical that I wanted to work LTC.

[EmergencyNrse]

RN's get the keys to the executive lounge.

LPN/LVN's don't.

Free coffee and sodas...

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

lpns know everything a rn knows but not as deep. i personally love being an lpn but i new from the first day of clinical that i wanted to work ltc.

not true.

lpn/lvns i've worked with have been great to work with- and many are still friends (even though we no longer are paid to be in the same place at the same time).

but they do/did not have the same knowledge base as an rn...period. many with decades of experience were clinically excellent- and worth a lot more than a new rn grad. (imo). but the education is completely different. lpn/lvn= bare minimum for license (then grow from there). rn= additional requirements for license (and grow from there). :)

[PsychNurseWannaBe, BSN, RN]

RN's get the keys to the executive lounge.

LPN/LVN's don't.

Free coffee and sodas...

LOL

[SDALPN]

Be careful with that statement about LPNs know everything an RN does but not as deep. Part of that depends on the state/school the education took place in. RN's typically have a little more theory than RN's. I had to leave with one semester left to be eligible for the NCLEX-RN. The last class I needed was management and delegation...not really much to do with nursing other than scope of practice which is quite clear to me. So some LPN's may have the knowledge, some have a little less theory. Some will have a 1 semester A&P class while the RN's have a more intense A&P course/s. Pay varies by location. I can give you an idea based on the area I'm in.

CNA's do basic "nursing" care. They do things with a predictable outcome. They don't have nursing decisions to make. They typically make $8-12/hr. CNA's don't hold a license.

LPN's scope of practice varies from state to state. Your local BON website can provide you with this info. In my state, LPN's can do almost everything the RN can do. But we are educated more than some other states are. There are a handful of things we can't do in this state compared to an RN. I've seen some states that are VERY restrictive to LPN's. In my state we don't have to have IV cert., we are trained and educated in school. But lots of states require LPN's to be IV certified or take additional classes. Some states require X years of experience before doing IV's. Some only allow "clear" fluids and no IV pushes. In my state we can do IV pushes. But again we are educated and trained to do so. LPN's typically make $16-$25/hr here as an average. I was on my way to making 6 figures with my last job. But don't expect that on average. I worked my butt off and was paid well with bonuses, on call pay, mileage, paid cell bill, paid auto ins., and more. LPN's are nurses and hold a license. I think its good to work as an LPN first to get a feel for each "level" of care and to build experience. There are bridge programs once you become an LPN. As an LPN there are only a few certifications available. LPN's can supervise CNA's, but not RN's or other LPN's. One post stated that LPN's are extraordinarily restricted. But that is not true in all states. They are probably in a more restrictive state.

RN's have a bigger scope of practice than LPN's. They can also choose to get certified in different areas, which can increase pay. RN's also have more responsibility because of the delegation and supervision. RN's can supervise other RN's, LPN's, and CNA's. RN's can also further their education to become NP's, CRNA's, etc. which leads to higher pay and responsibilities. RN's in this area start around $17-18 depending on the area of nursing and pay increases quite a bit depending on experience as well. I know some RN's making $18/hr. I know some making just over $40/hr. It really depends on so many things.

Don't expect to walk out of school and make a huge check. Do it because you want to help others and make a living. I'm living paycheck to paycheck right now. There are also additional expenses for being a nurse, such as malpractice ins. and renewing your license. Both LPN and RN education levels teach you enough to safely practice nursing. You don't do the real learning until you start gaining experience in practice. Not everything you do in nursing is taught in nursing school. Thats why the education is so important. They give you a base knowledge to build on and encourage/teach critical thinking skills. Anyone can "do" a skill. Its the knowledge and use of the knowledge that is most important.

As you read the responses, take a look at the poster's years of experience. Take that in to consideration as you read them. Experience will change the point of view of RN vs LPN vs CNA. A year of experience is barely getting started in nursing, they are still "new nurses". I personally think that ALL nurses should have at least a year of experience as a CNA. There is so much to be learned by experience as a CNA. Plus when you are a nurse its easier to put yourself in the CNA's shoes (and they can't come back at you telling you that you don't know what its like).

Good luck!

[PeepnBiscuitsRN]

Ehhh I wouldn't say that...about LPN's knowing everything an RN knows but not as deep. This is coming from someone who was an LPN for 4 years, and they were 4 wonderful years too. There are LPN's I know to whom that statement MAY apply, almost nearly (I worked with an LPN who had been an LPN since 1963!) I worked in a clinic in pediatrics and it was great- in a clinic the LPN does a lot of direct patient care, rooming patients and doing vitals and administering treatments, giving shots and assisting the doc. The RN in a clinic does a lot of phone work and triage- the RN's I worked with were awesome- they'd help room when we'd get swamped. Oh, and there were some nurse educators on staff too (asthma, diabetes, coumadin). So, if you want to spend some time working in the clinic- LPN's do a lot of fun stuff. They do however, answer to the provider and they do have to run some stuff past the RN- especially for a walk in patient on the "treatment schedule". Every clinic is different though, realize- at our clinic the LPN's did a LOT of stuff that probably was out of their scope of practice, or at least pushed the envelope, but it was at the discression of the doc, and/or at the request of the RN (child wheezing comes into clinic...RN on phone, LPN goes and listens to lungs, knows what wheezing sounds like because in school we learned this and it is in our scope to listen to lungs...looks at sats, knows sats are low, knows child needs neb, tells RN, RN says ok and orders neb while still on the phone, LPN administers neb...see how that works, it's certainly dependent on the clinic/facility).

As for in the LTC or TCU, I'm not sure how RN/LPN differs. When I was looking for jobs I saw a LOT of jobs in the LTC that were listed as "LPN/RN", like it was either or.

I don't think in my neck of the woods LPN's are hired any longer in Hospitals. When I was doing my externship or final clinical for LPN school I was at a hospital, and there were 3 LPN's- all of whom were in the process of finishing their RN- so I don't believe LPN's are commonly hired in the hospital (I haven't seen any at the one I work at...and when I was in the LPN-RN program there were a few LPN's who worked in hospitals...again, being required to complete their RN.)

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Long story short: LPNs/LVNs (as they are known in TX and CA) and RNs have different responsibilities and scopes of practice. The specifics of those differences vary by state--what flies for a LVN duty in one state may not be permitted in another--so I won't go into the specifics here. Check with your local BON for the nitty gritty.

Knowledge bases vary depending on the individual nurse's motivation, because anyone of any nursing license can master just enough to pass the NCLEX and then put the drive to learn more aside forever. Some of the most knowledgeable nurses I worked with are LVNs. In fact, there have been a couple of occasions that I've opted to have certain LVNs instead of a RN working as my second nurse on the floor: even though it may have meant more work for me in some aspects, I knew that with those LVNs I wouldn't have to worry because they knew their jobs and then some.

RNs have more responsibility than LVNs. They can delegate to LVNs, and LVNs work under/with an RN.

You do not need to be a LVN before becoming a RN. It usually takes less time and costs less to become a LVN than a RN, and some people choose the LVN route for financial reasons or to start working sooner. Some stay LVNs forever; others enroll in LVN-RN, LVN-BSN, or even LVN-MSN programs when they are ready.

And the most important thing to remember: LPNs/LVNs are nurses too. I have never been an LVN, but it irks me to no end when people won't call/consider them nurses when they darn well are.

[cgwrn]

I started at the very bottom, first as an environment aide, helping the CNAs, making beds, passing ice water, helping feed, etc... when I was 16 to be a CNA when I was 17 to work as an LPN and then an RN. I personally liked the gradual change of jobs. I was able to see and understand level of work and the responsibilities of each. A CNA and an LPN are nothign similar. In Iowa, an LPN can do most everything an RN can do it, they just can not do IVs, unless they take a special course. They also can not do careplans unless cosigned by an RN. In my progran I felt that the LPN did know a lot of what the RN did. Sure the RN is going to have a greater amount of knowledge regarding pathophysiology and advanced treatment and assessment, but honestly my RN training was just a more indepth study of what I had learned LPN year. I would by no means encourage you to not finish your RN, but LPNs definitly understand and know a great deal.