What's the difference between an RN and an LPN?

Question

I've never really understood the difference between a registered nurse, a licensed practical nurse, and a nurse practitioner.

Answer 1

LPN - can earn license in about 12-15 months, takes the state board exam to earn the license. Performs essential patient cares like dressing, feeding, bathing, toileting, etc. Takes vital signs. Passes certain medications (if trained in phlebotomy, can draw blood or start IVs, but cannot administer IV narcotics and some other restricted classes of drugs), can perform simple assessments, can delegate tasks to nursing assistants, but LPNs take delegated tasks from RNs. Often LPNs in some cities are more limited to out patient clinics and nursing homes, as many hospitals are phasing out their use of LPNs in favor of the RNs because RNs have a greater skill set and are viewed as more desirable in acute care.

RN - can earn license in as little as 2 years with an Associates Degree, or earn a 4 year Bachelor's Degree, either one makes you eligible. In addition to performing all the LPN duties, RNs have a greater knowledge base in terms of anatomy & physiology, disease pathology, microbiology, lab results, etc., so therefore where an LPN can take vital signs, an RN needs to know how to interpret what those vital signs and assessments mean in the big picture. RNs work under what is called the "nursing process", consisting of assessment, diagnosis, plan, intervention, and evaluation. We assess the patient and gather all the pertinent information, identify their top priority for immediate needs, formulate a nursing diagnosis (different from a medical diagnosis), develop goals or outcomes for that diagnosis, develop a plan to reach those goals which include interventions that are performed to reach that goal, then we evaluate out process and start all over again. RNs are expected to delegate tasks to LPNs and NAs, work as a team with the physicians, lab, pharmacy, etc. to ensure well-rounded patient care. RNs hold a greater amount of legal responsibility. They are not only caregivers, they are social workers, they are counselors, they are educators. They can work in endless settings - hospitals, clinics, health department, correctional facilities, schools, join the military, etc.

Nurse Practitioner - an RN who has earned a Master's Degree (2-3 years beyond a Bachelors Degree) and is almost the equivalent to a physician. They can have their own clients and act as a primary care provider in a clinic, prescribe medications within their scope of practice, can round on patients in a hospital setting like a doctor would. But they usually work in partnership with a physician or team of physicians who still are "in charge" and often must sign off on whatever treatments the NP is prescribing.

Answer 2

My daughter is a RN which is a registered nurse.  She went to school for 4 yrs.  She assist in surgeries, gives shot, gives meds ordered by Drs.  Starts Iv's and pretty much anything the patient needs under doctors orders.  She also made $72,000 her 1st year at a hospital.  Got an award for Best RN in that hospital her 1st year and since has gotten 3 more awards.  She loves her job.  LPN is a License Practical Nurse which only goes to school 2 years.  They make around $32-35,000 ayr.  Which I make in a factory. LPN does not have near the responsibility has an RN.  They can take vital signs.  Both normally work 12 hr shifts.The scope of practice is wider for RN because of the level of education.  Hope this helps.  

Answer 3

General career info:  http://www.bls.gov/oco and can search 'registered nurses' (nurse practitioner is briefly mentioned), 'licensed practical nurses' (usually one year of schooling) or such.

Wikipedia has more info albeit Not for professional or school research:  http://www.wikipedia.org and type into search.

Just fyi, if still considering training for lpn after what was mentioned here ;) please look into the more affordable county vo-tech school or community college as opposed to the private $$ school :)

Answer 4

And RN goes to college for a few years, has lengthy training, and gets a degree.  LPN's go to college for a shorter amount of time and are supervised by RN's.  A nurse practitioner is an RN that has authorization to practice and prescribe medicine like a doctor under the direct supervision of a doctor.

Answer 5

A RN is a registered nurse, a LPN is a licensed practical nurse. The main difference is a LPN cannot do anything that has to do with a vein or artery. She cannot start a IV but can d/c one, also she cannot give any medications through a IV. LPN are really being ousted. Go for Rn, forget the LPN, it is a matter of about 15.00 - 20.00 more per hour>>>>