what is the difference in a LPN and RN nurse?
Asked by ana
explanation of each please .. and which one is the 4 years?

Best Answer:
I always recommend people to be an LPN first for several reasons. First and foremost, it's a year of education (vs. two or four for an RN). This will get you out working that much faster and for that much less investment. If you decide you don't like nursing, you've invested that much less. The earning potential difference can be substantial. It's very different depending on what area of the country one is in and in what setting one works, so it's hard to give you a definitive answer. You could ask your state Board of Nursing for some statistics-they might be able to help you there. As an example, at my job we hire brand new LPNs for around $12-13 an hour and brand new RNs for around $14-15. The real difference lies in what jobs become available to you based on your qualifications. Obviously some positions are not open for LPNs and even for some RNs depending on what credentials and educational level they have. Is it better to be an LPN for a while? In my opinion-yes. That's what I did. I felt it gave me a real good foundation in basic bedside nursing. I worked for about two years as an LPN before beginning RN school. I also think it makes more sense for people to climb the ladder and build on their knowledge bit by bit. It always seems funny to me to see a brand new green RN graduate in a 'supervisory' capacity over some LPN that's got 25 years experience. This is what happens based on credentials. The system is slowly changing, though-at the local schools now, in order to apply for the RN program one must first go through CNA school and become a nursing assistant, which is an improvement, in my opinion. -This is what my mother always says.. hope it helps! : )

RN 4 years: registered nurse LPN 2 years: like an assistant to the nurse
Answered by julie t

LPN has more college than an RN.
Answered by critterrice

RN requires a 4 year college degree. RN's get to do more than change dirty bed pans.
Answered by doane_nut

lpn- licensed practical nurse, doesnt take as much schooling fr an rn. rn- registered nurse- takes longer schooling but here would be more opprotunities for you. sorry i dont no a whole lot about it. :]
Answered by ♥JiLL♥

There are two licensing designations that enable you to practice as a nurse - LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) and RN (Registered Nurse). LPN programs are shorter in duration (typically 10 months to a year), while RN programs take 2 to 4 years. The difference between the two is in the scope of practice and duties. RN's are able to take on more responsibility and may supervise LPNs. RN's also have increased earnings potential and a higher starting salary. One more thing to keep in mind - there have been attempts to raise the educational requirements for an RN license to a bachelor's degree. These changes, should they occur, will probably be made state by state, through legislation or regulation. If this happens, RN licensure will require a 4-year degree. The role of the LPN has historically been to provide direct care to patients in the medical setting. The role of the RN was designed to be a supervisory position. Years ago, it was normal for many LPN's to work under the supervision of one RN. GOOD LUCK
Answered by bleeding love

RN's are registered and go to school longer than LPN's. Also, RN's get paid more. You can become a LPN in as little as 18 months now. Just check out your local nursing school..
Answered by just-me

A LPN is known to basically do the more technical things, like hooking up IV, counting numbers, ect. A RN or registered nurse, is more concerned in the assessment field. Rns should be able to listen to lung sounds, and differentiate what the problems are, and what a patient truly needs. A RN can directly take orders and relay information to a doctor, whereas a LPN cannot. In the Health Hierarchy , LPNs are considered lower than RNs. However, LPNs are known to be very skilled in fields of terminology and their actions. An RN requires a 4-year degree.
Answered by twistedlogic92

Registered nurses (RN) comprise the largest group of healthcare workers. Most RNs work directly with patients and their families. They are the primary point of contact between the patient and the world of health care, both at the bedside and in out-patient settings. RNs perform frequent patient evaluations, including monitoring and tracking vital signs, performing procedures such as IV placement, phlebotomy, and administering medications. Because the RN is much more regular contact with patients than are physicians, the RN is usually first to notice problems or raise concerns about patient progress. RNs also develop the day-to-day nursing care plans both in hospital, and for care after discharge by families and visiting nurses. While there is a national component to RN training (culminating in the NCLEX licensing exam), state laws determine the formal responsibilities of the RN. Nonetheless, because of the relatively broad nursing job description for RNs, the particular work enivironment determines what the daily routine is. Licensed practical nurses (LPNs), or licensed vocational nurses (LVNs), provide the patient care on a very personal level. They usually report directly to physicians and RNs, and are usually responsible for taking vitals and monitoring in-and-out volumes, treating common like bedsores, and preparing or performing several procedures such as dressing wounds, bathing and dressing, and giving enemas. Because they have frequent direct contact with patients, LPNs and LVNs are important in helping patients deal with their illness. In some, but not all, states LPNs and LVNs may administer prescribed medicines or start IV fluids. Also a CNAs, also known as nursing aides, nursing assistants, geriatric aides, unlicensed assistant personnel, or hospital attendants, perform routine tasks under the supervision of nursing and medical staff. They answer patients' call bells, deliver messages, serve meals, make beds, and help patients eat, dress, and bathe. Aides also may provide skin care to patients; take temperatures, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure; and help patients get in and out of bed and walk. They also may escort patients to operating and examining rooms, keep patients' rooms neat, set up equipment, store and move supplies, or assist with some procedures. Aides observe patients' physical, mental, and emotional conditions and report any change to the nursing or medical staff. A CNA is a course that can last anywhere from 2 weeks to 4 months. The classes run $200-$800 depending on which state you live in. No college degree is needed. You just need to take a CNA class and pass a state test. LPV/LVN-Assosciates degree. Which is abut 2 years RN-Bachelors Degree. Which is about 4 years. [remember these programs could be a little longer depending on how long it takes to get through classes and onto clinicals]
Answered by Amber

i don't know where some people get their answers from i guess they take a guess.lol.. but LPN are technical nurses that get a degree in nursing in about 12 to 18 months not a good career move because they get ordered around by the RN nurses which you can become in as little as 2 years at a community college with an ADN degree. LPN's usually do the dirty work that the RN dont want to do and the pay is 10 to 15 thousand more per year for RN...
Answered by dvonnbass

an LPN is a licensed practical nurse. An RN is a registered nurse. You can get your LPN or RN licensing both through a community college. If you want to be a more specialized nurse (like a nurse practioner) you would go to a 4 year and get your RN bachelors and continue with your masters. RN's get paid more ($20 plus per hr) but you do more invasive work (IVs, catheters) and more coursework is required. You would get more job opportunities as an RN as most medical positions require people to have an RN degree (either associates or bachelors). You really dont need a bachelors unless you desire to get your masters and do specialized nursing. LPNs get paid less ($14-$16 per hr), but work is less stressful and less invasive. You are mostly likely to just be changing bandages and pushing pills. There is less schooling for LPNs. The downside of this is that you have limited job opportunites. (Most clinics prefer RNs). You could only find work at a nursing homes and hospitals. You couldn't do anything specialized like oncology. If you are undecided on what to do your best bet is to take short-term courses to see if you can handle it. I'd say take CNA classes and try doing CNA work, or go to a community college and take paramedic courses. best of luck in whatever you chose to do.
Answered by a jaded angel

The duties/ pay of RN as described in the other posts is correct. It takes 2-4 years depending on whether you get an associates degree or bachelors degree. With LPNs, duties greatly vary depending on what state you work in and where you work. In Oklahoma at the hospital I work at LPNs basically do everything RNs do. RNs are required to verify (or check) any initial assessments by LPNs, but they carry the same patient load and do almost everything an RN does but they do get paid less. In nursing homes LPNs are generally the ones that work the floor, and RNs usually only hold supervisory positions.
Answered by Summer

I cannot believe how ignorant some of these answers are!! An LPN is earned after about 12-18 months and they are trained to perform basic patient cares, take vital signs, pass certain medications (with limitations), and performed skilled cares such as wound care dressing changes, etc. They are not equipped with the complex knowledge of anatomy & physiology, biology, chemistry, psychology, etc. that RNs are, so they cannot perform complex assessments nor provide care planning for their clients. As evident by some of these answers, LPNs often feel that they get the crappy duties to perform, but the fact is, this is their job function. If you don't like doing these jobs, don't be an LPN. If the RN did all of these tasks, the LPNs wouldn't have a job at all. RNs can be licensed with a minimum of a 2 year Associates Degree. You can also earn a 4 year Bachelor's Degree. The difference between the two is that with the BSN you have many more general education / elective courses, and the extra nursing courses you get as a BSN include Public Health, Nursing Research, Leadership, etc., and basically courses which provide more theoretical background for professional practice and also grooms you more for leadership positions as opposed to the ADN trained RNs. All RNs have a well-rounded education which provides a basis for them to provide more complex patient care. An LPN can take vital signs, but do they know what to do with that information? The RN has to critically evaluate all the components of the patient's health, medication regimen, lab values, social issues, psychological factors, etc. The main professional function of the RN is to follow the "nursing process", which is based on Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Interventions, and Evaluations (ADPIE). We collect data and analyze it, create a nursing diagnosis (different from medical diagnosis) based upon the patient's top needs, create a plan which includes measurable outcomes, create interventions to meet those outcomes and then implement those interventions, and finally evaluate the results and start all over again. RNs have a scope of practice so much larger than the LPN, and as such RNs hold a higher level of legal responsibility. The pay differences are based on the level of education, the level of function in the job setting, and the level of legal responsibility one holds while on their shift. Hope that helps more than some of these other answers. :)
Answered by Jill