LPN Vs RNMany people stop to consider the advantages and disadvantages of lpn vs rn. While licensed practical nurses have less specialization in responsibilities, rns have more responsibilities and higher pay. Lpns the profile: The profile of an associate or lpn nurses extends across a gamut of responsibilities. Such nurses are involved in monitoring vitals, pulse rates, respiratory rates, blood pressure and the like. Such a practitioner is also responsible for ensuring the patient's hygiene and personal health. In addition, various other responsibilities such as administration of enemas, turning over the patient to ensure no bedsore formation etc. are some of the other roles of a licensed practical nurse. Such nurses find careers typically in nursing homes, hospitals, medical centers, retirement homes as well as extended care on a 24x7 basis for terminally ill patients. Lpns are also known to help in delivery of children, ensuring child and maternal care, feeding the baby and taking care of newborns etc. In addition, in some states across the US, the responsibilities may extend to administering IVs, prescribing medication etc. Thus, in assessing lpn vs rn, lpns certainly have wide-ranging responsibilities. Rns the profile: The profile of an rn extends mainly in supervising the responsibilities of lpns. Thus, in assessing the lpn vs rn profiles, the rns have a need for more managerial capacities. They also need to be far more knowledgeable as compared to lpns since they will be supervising them. As an rn, the nurse has to finish a masters course in registered nursing. There are multiple courses available both offline as well as online. This helps an associate nurse transition into becoming an rn seamlessly. Most rns work directly under doctors and a trained practitioner. The rns are also responsible in prescribing medications to patients. Course available: There are both rn as well as lpn courses available these days. While the lpn course mainly deals with fundamental subjects such as chemistry, biology etc. as well as a few advanced topics pertaining to psychology, radiology, nutrition etc., the courses pertaining to rns are more specialized. In such an rn course, the practitioner should be well versed in advanced subjects and receive a thorough certification before they can be recognized as a practitioner. Thus, between lpn vs rn courses, the rn courses are tougher and take longer to finish. Duration of course: The comparison of lpn vs rn courses shows that lpn courses take much lesser time to complete. An lpn course takes as little as 18 months to 2 years to finish while an rn program may take much longer. While many nurses get tempted to choose a university offering an lpn degree because of shorter duration, there is a drawback in salary. The salary of an lpn is half that of an rn! Thus, when deciding whether to opt for lpn or rn courses, though there is a tradeoff of length of course, the salary more than makes up for this! Hence, instead of pursuing a basic associate course it is much better to opt for a masters course in rn. |