What is the difference between an RN and an LPN?

Question

I know what they stand for, but how are the jobs and salaries different?

Answer 1

RN registered nurse

LPN learning practicing nursing

Answer 2

LPN/LVN are not low paid nurse or little play nurse as some people like to call us. They have more responsibility. RN's can start IV"S and give blood during transfusions, some departments require you to be an RN like here you can't work in Labor and Delivery if you're not an RN. They don't always make more, with extra training an LPN can make just as much. I now how my IV Therapy license (not all states allow LPN to have these) and I start out at an LPN salary $24 and then negotiate my way up with all the extra training I've had. RN's look down at LPN's for no reason cause if they didn't have LPN's the work load would be too much for them. RN's also have the ability to become other kinds of nurses. You know the ones with the alphabet behind their name. In actuality the more letters they have behind their name I think the less nursing work they do. I call them paper pushers. They may be a nurse, but some of them haven't passed a pill in years. As far as wiping butts, that's every ones job, you start off learning that and move up. People who think they're too good to wipe an old persons but is probably too good to be a nurse. It's not a pretty job.

Answer 3

RN is a registered nurse who gets more education than an LPN aka LVN

Every state has a different defination of LPN aka LVN. The states of NY and California have the highest standards.

To the person who said LPN's go to 4 months of school and glorified Nurses Aids.........hmmm wonder what state that is in?
I went to two years of College and got my associates degree. I did everything an RN did but IV's and in California an LVN can do IV's if trained. I had times when I was a head nurse and not under an RN. When I graduated I was instantly made a head nurse in charge of 75 patients. I managed a staff of aids and orderlys. I passed out medications and did all treatments. I never had an RN over me at that time.

An LPN is a Licensed Practical Nurse in some states knows LVN Licensed Vocational Nurse. Usually an LPN can do most everything an RN do except start IV's and hold managerial positions.

RN's definatly get paid more money and also have more responsibalities.

I have been a charge nurse, ob nurse, psychiatric nurse,etc

Answer 4

an lpn is a low payed nurse an rn is a real nasty person who makes lots of money. Seriously an rn has a four year degree and an lpn basicly has a certificate from a one or two year school. the LPN still stands for low payed nurse.

Answer 5

RN is a registered nurse. More schooling and higher pay than an LPN wo is a licensed nurse. And then there is a CNA or CMA a CNA is a Ceritified Nurses Aid, and a CMA is a ceritified Medical aid. The RN is at the top of the chain!

Answer 6

RN is Registered Nurses lead the nursing staff.
LPN is Licensed Practical Nurses can only work under a RN. They do not have as many certifications as a RN.

Answer 7

RN stands for Registered Nurse.
LPN stands for Licensed Practical Nurse.

Answer 8

LPN is a glorified CNA I went to LPN school for 4 months and ended up wiping old peoples rear-ends and clearing out bowel impactions at a nursing home.
RN you can do whatever a Dr. tells you to do

Answer 9

I'm a RN and can tell the LPN what to do.
it's like this
med aid,LPN,LVN,RN,and so on.......
i work in the er and i tell the other nurses what to do.
I'm a charge head nurse.

Answer 10

rn stands for registered nurse, lpn stands for licened practical nurse.