If you’re exploring travel nursing jobs in health care, you’ll want to know all about the differences between being a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and a Registered Nurse (RN). These are two of the most common professional roles in the field and both offer exciting opportunities for those interested in travel nursing positions.
What’s the difference between an LPN and an RN?
While LPNs and RNs both offer nursing care to patients, there are some differences in their job responsibilities and required education levels.
Job duties
LPNs provide the basics of general nursing care to patients. This includes assessing an individuals’ vitals, changing dressings and bandages, helping patients eat and bathe, administering medication and evaluating and recording patients’ health. LPNs are typically required to be supervised by a doctor or RN. As such, they play a major role in carrying out the patient care plans prescribed by clinicians.
RNs perform these basic nursing duties in addition to other responsibilities. However, a major difference of their role is that they can evaluate patients and then develop and influence their care plans in collaboration with other physicians and specialists. They often have a more active role than LPNs in teaching patients how to manage their conditions and in communicating with a patient’s family.
Education
LPNs must graduate from an accredited nursing program, often at the associate’s or bachelor’s level, which often takes one year. They then must become licensed by passing an LPN exam. Academic programs for LPNs are often based on acquiring technical skills that will be required in their on-the-job duties.
RNs often receive their bachelor’s degree in nursing through a four-year program, though there are some two-year programs available. They then must receive their licensure by passing an exam. Academic programs for RNs generally differ from LPN programs in the way that they cover humanities-related subjects, ethics and the development of “soft skills” in addition to technical abilities. This knowledge supports RNs holistic approach to nursing that includes effective patient communication and care for a patient’s emotional needs.
This brief overview can help aspiring travel nurses understand their future career options – both LPN and RN can be rewarding career paths.