Is this woman an LPN or RN? How are they different?
There are two ways to pursue a nursing career: as an LPN (licensed practical nurse) or RN (registered nurse). LPNs and RNs wear the same uniforms and seem to be performing the same tasks. As a result, it is easy to assume they have the same job description. However, differences in their education paths lead to different job descriptions and the health care facilities in which they work.
Education
LPNs spend a year in school, taking courses such as assessment, adult health (covering areas such as diabetes, cancer and heart failure) and pediatrics. They also have clinicals, which are rotations in hospitals or nursing homes, for hands-on experience.
RNs spend two to four years in school. Compared to LPNs, RNs build a stronger knowledge base, because their curriculum involves more clinical time and includes extra courses, such as research and community.
Both routes require applicants to pass a licensing exam conducted by the nursing board of the state in which they seek employment. The LPN route is attractive to people who need to enter the workforce quickly.
Independence
LPNs, who work under the supervision of a physician or RN, are very task-oriented. Depending on their state nursing boards, LPNs are not allowed to perform some activities--initial physical assessments, for instance. An initial physical assessment is done when a patient enters a health care facility for the first time. A nurse interviews and examines the patient to determine what he or she needs from the medical team. Some institutions prohibit LPNs from hanging chemotherapy or blood (although they may take them down) or push intravenous medications.
RNs work independently, as indicated by the specific scenario.Their training allows them to see the bigger picture, note relevant pieces of information and create solutions. Both LPNs and RNs care for patients and document that care in patients' medical records, although an RN's notes may be more specific because of these nurses' greater ability to filter relevant information.
Patient Cases and Work Settings
LPNs generally work in nursing homes or other facilities that provide long-term care. They focus on patient care activities, such as delivering medications to residents, inserting Foley catheters (a tube placed in the bladders of patients who are incontinent) and training aides to use lifting equipment. Patients in these facilities are "stable," which means their vital signs, and thus, their general condition, are predictable. Some LPNs work at wellness centers or hospital wards in which the patients are stable.
RNs, on the other hand, may work in complex settings such as intensive care, for which specialized knowledge is mandatory. Patients can deteriorate quickly, and RNs need to think and act fast. They interact with families and other health care members to solve patient problems that go beyond the reason for the current admission. Most RNs work in hospitals or medical offices, although others may work in long-term care facilities as nurse-managers or institution directors.
Tags: health care, care facilities, care patients, courses such, long-term care, LPNs work, nursing homes
