Difference Between RN And LVN
Registered nurse (RN) and licensed vocational nurse (LVN) are the two major types of nursing licensures. Both focus on delivering patient care but have distinct differences. Read on to know what they are.
Registered nurse
A registered nurse is one who has a nursing degree from a college or university. They have also passed a national licensing examination which qualifies them to work in settings such as hospitals, schools, private homes, clinics and healthcare centers.
Duties of a registered nurse include administering injections and IVs, basic diagnostics, maintaining patients’ records, reporting patients’ health status, communicating with patients’ families and providing direct patient care. More than anything, however, they’re tasked with managing, planning and delivering patient care by supervising orderlies and LVNs.
Licensed vocational nurse
Licensed vocational nurses receive training in patient care, anatomy, pharmacology and physiology for about 36 months. RNs, on the other hand, have to undergo training for two to five years. Duties, however, are no less taxing and include providing patient care some of which are similar to that delivered by RNs like administering IVs and injections, collecting blood samples and maintaining patients’ records. They aren’t involved in planning or managing patient care. Note: LVNs are also called LPNs or licensed practical nurses depending on country.