When you’re starting to think about pursuing a career in nursing, it helps to understand the differences between a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) and a registered nurse (RN). With this knowledge, you can earn the right degree for your needs and set forth on your desired career path confidently.
If your goal is to begin a nursing career, get started by taking a look at some of the primary differences between an LVN and an RN so you can choose your ideal position.
Responsibilities
LVNs and RNs both provide basic nursing care, completing tasks that include recording and monitoring vital signs, changing bandages, and inserting catheters. They also work with patients of all ages and in many of the same healthcare settings, including general medical and surgical hospitals, correctional facilities, and blood banks. However, an RN position is a higher-level position than an LVN.
LVNs work under the supervision of a doctor or RN, while RNs can work independently and make important decisions related to treatments. LVNs typically provide patient care that is more basic than that provided by RNs. RNs can evaluate patient conditions, record symptoms and medical histories, interpret the results of diagnostic tests, and develop patient care plans.
An RN typically performs all the same duties and responsibilities as an LVN, plus these additional tasks:
- Providing patients with medications and administering advanced IV therapy
- Ensuring patients are receiving proper care according to their treatment plans
- Running diagnostic tests and analyzing the results
- Educating patients on how to manage their conditions following treatment
- Consulting with doctors and mid-level practitioners
- Supervising and overseeing LVNs, nursing assistants, and home health aides
Some LVNs work as travel nurses, which means they may travel frequently to work in settings where nurses and doctors are in high demand due to shortages or health crises. For example, an LVN may temporarily work to treat patients in a city considered a hotspot due to high disease transmission.
Education
Becoming an LVN requires about one year of education in a vocational nursing program, which is available at many community colleges and vocational nursing schools. If you decide to become an LVN, your courses will likely include biology, pharmacology, and nursing. Nutrition, first aid, anatomy, and patient care are some of the many topics covered in these courses as well. You will also likely receive hands-on training in a clinical setting.
Becoming an RN requires you to earn either an Associate of Applied Science in Registered Nursing (ASN) degree or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. These degrees typically take between two and four years or longer to earn, depending on whether you go to school part-time or full-time. As an alternative, you can earn a diploma from an approved nursing program.
Licensing
Before you can practice nursing, you must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to earn your license. LVNs must take the NCLEX for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN), and RNs must take the NCLEX-RN.
Both versions of the NCLEX are similar. However, the NCLEX-RN features more questions related to managing LVNs and nurse practitioners. The NCLEX-PN focuses more on collaborating with other healthcare professionals to coordinate care.
The NCLEX features between 75 and 145 questions that you must answer correctly at least 50% of the time to pass. The time limit is several hours, and you have the option of retaking the exam at a later date if necessary.
In 2020, 86.6% of aspiring nurses who were educated in the United States and who took the NCLEX-RN passed it on the first try. The first-time pass rate for the NCLEX-PN was 83.1%.
Salary
RNs earn significantly more than LVNs. In 2021, the average annual salary of an LVN was $48,070, and the average annual salary of an RN was $77,600.
If you are an LVN, the option is always available to continue your education to become an RN and earn a higher salary. You can also become certified in subspecialties that pay more than others, such as gerontology, pain management, or pediatrics. You can pursue subspecialties regardless of whether you are an LVN or an RN.
When deciding whether you want to become an LVN or an RN, keep in mind that both positions allow you to provide high-quality care and help patients feel better. Review the differences between these positions outlined above to make an educated decision when planning out your career path.
Resource Links
- “What is the Difference Between an RN and an LVN?” via Pacific College
- “5 Main Differences Between an LVN and an RN” via Career Development Institute
- “What Is the NCLEX? What You Need to Know About This Key Nursing Exam” via Rasmussen University
- “Be Ready for Exam Day” via NCLEX
- “2020 NCLEX® Examination Statistics” via National Council of State Boards of Nursing
- “Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses” via U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- “Registered Nurses” via U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- “18 Highest-Paid Nursing Jobs in 2023” via Brookline College