What Is The Difference Between A Cna And A Lpn In Order To Progress My Career As A Nurse?

3 Responses to “What Is The Difference Between A Cna And A Lpn In Order To Progress My Career As A Nurse?”

1. Jill

   February 8, 2011 at 5:43 pm

   CNAs perform activities of daily living (bathing, feeding, toileting, linen changes, assist with transfers to wheelchairs or with walking), they take vital signs, fill water pitchers, and do other tasks delegated to them by the LPNs or RNs. They only make slightly above minimum wage, about $8-12 per hour.
   Some RN programs require that you have your CNA certificate for entry, but you don’t have to have work experience, so if you don’t want to work as a CNA you don’t have to.
   LPNs do all the things CNAs do plus a little more. They can do a few more nursing skills like wound care, catheter cares, pass medications, hang IV bags, perform limited assessments, provide education, do more charting / documentation, and can delegate tasks to the CNA. They make around $16-20 per hour and in some cases might top out a few dollars higher than that.
   But if you want to become an RN, I would suggest just going for it and bypassing the LPN route. Find a community college program (Associates Degree in Nursing – RN). Its a 2 year program, not counting time spent on pre-requisites. You might get your license a year or two sooner than if you went into a BSN program. BSN is 4-5 years. Once you have your ADN and RN license you can find an RN to BSN bridge program, many of these are offered online for flexibility, and often times your employer will pay some kind of tuition assistance for you to complete the BSN.
   Good luck.

   #16776
2. luvrats

   February 8, 2011 at 9:25 pm

   You absolutely do NOT need to become a CNA if you want to become a nurse. Don’t waste the time, just get started on the career you really want. Good luck.

   #16777
3. Charles

   February 9, 2011 at 3:19 am

   Register nurse salary info: http://www.rn-123.com/

   #16778