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Both licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) and registered nurses (RNs) provide high-quality, compassionate care to patients in a wide range of settings, but there are benefits associated with taking the extra steps to become an RN. Comparing LVN vs. RN roles is essential in choosing a long-term career path, and enrolling in an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program (ABSN) is one of the fastest ways to an RN license.

What Is an LVN?

Licensed vocational nurses are licensed nurses in California and Texas who provide basic medical care in settings like hospitals, nursing homes, and doctors’ offices. They have the same overall scope of practice as licensed practical nurses (LPNs) do in other states. They usually work full time and are often required to work nights, weekends, or holidays on a rotating schedule.

LVNs’ duties may vary by state and employer, but, in general, they perform the following tasks:

• Taking basic patient histories

• Recording patients’ vital signs

• Providing basic care to patients, including changing dressings and assisting with hygiene tasks

• Discussing care plans with patients and their families

• Answering patients’ or caregivers’ questions

• Addressing patients’ concerns

• Documenting patients’ care and maintaining their electronic health records (EHRs)

• Communicating with other members of the patients’ health care team, including doctors, registered nurses, and advanced practice nurses

LVNs must complete a year-long state-approved training program to qualify to practice. Most earn diplomas rather than degrees, and some of the subjects they study are anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, and nursing fundamentals.

What Is an RN?

Registered nurses are also licensed nurses who provide medical care in facilities such as hospitals, nursing homes, and doctors’ offices, but some also work in schools and prisons. Like LVNs, they tend to work full time and nights, weekends, and holidays as required on a rotating schedule. RNs’ scope of practice can vary from one state to the next, and, while they perform many of the same duties as LVNs, they also are often responsible for the following more in-depth tasks:

• Assessing and triaging patients based on their condition

• Recording complete patient histories

• Documenting patients’ symptoms

• Observing patients closely and recording changes and observations

• Administering medications or treatments

• Assisting with diagnostic tests such as urine or blood tests

• Using and monitoring various types of equipment

• Consulting with doctors and other health care providers

• Creating or assisting with the creation of plans for patients’ care

• Educating patients, caregivers, and family members about the patient’s illness, injury, or associated treatment

• Providing at-home care instructions

While it is possible to become an RN after earning an associate degree, a 2023 survey by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) found that nearly 70% of employers preferred to hire RNs with a bachelor’s degree. As such, earning a BSN degree can be a valuable step in securing long-term, high-paying employment.

Some of the courses students take during a BSN program are physiology, microbiology, life span processes, applied health care research, and population health. RNs commit themselves to lifelong learning in the nursing field as well, ensuring they continue to provide quality care to patients for years to come.

LVN vs. RN: Similarities, Differences, and Benefits

In addition to the fact that LVNs and RNs must prepare for and pass different versions of the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) in order to obtain a license, there are many other differences between the two roles.

When comparing LVNs vs RNs, consider the following similarities, differences, and benefits associated with earning an RN license:

• Education: Whereas LVNs only need to complete a state-approved training program to qualify for their license, RNs must earn one of two types of nursing degrees: an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a BSN. Programs for these degrees take longer to complete than a diploma program, but they open the door to numerous other benefits.

• Scope of Practice: Registered nurses have additional knowledge and skills, especially if they earn a BSN degree, allowing them to perform more complicated tasks than LVNs. This makes them more valuable to employers.

• Pay: Due to their enhanced knowledge and additional responsibilities, RNs generally earn a significantly higher salary than LVNs. As of May 2024, the median annual salary for LVNs and LPNs was $62,340, while for RNs it was $93,600, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

• Career Outcomes: Unlike the limited number of types of positions available to LVNs who have completed a training program, RNs with a bachelor’s degree can pursue any of a number of other career paths, including public health nurse, nurse educator, nurse manager, or informatics nurse roles.

• Long-Term Job Outlook: The BLS projects that employment of LVNs will grow by 3% between 2023 and 2033, which is just below the average growth projected for all occupations. Conversely, employment of RNs is projected to grow by 6% within the same time frame, indicating the increasing demand for these skilled professionals.

Increase Your Job Opportunities and Earning Potential With an ABSN Program

Obtaining an RN license opens the door to numerous career opportunities throughout the health care sector, and earning a BSN degree can provide individuals with a high degree of job security. Although a traditional BSN program takes about four years to complete, for those who already have a bachelor’s degree in another field, an ABSN program can take less time and may be a better fit for their budget and needs.

The University of Tulsa’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program was specifically designed for professionals and adults who have a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field, and, depending on an individual’s unique circumstances, it can be completed in two years. Our program prepares students to pass the NCLEX-RN, and our graduates achieved a 100% exam pass rate in 2023.

Discover how your existing baccalaureate degree can help you enter the nursing workforce confidently and quickly.

Recommended Readings

A Nurse’s Role in Interprofessional Collaboration in Health Care

How Much Do RNs Make in Oklahoma?

The Differences Between an LPN and an RN Explained

Sources:

American Association of Colleges of Nursing, New Graduate Employment Data

American Association of Colleges of Nursing, Nursing Shortage Fact Sheet

Indeed, “LVN vs. RN: What’s the Difference? (With Salary and Outlook)”

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Registered Nurses