Imagine you are a patient in a hospital.  People are coming and going all day long. You can see them through the open door to your room. Many of them come in to see you or your neighbor on the other side of the curtain.  So who are they besides your doctor?   Some people come in and say, “Hello, I’m your nurse today.”  But do you know that are different levels of nurses working in the hospital? There are registered nurses, the RN.  These are men and women who have gone through a 2, 3, or 4 year programs.  They have an associated degree or a baccalaureate degree. 

There are licensed vocational nurses, LVN or some states called them LPNs, licensed practical nurses.  They have a license to practice as a nurse at this level.  Their programs are anywhere from 12 to 18 months long. There are nursing assistants, NA.  They have training that may be 3 months to 6 months. All three groups can say that they are the nurse.  The difference is what they can do.  Each state has a nurse practice act that defines what they can and can not do in practice.  The RN can do the most types of interventions and administer the majority of medications.  The RN does most of the care that involves an intravenous (IV) line including the medications that are put into it, such as antibiotics, electrolytes, steroids, etc.  He or she also does advanced care with central lines that are inserted under the skin and go directly to the heart.

LVN nursing/LPN nursing can be a challenging and fulfilling career.  If a person is willing to put in some concentrated time, it can be very rewarding.  The patient does remember the nurse who took care of them.  They are the people who were there all day long and then sometimes the next day or two as well.  You might be teaching someone how to take care of a newborn baby or how to change a dressing on a wound or how to give themselves an insulin injection. They go home with your words in their head.  They will tell their friends and family about the nurse who was there for them.  Are you ready to make a change in your life or someone else’s?  Try nursing.