In Pittsburgh an RN in say a Nursing Home would make about 24 an hour and an LPN about 15 starting salary with little experience.

It really is going to depend on what state you are in.  I was an LPN and now I am an RN.  I am able to give the first med except when it comes to ivs then I could only do most iv fluids and all antibiotics- but the antibiotics needed the first dose to be given by rn and then I could start subsequent doses.  Usually not a problem since the floor I worked on the first dose was given in preop.  I was able to work in any unit in which they hired LPNs.  I actually transferred to the ER while still an LPN and then went on to get my RN and continue to work in the ER.  The major difference is how much responsibility do you want. 

About $39,000 of school loans  for me anyway.   I went to LPN school first - it was something like $1,000 some odd dollars - or something like that, if I'm remembering correctly - the same year that i graduated from LPN school I started an LPN to RN, BSN transition program - which costs Much, much....MUCH more :(            At my hospitals - the LPNs are utilized to the fullest....when I worked in the ER - I could give first dose IV drugs, I pushed meds....the 3 things I could not do were:  Take verbal orders, hang blood and hang TPN - that's about it - OH and got paid EXACTLY half of what the RNs were making.......I'm glad I started my RN program the same year I graduated from LPN school and I'm SO glad to ALMOST be done!!!

The most basic of differences is in the education requirements.  I had an LVN tell me that she could do my job and do it better.  I challenged her to go back to school and put her money (and brains) where her mouth was.  I was certainly surpised when she did and even more than a little surprised when she apologized to me for her flip statement. 

She wanted me to know that she was having a hard time with Chemistry and Micro-Biology but she would get it done.  I believe she said that she didn't know what she didn't know until she accepted that challange.

I am so proud of her.  She has grown into a dear friend and an excellent ICU nurse.  She took such wonderful care of my dad after a particularly dangerous surgery.  He still talks about what a perfect nurse she was even 3 years later.

Just remember, skills are not the same as knowledge.  I still run into RN's who make my blood run cold with all they have forgotten or have never known.  In this age we nurses are not only expected to do the manual labor but also to be able to track labs and understand their significance for upwards how many patients?  In Texas safe is considered somewhat less than 7 for primary care. (who are they kidding).

I don't envy you young ones on the floor.  I don't have the strength to do it anymore.  But my brain still wants to and does work.  If you are ever in a mood for an up and coming area of nursing, try Case Management. 

i think LPN salary is very reasonable where i live

http://www.indeed.com/salary?q1=LPN&l1=dc&tm=1

 

Average Salary of Jobs

In USD as of Aug 29, 2008
lpn in District of Columbia

$49,000

Wound Care LPN LVN

$56,000
 Nursing Home LPN LVN

$52,000
 

hannamo says ...

There are multiple differences, besides the fact that LPV/VN cannot admit a patient, Most states they can not start  blood. Do IVP's, work in most specialty areas, such as ICU, NICU,CVICU, and so forth. Nor do they rarely hold leadership positions. They are valuable employee's esp in doctors office, long term care and sub acute settings. There is generally approx $10.00 hour difference yet LPN/VN's generally work just as hard as RN's. Hope this clarifies some of the differences

        Out here in Pa. It's much the same.  the hourly difference range from about 10-15  dollars. LPNs are very valuable  in certain work areas.  Home care,LTC, LTACH and sub acute facilities operate efficiently because of  their LPN staff. In theses areas LPNs make up about 70 - 80% of the staff. On the floor in theses areas LPNs and RNs work equally hard.  DIFFERENCES: LPN verbal orders must be co signed by an RN,  LPNs can not supervise RNs, LPNs can NOT START IVs (can maintain peripheral hydration), can't  push IV med, mix IV meds ,titrate IV meds, admin. blood . If you have an  active LPN and a RN license  you will always be held to the RN's scope under Pennsylvania's  practice laws.

business- you need to re-read those articles. LPNs have MORE repsonsiblility that CNAs, MAs, and HHAs. That's why they can supervise. LPNs license in on the line if one of the CNAs or MAs under their supervision messes up, then they have to account for it!

You are incorrect.

There is a big difference between RNs and LPNs.  Scope of practice.  Nursing is not just task performance.  Any monkey can be taught how to start an IV.

RNs can perform assessments, make a nursing diagnosis, plan and implement care, and evaluate the effectiveness of the care.  They wave the baton when it comse to nursing caring.

LPNs have much more limited assessment responsibilities, cannot make nursing diagnoses in all states, do not make the plan, and assist the implementation of care.  They are limited in their ability to evaluate the effectivness of care; the RN must always do this even if an LPN "has the patient."

It is true LPNs are nurses, but their scope is limited, and they perform under the direction of an RN.  LPNs who have a leadership role still must have access (even if by phone) to an RN or a physician.

The hospital that I work at is struggling right now, as to what role to give LPN's.  We are doing a hospital re-alignment, and merging some units.  Our nurse manager is in charge of two units, med surg and ortho.  This is all changing and there are, I think 5 LPN's that are going to be placed in the ortho unit.  They are struggling with, either putting the LPN's in a direct patient care role, with the RN in charge.  Or putting the LPN in charge of her own group, and the RN who works next to her will have to co-sign and do anything that LPN's can't do.  They are leaning to putting the LPN's in a direct patient care role.  One of our other local hospitals phased out LPN's and it is something our hospital is considering.

In California LVNS can hang what the body produces with an additional certificates and LVNS cant push pain meds

Oh and for all the people who are listing detailed differences between RNs and LPNs, might I suggest that most of those differences are bullsh*t - e.g. "LPNs cannot make nursing diagnoses". Fact, nursing diagnoses are useless and serve no functional role in patient care. It is about paper and reimbursement from government/insurance FYI. It is also about making a bunch of academics feel important.

In reality, the difference between LPN and RN is "taking one cookie now or two cookies later". People who become LPNs are attracted to the quicker route to practice, and seem to deem that acceptable for years and years of significantly less pay. Don't ask me, I don't get it.

On the floor, LPNs and RNs are the same, except for one or two minor differences which depends on your particular facility (some facilities don't let LPNs do assessments, other facilities do, yet other facilities allow LPNs to do assessments if a RN is "supervising" which usually means signing their name).

As a RN working with many LPNs, I can say that some LPNs are fantastic and are everything a RN is “supposed to be” on paper. I completely trust their knowledge of pharmacology, disease, their instinct and their practice in general and I consider them as “unofficial RNs”. OTOH, I know some RNs that make me want to report them to the state. As I said before, however, in general it is usually true that LPNs do not have as much knowledge as your typical RN and I think that mostly has to do with the fact that LPN school just isn’t as good at weeding out sucky people as RN school.

I'm not sure why everyone is turning this into a battle between LPNs and RNs. I was under the impression from the inital post that the author was curious about the actual scope of practice differences. That is actually how I came across this post as well. I am genuinely curious. The scope of practice is vague at best. The only actual differences it addresses in PA is that an LPN can not administer the following IV medications: Antineoplastic agents, blood and blood products, TPN, IV push medications (other than heparin flush), and titrated medications. However, I have heard multiple times that LPNs can not perform admission assessments. LPNs can not work with central lines. LPNs can not pronounce death and LPNs can not initiate a code LPNs cannot perform nursing diagnosis and nursing assessments. If any one would like to comment on the actual post rather than fighting about who works harder, please reply.

as everyone has already said, the duties vary from state to state.  i am currently an lpn from ohio working in a med/surg unit.  i am given my own group of patients.  i am just like any other nurse working in the med/surg unit.  i do have limitations which include not hanging potassium, antifungals, blood, ppn, tpn.  i am not responsible for pca machines.  i am not allowed to give medications via iv push, other than flushing a peripherial line with saline or heparin.  i can hang antibiotics, although it must be within a peripherial iv.  i am not allowed to hang antibiotics on anyone who possesses a central line, port or picc line.  i am not allowed to start ivs or maintain ivs on anyone under the age 18.  i do assessments on my own patients.  i do take vitals as neccessary for my patients.  i do admissions.  i read my own telemetry strips.  i do train new registered nurses for introduction to our unit if i am instructed to do so by my supervisor.  if there is a conflict with my scope, i grab my charge, and they go over the procedure together, time is left for questions, and the training continues.  a r.n. is not required to sign off on my duties.  i insert my own foley catheters as well as ng tubes.  i assist all physicians when they need help performing a procedure at the bedside.  i am allowed to draw blood if the phlebotomist cannot find a vein.  sometimes i am floated to a different unit such as the emergency department, outpatient surgery or even intensive care.   i may contact physicians and take orders for a select few of my patients.  i make 8 dollars less per hour than the lowest paid, new hire registered nurse.  i am told daily of how valuable i really am to our unit and facility.

NoonieNursie says ...

It's like saying "what is the difference between a MD and a nurse practitioner". A nurse practitioner may function professionally as a physician in many respects, however the scope of practice indicates that nurse practitioners must function UNDER THE SUPERVISION of a MD. In reality it doesn't work that way, but on paper it does.

So it is with LPNs vs RNs. LPNs are supposedly functioning under the direction and supervision of the RNs on the floor on paper... in reality, they function as independent nurses.

The job was created as a way to pay nurses less money for the benefit of a corporation.

I have no idea why anyone becomes an LPN. RN is marginally more effort for a whole lot more pay.

Personally, I have observed that the odds of running into a totally criminally incompetent nurse is higher if they are an LPN. Many RNs are terrible and incompetent too but just not to the same percentages that you'll find in the LPN pool. I suppose that only makes sense if you assume a lot of LPNs are individuals who couldn't "hack it" in nursing school and were weeded out (or, alternately, need a lot more training and would have benefited from a hospital-based RN program).

BTW, not hating on LPNs. I know a ton of fantastic LPNs. All I'm saying is that when you run into one of those nurses who just make you bang your head into a concrete wall with stupidity, odds are they are going to be an LPN before they are an RN.

Not an entirely accurate example...NPs in a lot of states operate independantly from any other health professional (MDs included). 

Link: http://www.acnpweb.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3465

It is so cute how the ones that didn't suck it up and survive RN school want to talk about how LPNs are the same thing as RNs. They are not. It doesn't take a seasoned RN or LPN to even figure that one out. If you want to be an RN, go to school for it. If you decide not to become and RN, then stop hating. There are tons of differences between LPNs and RNs.

Have a great day : )