So what is the difference between CNA and LPN/LVN? You can't give shots or med's right? So what can you do that a CNA doesn't ? I planning on going for LPN/LVN but I'm trying to find out they can do that a CNA can't.

racingchic9 says ...

it all depends on where you are planning on working.

In the hospital LPNs are glorified NAs. We do med passes, do shots, do treatments and dressing changes and can start IVs (if you have the certification) but not much else, of course it also depends on what department you work in. In the nursing home you do med passes, dressing changes, treatments, you talk to the drs and families, you are incharge of the CNAs and the pts a lot more  and do alot less of the direct pt care that the CNAs have.

NO NO NO NO NO!

Do I need to say it again?

NO!!!!!!

The difference between a CNA and an LPN is LICENSURE!!

LPN's are nurses.  CNA's are NOT!!!!!!!  I repeat NOT!!! nurses!!!

I can't stress this enough.  I'm not trying to put down CNA's--they do a difficult and valuable job.  But CNA's are not nurses, should not try to act like nurses, or call themselves nurses (this latter one makes me nuts).

The Board of Nursing in every state takes the title of nurse very seriously.  No one who is not a licensed nurse may call herself one.

CNA's can perform basic bed side care:  hygeine, take vitals, keep I&O, transfer and transport patients.  In some limited cases, with special training, they can sometimes do more advanced tasks.  North Carolina lets them insert Foley's--which I think is insane because I have yet to see one who can do it without breaking sterile technique, especially putting on gloves.

Some CNA's are trained to be medication aides, and pass some types of meds in nursing homes, not in hospitals.  Also insane.  They don't know enough about pharmacology and physiology to know when NOT to give something.

I say insane because it's niether fair to the public OR to the CNA to have her do a job she does not fully understand.

LPNs can do a lot more, depending on the state you work in.  They can do wound care, perform limited assessments (though in some states they can't do care planning), insert NG's, Foley's, give injections.  They have more training than CNA's and can supervise unlicensed personnel.

Task wise, an LPN can do almost everything an RN can do.  They cannot be in charge, and their assessment skills are not always as finely honed.  They usually don't work in critical care but some do (I got my start as an ER nurse when I was still an LPN).

Please do not call LPN's glorified NA's.  They are far from it.

Gotta agree with you guys. I used to be an LPN. I worked just as hard, if not harder than some of the RNs I worked on the floor with. It kills me that the general public do not understand this. I've had pt's call CNA's nurses. I will politely correct them and tell them that they are techs, and I am their nurse. Pt's need to understand, so they can know who is supposed to be doing what.

C.N.A, certified, not registered, but yes certified! Had to go to school to take a course in patient care, bathing, vital's ect... I really can't stand for nurse's above to say that c.n.a are just people who give bath's and take vital's, we are the eye's and ear's that are important to the nurse who is a lpn or rn, we have a big part in nursing , we are the one's who find the open wound's that the nurse fixes, we are the one's who report fever's to the lpn or rn, we are the one's who report a lump in the breast that is now cancer to the lpn or rn, we are the one's who report that joe isn't the same today, because we spent the time to know him, it is reported to the lpn or the rn, do we do just vital's and bath's, no we are the eye's and ear's of the hospital, the nursing home, where ever we work we work toghter, Rn, lpn, Cna no matter who is higher in degree or not, at least where I'm from.

I agree with luvbeingacna.  CNA's are with the patient more and giving direct care to the patient, that the LVN or RN. the CNA had more time to listen to the little complants that could be important to the care.  The CNA is not given enough credit. They do wipe butts, but then they can see the decub starting that in a quick assessment was missed.  When I was in school for CNA, we had a patient that was unable to speak (because of a stroke) and very agitated (which was unusual) .  We brought it up to the LVN, and it turned out that she had a UTI.  The CNA is the eyes and ears of the patient. They also have more time to spend with the patient than the rest of the staff. THEY ARE VITAL.  

I also agree with Theala. The LVN is more that a glorified CNA.  They are unable to do IV starts or hang blood, but the rest of the job is pretty much the same as the RN.  

Everyone had their place in healthcare, they are all vital to the care and well being of the patient.   All are needed to become a well-oiled team for the patient. Don't dismiss anyones job, they are all needed.

I am finishing my LVN program the end of August, and I am continuing on to become an RN, because that is were I feel the calling.  We are all called to help in our own way.