The key differences between a registered nurse (RN), licensed practical nurse (LPN) and certified nursing assistant (CNA) can be reflected in education, training,
certification/licenses, duties and pay. If you are not certain about which health care career in nursing you want to go with, a great way to start is as a certified nursing assistant.
A terrific way to get a feel of the nursing field is to step into the field as a certified nursing assistant. There is a minimal amount of course work and no degree needed in order to become certified and begin working.
Educational Differences
To become a certified nursing assistant, you only need a high school diploma or general equivalent diploma (GED) and a two to six week course of training for certification. The time required for certification can vary from state to state. The coursework is available through trade schools or community colleges, on the job training or even online.
A licensed practical nurse needs a high school diploma and a one year approved training program that includes courses in clinical practice and theory. Courses are typically available through trade schools, community colleges or junior colleges.
Registered nurses need the most coursework of the three. You must have a high school diploma or general equivalent diploma (GED). You need an associate’s degree, a bachelor’s of science degree in nursing or a nursing diploma. The entire educational process can take anywhere from two to five years to complete.
Variation In Duties
A certified nursing assistant generally will provide the daily care needs of patients. These include bathing, feeding, dressing the patient, taking vital signs as well as making beds and changing bed pans. CNAs work under the supervision of the nursing staff that includes LPNs and RNs.
An LPN may also perform some tasks similar to a CNA but typically they have more responsibilities and duties. They are usually responsible for handling the vital signs of the patient, administration of medications and injections, monitoring catheters and dressing wounds. LPNs are under the supervision of physicians and RNs.
RNs will perform some of the duties of an LPN. However, for the most part they maintain a patient’s medical chart, work alongside the physician on the patient’s plan of treatment and implementation of that plan. RNs have the knowledge to perform as well as analyze diagnostic tests and operate hospital equipment. They are usually responsible for education of the patient and their families about the patient’s illness and managing it. The roles of RNs today are usually in a supervisory role and more and more they are spending less and less time with the patient in a one on one capacity.
CNAs are paid very little compared to LPNs and RNs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, they earn an average hourly wage of $11.50 as of May of 2008. Of course, your hourly rate will vary by location, experience and employer.
PayScale has released surveys that reflect the salary for a LPN is $39,000 to $53,000 annually while an RN will earn $50,000 to $72,000 per year.
All of these healthcare careers, including the certified nursing assistant require a caring and compassionate attitude toward patients. Work hours for all are 24 hours per day and 7 days per week, including holidays. At all levels, great communication skills are a requirement for patient care to run smoothly.
A certified nursing assistant is a great way to determine if a healthcare career in the nursing field is something that you would like to invest in without investing a lot of time and money. It’s a wonderful way to get your foot in the door and see how everything works from the bottom up.