RN Salary, LPNRN salary

Nurses are one of the most in-demand practitioners in the USA. Because of the economic crisis, there has been a freeze hire on expat nurses, giving American nursing graduates all the career-making opportunities they need.

There are several kinds of nurses. The most common are registered nurses (RN). The next on the list are licensed practical nurses (LPN) who are also called vocational nurses. So what are the differences between the two?

Length of Education – it takes 4 years to earn a RN degree while it could only take 1-2 years to earn an LPN degree

Responsibilities – there are certain things that RNs can do that LPNs can’t like work independently, administer certain kinds of medication, and care for critical conditioned patients

Pay – the amount differs in every part of the country, but on average, LPNs can make up to $45,000 a year while an RN can earn roughly $70,000 a year.

LPN vs. RN Salary

The biggest cities have obviously the most number of nursing job openings. They also pay the highest since they have the most patients and so require more time and effort from the staff. For example, in New York, LPNs earn on average $17/hour while RNs earn $28/hour compared to other states where LPNs earn $16/hour and below and RNs earn $25/hour and below. Fresh graduates may have lower income but it all depends on the state and the institution. Some can go as high as $19/hour. Some very shorthanded ones offer greater bonuses. However, one should be cautious in applying for these for they may be scams.

If wondering which educational path to choose, both have their pros and cons. Going for LPN will fast track one into a nursing career, but the pay is not that good. A way to go about this is to start getting an RN degree while working as an LPN. This can slash off a year of the original 4 years it takes to be an RN. Many people do this because of financial reasons. But if one has the resources to instantly go for an RN, then do so. The pay is better, but both are equally needed.