RN Salary Compared To An LPN: Money Matters!

Given a choice, you will surely go for a career that pays well. If nursing is your chosen path then, maybe you are not very money-minded, but this is not to say that nursing does not pay well. You may become an RN or an LPN, but you should know that an RN salary compared to an LPN is substantially more. Before you choose your nursing career, it may do you a lot of good to know more about this difference in salary.

Due to the burgeoning demand for registered nurses and the fact that you need to have better qualifications to become one, makes it quite understandable why an RN is paid more than an LPN. But this does not mean that it is a bad idea to become an LPN. Even if the RN salary compared to an LPN is more, you can still become an LPN because:

• It is a lot easier to work as an LPN. All you need is to get a 1 year diploma in nursing and pass the licensing exam thereafter.
• Any type of healthcare establishment employs LPN’s and so, finding a job is not difficult at all.
• LPN salaries may be considered low, but surveys show that they are more respectable than what is commonly perceived. You can expect to get upwards of $30000 a year quite easily (considering that the median salaries are between 35 and 45 thousand dollars a year).
• Once you become an LPN and gather some work experience you can also go back to studies for your BSN or consider an LPN to ADN program. If you love nursing as a profession, it may not be too difficult to put in the effort required to do this.
  

But having said this, a career choice as an RN is probably more rewarding in the long term and not just because the RN salary compared to an LPN is more. Here is why you should consider going through four years of coursework in order to become an RN:

• At the outset, you start on a much higher level than an LPN. So, your growth opportunities are definitely greater, if you work hard enough.
• As far as the pay packet is concerned, you can earn enough money to sustain a family. Surveys show that you can hope to enough upwards of $50000 a year, right from the time you start work as an RN. And when you have substantial work experience, this figure can shoot up quite quickly!
• Another encouraging stat shows that RN starting salaries are also on the rise. You can expect to get about 15% more than an RN who started work one year earlier than you.
• The top 10% of all nursing jobs are occupied by RN’s and the pay is usually no less than $75000 a year.
• Even in government jobs the RN salary as compared to an LPN, is substantially more.
  

So, choose your career wisely, and not just because the RN salary as compared to an LPN, is more!

Bachelor of Science in nursing

Are you the kind of person who feels a natural urge to help people? Does the thought of taking care of the sick and suffering and helping them recover give you a good feeling? Yes? If so, then you should probably consider a career in nursing for yourself, like Bachelor of Science in nursing or other types of nursing degrees.

Seen as a challenging line of work by some, a nursing career is equally rewarding for those who choose to follow it. Moreover, with the variety of different options in nursing careers, an aspiring nurse today has much more to look forward to when choosing their ideal vocation. If you are looking for the right kind of nursing career for yourself, here is a brief look at some of the options the field of nursing has for you:

1. Registered Nurse or RN: The most common type of nurse, registered nurses make up a large chunk of healthcare jobs. Some of the responsibilities of an RN include changing bandages, providing and/or administering medicines to patients as well as giving emotional support to patients and their families. As an RN, you also have the opportunity to choose your area of specialization such as Pediatric Care, ER Care etc.

Besides the abovementioned specializations, a Registered Nurse also has the option of choosing to be a Public Health Nurse (PHN), Home Health Nurse (HHN) and Nurse Midwife among others.

2. Certified Nurse Assistant or CNA: Otherwise known as health aides or nurse’s aides, it is the job of a Certified Nurse Assistant to help patients perform daily activities such as bathing, eating or dressing. Nurse Assistants also spend a fair amount of their time interacting with and observing patients on a day-to-day basis. It is common to see CNAs working in Hospitals, Nursing Homes and Private Homes. Of course, as the job title suggests, a nurse assistant usually assists and/or works under the supervision of a registered nurse.

Overall, there are several other categories in medical nursing careers besides the one’s mentioned above.

However, what’s important to remember is that any would-be nurse has to undergo different training programs to qualify for the specific category of their choice, even though certain aspects of working may be the same between separate categories. This also means that depending on the nursing career you choose for yourself, the length of time required for training to become a professional nurse may vary.

Thus, in conclusion, if it were a career in nursing that is closest to your heart, it would pay to do your research in order to pick the right nursing category for a demanding yet immensely fulfilling career.

Depending on your goals, the main types of nursing degrees include an Associates degree in nursing, a Bachelor of Science in nursing, and also a Masters degree in nursing to consider.