Vocational Nurses and Practical Nurses are two categories of caregivers actively engaged in patient care activities, therefore they are both part of the healthcare workforce. They work under the supervision of registered nurses issued with licenses and doctors to offer primary medical care services, but their qualifications and duties most times tend to coincide. It has been proven that the differences exist in their roles mostly regarding the geographical acceptability of the term PN or LVN.
What is an LVN?
LVNs are nurse specialists who finish vocational nursing programs approved by the state and are licensed to provide patient care. This level of nursing is often referred to as “vocational,” particularly in areas where the term “practical” is not used. To be precise, the term LVN is used in California and Texas. In all other states, the term PN is applied, although the job description is pretty much the same.
Elderly care practice settings for LVNs include hospitals, nursing homes, long-term care, outpatient, and, at times, in the patient’s home. They offer primary medical and personal care services, for example, blood pressure readings, helping in pouring and getting up from beds, as well as giving the prescribed medicines.
What is an PN?
Practical Nurses or PNs are much the same as LVNs barring a few minor differences regarding their responsibilities in the state of practice. PNs undergo training through a practical nursing program accredited by the state where they will be involved in health activities and performing tasks similar to LVNs. PN is the term for practical nurses used in every state except for California and Texas which refer to them as LVN. PNs are also employed in other sectors of health care and they offer direct nursing care to the patients. Their activities may involve personal care, taking care of patients’ vital signs, dressing changes, and assisting patients in activities of daily living. Like LVN nurses, PN nurses carry out their practice under the guidance of registered nurses and doctors, implementing care regimes and contributing to the rehabilitation of patients.
Similarities between LVNs and PNs
There is a great deal of overlap between the purpose of PN vs LVN, and in many instances, the duties carried out are the same. LVN’s and PN’s also:
Offer fundamental nursing care: Aides and nurses assist in basic patient care, which includes taking patients’ vital signs, and bathing and dressing patients.
Give shots and medications: LVNs and PNs are allowed to give out oral prescription drugs medication in many states with supervision and this varies depending on the state’s scope of practice.
Perform medical procedures: LVNs and PNs may carry out restocking medical assists such as catheter insertion wound packing and specimen collection. They may also be permitted to perform some procedures such as IV initiation in certain states.
Document patient information: The progress of the patients is recorded by PNs and LVNs, any improvement or decline in the patient’s condition is reported to the RNs or doctors in charge, and proper records of nursing care given and treatment medication administered are kept.
Work under supervision: In most cases, the vocational nurses and practical nurses render their services under the supervision of registered nurses, physicians, or any other health care providers as they are guided on how the patients should be taken care of.
Education and licensing for PNs and LVNs
The education as well as the licensing procedure for PNs and LVNs is quite the same. Generally, LVN and PN programs run for about twelve to eighteen months and can be found in community colleges, technical schools, and vocational schools.
General educational prerequisites: Basics of LVN and PN coursework includes anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, nursing care, and legal aspects of nursing, amongst others. Instruction in the theory is accompanied by practical lab work, and most importantly the extension practice in the health care facilities where skills are put into.
Graduate nurses licensing examinations (NCLEX-PN): After finishing the appropriate LVN or PN school, the students have to take the NCLEX-PN exam. This examination is standardized for all the LVNs and PNs in the country thereby ensuring that practical or vocational nurses have the same level of competence at entry level. On the other hand, from each Board of Nursing in the State, a candidate must obtain a license if these candidates want to work as a nurse.
Differences between PNs and LVNs
Scope of practice: The practice standards are not rigid and may differ slightly from one practice state to another even for PNs who do not practice in Texas or California. Some states allow PNs to initiate intravenous (IV) infusion therapy, administer some medication orders, or provide particular nursing activities that are not performed in some other states.
Title and licensing requirements: The designation ‘LVN’ is only applicable within specific states’ laboratory or practical nursing boards namely Texas and California. Even though they undergo similar licensing procedures as PNs in other regions, LVNs are still likely to have particular requirements specific to their state of practice.
Career advancement opportunities
PN to RN Bridge programs: Such programs help LVNs and PNs to attain an Associate’s or a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (ADN or BSN) to enable them to register as Nurses (RNs) with a wider scope of practice, duties, and better pay.
Specialty certifications: Some vocational nurses and practical nurses go for certification in targeted professions such as that of a gerontological nurse, a wound care nurse, or an IV therapy nurse. The purpose of these certificates is to better their skills, widen the job market for them, and sometimes pay better.
Continuing education and training: Most of the health care centers also support continuing education which is important so that LVNs and PNs do not become obsolete in practices of nursing and health care.
Conclusion
The difference between an LVN and an PN is mostly territorial – California and Texas classify practical nurses as LVN while the rest of the United States calls the same nurses PN. Both LVNs as well as PNs provide essential services in the healthcare system where they help patients perform daily activities, troubleshoot vital signs, and carry out basic medical operations under the supervision of RNs and physicians. Having almost the same schooling, licensure, and job outlooks, LVNs and PNs occupy an important area in the healthcare system by rendering tender and physical care to patients in different places. These nurses, whether as LVNs in Texas or California or as PNs in other states, make a significant difference in the patient care outcomes and the quality of care that is offered.