The Government approves and/or authorizes RNs and RPNs who wish to practice medicine as nurses. RN is a Registered Nurse, whereby completion of a nursing degree from a reputed varsity/college is required.
While for Registered Practical Nurses (RPN), a diploma of 1-2 years of nurse training is eligible before entering into examinations.
Key Takeaways
- Registered Nurses (RNs) complete higher education and training than Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs).
- RNs can provide comprehensive nursing care, including advanced assessments and interventions, while RPNs work within a more limited scope of practice.
- RNs typically work in acute care settings, while RPNs are more common in long-term care, rehabilitation, and community health settings.
RN vs RPN
RNs (Registered Nurses) have a wider scope of practice and can perform more advanced assessments and procedures. RPNs (Registered Practical Nurses) provide more basic care and work under the supervision of an RN or physician.
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The RN is an acronym for Registered Nurse. The role is for nurses who have graduated with a nursing course from a reputed university and are met the eligibility criteria imposed by the government of a country.
The essential qualifications of an RN include an accredited degree, National Council Licensure Examination clearance, and state licensure.
The word RPN is an acronym for Registered Practical Nurse.
It is also known as Licensed Practical Nurse.
They are would-be nurses, who require one or two more years of training in the nursing program, typically referred to as a diploma, to qualify themselves one step ahead of RPN, a position of a qualified and Licensed Practical Nurse.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | RN | RPN |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | RN is a four-year completed nursing program graduate from a recognized university/college. | RPN is a nurse, who has to complete a diploma program for 1-2 years. |
| Regulation & scope | RN regulated by the State Board of Nursing, where the scope varies from one country to another. | RPN is governed under the Nursing Act 1991, with a wide range of scope in the medical fields. |
| Eligibility criteria | Bachelor of nursing degree; accredited degree; National Council Licensure Examination clearance; State licensure. | 1-2 years of Diploma; Clearance of NCLEX-PN examination |
| Qualities | RN is essentially to treat patients who have complex health issues and are experienced in laboratory work. | LPN/RPN provides elementary treatments such as bathing, feeding, monitoring. Plus, look after long-term illness people. |
| Acronym | RN is known as a Registered Nurse. | RPN is known as Registered Practical Nurse, also called as LPN- Licensed Practical Nurse |
What is RN?
The RN is the role for nurses who have graduated with a nursing course from a reputed university and are met with the eligibility criteria imposed by the government of a country to obtain a proper nursing license.
Moreover, the requirements for RN include an accredited degree, National Council Licensure Examination clearance, and state licensure.
Besides, the RN’s scope of practice is regulated by the legislation of the country, professional body, or council.
The program for nursing has been in progress since the early twentieth century, where in New Zealand, the Nurses Registration Act was passed on the 12th of September 1901.
Subsequently, every nurse or pursuing nurse should go through three years of training in a reputed university or college, alongside passing a qualification exam, to qualify and become themselves as registered nurse.
Following this, every country has decided to impose such a requirement for nurses in a way to know whether the person is fit to be in that profession or not. The main role of the RN is to ensure that every patient receives enough treatment and care.
Their usual routine includes assessing and identifying patients’ needs, implementing, and monitoring the patient’s medical plan and treatment, plus other supervising and lab work.
What is RPN?
On the other hand, RPN is also known as a Licensed Practical Nurse who takes care of patients suffering from long-term illness and other elementary treatments.
Furthermore, would-be nurses require one or two more years of training in the nursing program, typically referred to as a diploma, to qualify themselves one step ahead of RPN, a position of a qualified and Licensed Practical Nurse.
The course will include theoretical and clinical instruction in psychiatric and general nursing. Because of only one to two years of training, RPNs are often met with less complex needs and low-pressure situations than any other nurse post.
However, they also need to clear the NCLEX-PN exam to become a proper and licensed nurse in the medical field.
Speaking of their responsibilities and duties, the primary goals of RPN encompass taking care and participating in the improvement, implementation, monitoring, and examination of services for individuals, families, or communities.
RPNs usually work in schools, hospitals, clinics, and communities to provide safe care and general treatment to people of all ages.
Overall, they are mostly assigned to provide basic bedside care, such as assisting patients with daily activities from waking them up to feeding, bathing, dressing, and putting them to sleep peacefully.
Main Differences Between RN and RPN
- RN is called a Registered Nurse, whereas RPN expansion is Registered Practical Nurse, also called Licensed Practical Nurse(LPN).
- RN is a nurse who has completed the nursing course from a recognized college or university and cleared all required government examinations to possess the title of Nurse. On the other hand, RPN does not require nursing degree certificates but should get 1-2 years of diploma with nursing training.
- RN is regulated by the State Board of Nursing-either a professional body or a council, where the scope for an RN is limited as it differs from the country. Notwithstanding, good medical training bestows wide scope for RPN under the governing act of Nursing 1991.
- To become an RN, one person should hold- a bachelor’s degree in nursing from a recognized college/university, an Accredited degree, National Council Licensure Examination clearance, and State licensure. On the contrary, an RPN needs 1-2 years of Diploma for nursing and Clearance of NCLEX-PN examination.
- RN demands high knowledge of medical practice as they treat patients with complex illnesses. Despite that, RPN requires basic knowledge of nursing when they treat elementary medical practice on patients like bathing, monitory, dressing, and many more. Besides, RPN takes care of long-term illness patients.
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S8755722311001955
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0260691717300138
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Sandeep Bhandari holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computers from Thapar University (2006). He has 20 years of experience in the technology field. He has a keen interest in various technical fields, including database systems, computer networks, and programming. You can read more about him on his bio page.
