When considering LVN vs. RNcareer paths, prospective nurses often start by comparing the education and responsibilities of each. LVNs, known as licensed practical nurses (LPNs) in many states and licensed vocational nurses in others, such as California, provide essential bedside care and support under the supervision of registered nurses and physicians.
RNs, on the other hand, complete more advanced training, typically through an associate or bachelor’s degree, and assume broader clinical and leadership duties.
Should you decide that becoming an RN is right for you, you can earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) fast by leveraging a non-nursing bachelor’s degree or college credits. Designed for non-traditional students, Concordia University Irvine’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program makes it possible to earn a BSN in as few as 15 months.
Choosing between these paths depends on your career goals, timeline, and desired level of responsibility. Understanding the distinctions between these roles can help you determine which nursing pathway aligns best with your professional aspirations.
What’s the Difference Between an RN and an LVN?
Registered nurses have a broader scope of practice than vocational nurses. Both are licensed, but LVNs provide basic care and support with ADLs, whereas RNs administer medications, educate patients, and perform diagnostic tests. RNs also apply casts, assist surgeons, and serve on trauma care teams.
RNs practice with greater autonomy, making independent decisions and nursing diagnoses, whereas LVNs provide care under supervision.
Roles and Responsibilities in Vocational Nursing
What is a vocational nurse’s role within the nursing field? In vocational nursing, LVNs focus on basic patient care. They monitor vital signs, change dressings, and document care to maintain accurate health records. LVNs relay patient concerns to RNs or physicians and help with activities of daily living (ADLs), including bathing, dressing, eating, and mobility.
Take a closer look at the different levels of nursing as you plan your career.
RN vs. LVN: Which Nursing Path Is Right for You?
To determine whether vocational nursing or an RN path aligns with your goals, consider the factors below:
Specialization Opportunities
LVNs can focus on specific populations, such as older adults in nursing homes or patients in family care practices, but their specialization options are limited compared with RNs.
RNs enjoy far more specialization opportunities, including roles in:
- Emergency rooms
- Family care
- Intensive care units (ICUs)
- Post-anesthesia care units (PACUs)
- Obstetrics
- Oncology
- Orthopedics
Comparing Work Settings
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), most LVNs work in nursing homes and other residential care facilities. Some work in hospitals, physicians’ offices, or for home healthcare agencies, traveling to patients’ homes to provide basic care.
Most RNs work in hospitals or ambulatory care settings, according to the BLS, but there are plenty of nontraditional settings for RNs. These include insurance companies, law firms, summer camps, research facilities, and corporate offices.
Evaluating Potential for Career Growth
Vocational nursing offers limited career growth. Some LVNs become case managers or patient advocates, while others advance by earning an RN license.
RNs have significant opportunities for advancement, especially with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). This degree lays the groundwork for graduate study, such as a Master of Science in Nursing or a Doctor of Nursing Practice. RNs can also pursue certifications in specialized areas.
With advanced credentials, RNs can become advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), such as nurse practitioners (NPs) or certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs). APRNs practice with greater autonomy and, in many states, can open independent practices and serve as primary care providers.
Other advancement options include nursing management, administration, education, and research.
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Comparing Job Outlook and Salary Expectations
Whether you’re weighing an LVN vs. RN path or considering upgrading from LVN to RN, it’s helpful to review job outlook and salary expectations.
According to the BLS, LPNs and LVNs have a projected job growth rate of 3% from 2024 through 2034. Conversely, the BLS projects the RN job growth rate to be 5% during the same period.
Salary differences are also notable: the BLS reports that, as of May 2024, RNs earned a median annual salary of $93,600, while LPNs and LVNs earned $62,340.
These statistics suggest that aspiring nurses seeking higher salaries, stability, and advancement should consider becoming RNs rather than LVNs.
Can You Switch From LVN to RN?
You can indeed make the switch from vocational nurse to registered nurse. In fact, your prior healthcare experience can pave the way for a more seamless transition. If you have at least 65 college credits or a non-nursing bachelor’s degree, you may be eligible for Concordia University Irvine’s ABSN program. Our ABSN pathway enables you to leverage your prior education and earn a BSN in as few as 15 months.
You’ll gain immersive, hands-on experience in our high-tech nursing labs and during clinical rotations with our clinical partners. You’ll graduate ready to take the NCLEX-RN and become a registered nurse much more quickly than with a traditional four-year BSN program.
Equipped with an RN license, you can pursue work opportunities in dozens of nursing specialties. After gaining some clinical experience as a registered nurse, you’ll then be able to further your education at the graduate level if you wish, thanks to your BSN.
Find Your Ideal Career in Nursing at Concordia University Irvine
You can learn to become a caring, compassionate, and competent RN at Concordia University Irvine. Our Department of Nursing offers a values-based nursing curriculum that empowers our graduates to provide holistic nursing care that meets their patients’ cultural, spiritual, and bio-psychosocial needs.
Concordia University Irvine’s ABSN program provides a faster transition for LVNs with at least 65 college credits who are interested in switching from vocational nursing to RN practice. Choose from online or in-person classwork with our hybrid program in Rancho Cucamonga, California, or our campus-based program in Irvine, California.
Contact our specialized admissions counselors today and take the first step.