When choosing a career, having all the essential information about what that job entails is crucial. Once students have finished high school, the nursing path is an excellent option for many reasons. One of the biggest questions when they are ready to take this big step into the nursing world, one of the biggest questions is what type of license they should pursue.
Both LPN and CNA are popular healthcare careers. Because certified nursing assistants (CNAs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) require less time to achieve the education and licensure needed to start working, these are often two of the options people look at first.
While doing so, it is essential to remember that all CNAs and nurses share their selflessness and empathy for patients. They are, in general, human beings concerned about the welfare of others, and their profession is noble and selfless.
What's the Difference Between an LPN and a CNA?
In short, a CNA has closer responsibilities to the patient and their environment, like helping with eating or bathing, and cannot perform some of the duties that an LPN can and should perform; for example, updating a patient's medical records or administering medications.
What Does a CNA Do?
A certified nursing assistant, also called a CNA, must:
- Reposition patients to avoid bruising or help them mobilize on their own when possible. They must also transfer them from one side of the facility to the other, assist them in general mobility, change their stretcher, etc.
- Respond to patient calls
- Assist with basic patient needs, such as bathing, dressing, toileting, eating, and drinking
- Monitor the patient's vital signs
- Respond to other nursing and medical staff
CNAs often respond to registered nurses (RNs) or LPNs (also called LVNs or licensed vocational nurses in some states).
Overall, some of the most required qualities to be a CNA are:
- Communication skills with patients, physicians, nurses, and patient's families
- Knowledge of medical terminology, at least the most basic terminology
- Flexibility to work longer shifts than average or night shifts, which are very typical of CNA work
- Patience, empathy, and ability to react well in stressful situations
Where do CNAs Work?
- Hospitals
- Colleges, universities, schools
- Outpatient centers
- Patient's homes in home care settings
- Nursing homes for the elderly
The average CNA salary in a year is $30,310. One of the best ways CNAs can earn higher than average salaries is to pick up PRN jobs or local travel CNA jobs. These are temporary but pay higher than average CNA staff jobs.
CNA jobs are easy to find, given that the overall shortage of nurses and healthcare staff is becoming more common, and the job rate for CNAs is rising. The US Bureau of Labor and Statistics' projection is 8% to 10% over the next ten years.
What Does an LPN Do?
LPNs (called LVNs in California and Texas) perform similar duties to CNAs, except that some are more advanced or require more training. These include:
- Recording patient histories and performing clerical or registration tasks
- Helping the patient and assisting with daily activities, although CNAs generally perform the more detailed care tasks
- Changing dressings, dressing wounds
- Checking vital signs and verifying the correct recording of vital signs
- Inserting catheters and IV treatments in patients
- Communicating significant changes to RNs and registered nurses (RNs)
Qualities To be an LPN include:
- Ability to handle basic medical procedures, such as caring for wounds, changing dressings, assisting in check-ups, knowing medical terminology, etc.
- Attention to detail and ability to manage during emergencies
- Ability to provide clear and effective communication to patients and their families
- Empathy, calmness, and confidence in your abilities
- High energy levels
The average LPN salary in a year is $48,070. Undoubtedly, this salary has many ways to be supplemented through the PRN jobs offered by the Nursa app, an on-demand nurse staffing app, which provides the possibility to connect nurses directly with hospitals, and allows, in addition, to search by the region in which nurses want to work. Creating an account on Nursa is very simple, and once the license is verified, LPNs and CNAs can start working without further ado.
Regardless of their path, CNAs and LPNs can continue to advance in the profession to earn more, gain more experience and knowledge, help more people, or for pleasure. The important thing is that all of these career paths help provide safe and effective patient care. If you need more CNAs or LPNs to fill PRN jobs in a healthcare facility, you should check out Nursa today. Want more information? Learn the differences between CMA vs CNA.
