| Imagine you are a patient in a hospital. People are | | | | majority of medications. The RN does most of |
| coming and going all day long. You can see them | | | | the care that involves an intravenous (IV) line |
| through the open door to your room. Many of | | | | including the medications that are put into it, such |
| them come in to see you or your neighbor on the | | | | as antibiotics, electrolytes, steroids, etc. He or she |
| other side of the curtain. So who are they | | | | also does advanced care with central lines that |
| besides your doctor? Some people come in and | | | | are inserted under the skin and go directly to the |
| say, "Hello, I'm your nurse today." But do you | | | | heart |
| know that are different levels of nurses working | | | | Some of the LVN courses that a person would |
| in the hospital? | | | | take are similar to what the RN takes but more |
| There are registered nurses, the RN. These are | | | | abbreviated. An LVN may take 22 weeks of |
| men and women who have gone through a 2, 3, | | | | pharmacology versus an RN student taking a |
| or 4 year programs. They have an associated | | | | semester or year of it. Courses would include: A |
| degree or a baccalaureate degree. There are | | | | Fundamental Nursing class which would explain a |
| licensed vocational nurses, LVN or some states | | | | little history of nursing, basic care, theories that |
| called them LPNs, licensed practical nurses. They | | | | the practice is built on and basic concepts about |
| have a license to practice as a nurse at this level. | | | | the body. Built on the knowledge from that class, |
| Their programs are anywhere from 12 to 18 | | | | students will take a medical/surgical class where |
| months long. There are nursing assistants, NA. | | | | they will learn all about the pathophysiology of |
| They have training that may be 3 months to 6 | | | | certain diseases and disorders. Once a student has |
| months. | | | | this information, the next few classes that they |
| All three groups can say that they are the nurse. | | | | take would include: Obstetrics/Maternity, Pediatrics |
| The difference is what they can do. Each state | | | | and Psychiatric nursing. It is much easier to |
| has a nurse practice act that defines what they | | | | understand these courses once a person has an |
| can and can not do in practice. The RN can do the | | | | understanding of medical/surgical care. |
| most types of interventions and administer the | | | | |