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The nursing profession has different levels. In a hospital setting, there are generally three types of nurses: the certified nursing assistant (CNA), the licensed practical nurse (LPN), and the registered nurse (RN). These nurses support one another in order to give their patients the high quality of care they need and deserve. A CNA, or a nursing aide, helps the registered nurse provide the patient with basic daily care such as exercise routine assistance, bathing, feeding, dressing, and transporting patients. An LPN/LVN takes on the duties of preparing and administering injections, applying dressings, and monitoring vital signs. Both the CNA and the LPN/LVN work under the supervision of a registered nurse. Aside from supervising the LPNs and CNAs, the registered nurse works closely with the physician to provide overall care to their patients. Their responsibilities, among many others, include the assessments of the patient needs, implementing care plans, establishing nursing interventions, evaluating laboratory results, and performing patient teachings.
Certified nursing assistants are required to complete at least 75 hours of classroom and clinical training. Compared to the training to become a registered nurse, CNA training is rather basic. It does not require general education and it offers limited information that is directed to nursing. Generally, CNA classroom training involves CPR training, first aid, patient skills, anatomy and physiology, and emergency procedures.
LPN/LVN programs are usually offered through technical or vocational schools and a certificate or diploma is issued to their graduates. Unlike the RN program, students who are training to be LPNs attend both a classroom and clinical setting only for one year. Generally, classes in LPN programs are strictly LPN-related with topics covering basic nursing skills and patient care. Classes in LPN programs usually include anatomy, physiology, pediatrics, pharmacology, and medical-surgical nursing. LPN students do not have to take non-nursing related classes such as humanities or psychology in order to graduate and to take the examination for licensure. At a clinical setting, LPNs receive hands-on training by working with real patients and learning how to administer drugs, perform first aid, monitor vital signs, and collect blood and urine.
Because registered nurses have a higher job designation and are faced with more responsibilities when compared to LPNs and CNA, their educational and clinical training are more extensive and rigorous. Training to become an RN also takes longer than the LPNs and CNAs. The admission process is also more competitive in RN schools since RN programs are offered at universities and junior colleges. Commonly, RN programs confer a Bachelor's (BSN) or Associate's (ADN) degree to their graduates. An RN program takes two to four years to complete and the curriculum includes classroom instruction in mathematics, physics, microbiology, chemistry, anatomy and physiology, biology, psychology, fundamental nursing concepts, pediatrics, medical-surgical nursing, geriatrics, mental health, ethics, and pharmacology. Supervised clinical training in different hospital departments such as maternity, pediatrics, surgery, ICU, and psychiatry are also provided. Aside from nursing courses and clinical training, coursework in liberal arts or humanities is also required from nursing students in order to graduate with an ADN or BSN.
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