Patient care is a top priority throughout the healthcare community, and over 12,000 healthcare professionals took a stand for passion for patients and the nursing profession. On June 10, 2010, Minnesota nurses with the National Nurses Union walked off the job for a one-day strike to protest patient issues, staffing concerns and better pay.

 

Although Minnesota Nurses Association and 14 local hospitals have yet to agree on the union’s protests at the time this article was written, the following video shows the dedication, compassion and concern these “patient advocates,” as one nurse calls them, have for their patients.

 

Many of these patient advocates are asking hospitals to maintain a better nurse-to-patient ratio. For example, nurses request 1 Registered Nurse to 4 patients in medical and surgical units, and 1 RN to 2 patients in critical-care units. These healthcare professionals are also saying that higher mortality rates could be linked to poor staffing, because nurses are unable to give proper attention to patients and are being pulled in several directions at once.

 

Opinions about patient care issues resonated throughout the healthcare community. A June 3rd Rue Education Facebook discussion asked followers their thoughts on patient/safety issues.  Followers felt long hours with inadequate breaks, high nurse-to-patient ratio, and being called in multiple directions at once were among the top concerns that could affect patient safety.

 

With reform beginning to reshape the healthcare community, it will be interesting to see how the acts of LPNs/LVNs, Paramedics, Respiratory Therapists and other healthcare professionals will contribute to the future of healthcare.

Whether a person is in a doctor’s office, a hospital, a clinic or another type of healthcare facility, the first point of medical contact is usually with a healthcare professional, particularly a nurse.  And although these nurses have the overall goal of providing the best patient care, every nurse is not the same. Their educational levels, responsibilities and functions, salary differences and career path aspirations may vary.

 

The roles of licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and registered nurses (RNs) have significant differences. It’s important for nursing students to understand these differences because it can help them better assess their current educational goals and their future healthcare career path.

 

EDUCATIONAL DIFFERENCES

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN RESPONSBILITIES/FUNCTIONS 

CAREER PATH DIFFERENCES

 

Along with these differences, the US Bureau of Labor Board Statistics reports that an RN’s annual salary ranges from $59,600 to $77,200. An LPN’s salary generally falls between $25,400 and $47,400. Both RNs and LPNs may receive benefit packages, such as a 401k plan, paid vacation and sick time, tuition reimbursement and disability insurance. Benefit packages offered by employers can vary, so it’s important LPNs and RNs check with their human resources department to find out more about the benefits that are available to them as employees.

 

If you’re ready to take the next step in becoming an RN, Rue Education provides a comprehensive LPN/LVN to RN program. Programs are also available for Paramedics and Respiratory Therapists looking to advance to RN.

 

Contact a Rue Educational Consultant for more details at 1-866-499-5083 or fill out a contact form.