There are many different professions in the medical field, for example, doctors of various specialties and even nurses may differ. As for nurses, they may have different directions, but one of the most frequent is a registered nurse and a registered practical nurse. These areas have similarities and differences and are aimed at working with diverse types of patients. Undoubtedly, they have their own specific responsibilities, powers, and critical skills necessary for each of the specialties.
One of the main similarities is that a registered nurse and a registered practical nurse are required to provide patient care. That is, in general, the services provided by both types of nurses are similar and consist in making the patient’s stay in a medical institution comfortable and reducing negative emotions (Kelly & Quesnelle, 2016). In addition, both of these types should receive primary nursing education, which they will further improve or leave as it is (Whitmore et al., 2019). Despite some similarities, it is the differences that demonstrate the main characteristics of each type of nurses.
Registered nurses study the curriculum for extended periods to gain more profound and comprehensive basic knowledge. The education that registered practical nurses receive will be more narrowly focused, and they will mainly be entrusted with caring for patients who are in stable condition and do not have complex needs (College of Nurses of Ontario, 2018). That is, registered nurses will provide the necessary care to patients in severe conditions, for example, those in emergency therapy tents. As future studies, it is necessary to consider other types of nursing specialties and their similarities and differences among themselves.
References
College of Nurses of Ontario. (2018). Toronto, ON: Author.
Kelly, P., & Quesnelle, H. (2016). Nursing leadership and management (3rd Canadian ed.). Nelson Education.
Whitmore, C., Baxter, P., Kaasalainen, S., & Ploeg, J. (2019). The similarities and differences in transition to practice experiences for new-graduate RNs and practical nurses in long-term care. The Journal of Nursing Administration, 49(12), 586-590. Web.