Nurses are a vital part of the medical field and the nurse’s salaries can be lucrative. They nurture the patients and attend to their every need. One who is considering a job in the nursing field is considering something that offers great pay and a job market that is always in high demand. It is often said that nurses can get a job anywhere and that is true, as long as it is a good nurse. The Difference between an RN and an LPNThe real difference between an RN and an LPN is their duties. The RN has the ability to make some decisions regarding the patients’ well-being, while the LPN does not have any decision making skills. An LPN must always look to the RN or doctor for guidance. The nurse is the one who can administrator medication through the IV line; states will vary on rules as well. Especially for narcotics it must be administered by an RN. With more experience comes more pay and more responsibility.The Licensed Practical Nurse is the lowest certified nurse on the scale. The Nurses Salary of the LPN is also lower as they are considered entry level nursing. The main job description of an LPN nurse is to:
*Collect samples for testing
*Take Vital Signs
*Bath Patients
*Update Charts
*Help prepare for testing
An RN’s job description is a bit more in depth than than of an LPN. Here are some duties an RN does:
* Preform IV connection
* Administer shots
* Physiologic necessities
* Adjust medication if necessary
* Monitor vital signs
Schooling and Obtaining Degree
The nursing program is intense and not for the faint of heart. While it may be shorter than other degree programs, the chemistry, pharmacology and other concentrated courses are definitely challenging. However, the struggle is worth the pay in the end. Not only is a nursing job a great paying job, but it can also be very rewarding. Unlike other career professionals, one can obtain a nursing degree in as little as 1 year for an LPN or licensed practicing nurse and 2 years for an RN or registered nurse. Registered nurses are the highest level in nursing and the ultimate goal of most nursing students. RN’s, who wish to further their education, can take further classes to become a nurse practitioner. A nurse practitioner works under the same guidelines as other nurses, but they have the ability to write prescriptions. In some states they must work under a doctor, while in others they can practice medicine just like a doctor and have their own practice. To achieve this status a nurse must complete a graduate-level education. To do this they would need to complete a masters or doctorate in nursing. They do basically the same things that a doctor does, including ordering tests and diagnosing conditions.
Nurses Salary for the LPN
In the United States the lowest hourly rate for an LPN is in the US Territory of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Puerto Rico’s starting Nurses Salary for an LPN is $7.68 an hour, just a little bit above the minimum wage. In the states however, the hourly wage jumps significantly. Stateside the highest paid LPN state is Massachusetts at $22.80 an hour. Mississippi is actually the lowest paid hourly state for LPN’s ranging from $13.01 an hour. The national average for a Nurses Salary for an LPN is between $32,000 all up to $40,000. Overall it is not a bad salary for the small commitment of time required to obtain the certificate. Below,you can see the average annual salary for every State in the US, arranged highest to lowest.
| Alaska | $34,210.00 | Ohio | $24,100.00 |
| Nevada | $31,370.00 | Maine | $24,010.00 |
| New York | $31,230.00 | Iowa | $23,990.00 |
| Hawaii | $31,020.00 | Florida | $23,780.00 |
| Connecticut | $30,590.00 | Virginia | $23,670.00 |
| New Hampshire | $29,220.00 | Montana | $23,650.00 |
| District of Columbia | $29,190.00 | Nebraska | $23,630.00 |
| Massachusetts | $28,970.00 | Indiana | $23,550.00 |
| Maryland | $28,510.00 | Utah | $23,110.00 |
| Rhode Island | $28,120.00 | Kansas | $23,000.00 |
| Delaware | $27,940.00 | Kentucky | $22,860.00 |
| California | $27,920.00 | North Carolina | $22,680.00 |
| Washington | $27,890.00 | South Dakota | $22,600.00 |
| Colorado | $27,370.00 | Guam | $22,470.00 |
| Wyoming | $27,260.00 | Idaho | $22,390.00 |
| Virgin Islands | $26,990.00 | Tennessee | $22,290.00 |
| Pennsylvania | $26,720.00 | Texas | $22,010.00 |
| New Jersey | $26,700.00 | Missouri | $21,890.00 |
| Minnesota | $26,670.00 | Georgia | $21,650.00 |
| Oregon | $26,570.00 | South Carolina | $21,480.00 |
| Arizona | $26,040.00 | West Virginia | $21,480.00 |
| Wisconsin | $25,620.00 | Alabama | $21,180.00 |
| Michigan | $25,490.00 | Arkansas | $20,910.00 |
| Vermont | $25,100.00 | Oklahoma | $20,780.00 |
| North Dakota | $25,010.00 | Louisiana | $20,210.00 |
| New Mexico | $24,600.00 | Mississippi | $19,680.00 |
| Illinois | $24,250.00 | Puerto Rico | $18,100.00 |
Occupation: Nursing Aides, Orderlies, and Attendants (SOC code 311012)
Period: May 2010.
Source: bls.gov.
The Nurses Salary for the Registered Nurse 
Most registered nurses are now offered salary positions. While there are still some hourly positions, hospitals and other larger medical institutions will offer more benefits and salary is one of them. The RN also has a chance at salary bonuses, which is usually not offered to LPN’s. The average nurses’ salary for an RN is $40,187 – $79,804. The highest paying location in the United States is in San Jose, California. Registered nurses here make on average between $21.99 – $62.47 an hour. St. Louis, Missouri offers one of the lowest hourly rates for RN’s at a starting point of $19.50. The Nursing salary for an RN also ranges depending on where they are employed. A physician’s office is going to pay drastically lower than a large medical center. The benefit package will also be significantly different.
There are advantages and disadvantages to choosing a large medical center for employment. Here are some of the advantages:
*Paid On-going training
*Great Benefits
*Bonus
*Higher Hourly Wages/Salary
*Many positions ability for advancement
Here are some disadvantages to working in a large medical center:
*New nurses get most undesirable shifts
*Working holidays
*Chaotic schedule including weekends and all major holidays
*Long hours, can be in excess of 10 hours per day
*Takes a long time to build seniority
If one is interesting in the medical field based on nurses salary alone, they will be disappointed. While it is a great field, it will often take years of hard work to get to the highest pay ranges. Like any other job, it will require working up the corporate ladder and reaching the top. The process can be slow and there are often other nurses who have been there longer and have more experience. However, the nurses salary is fair and often very lucrative for the wonderful work that gets to be done each and every day. Be a nurse truly is a labor of love.