When you think about becoming a nurse, do you think about what type of nurse you might become? Do you want to become a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) or a registered nurse (RN)? One of the biggest differences that you will want to know is how much each position pays if each will be attending to the general duties of being a nurse. Here are their two salaries.

Licensed Vocational Nurse Average Salary

Whenever you talk about salary you have to recall that your actual salary will be decided by where you live, the size and type of medical setting that you work in, and many other factors. That being said, it is easier to look at the average pay range so that you know the continuum along which your pay is likely to fall.

The more time you spend in this career the more likely your actual pay will move toward the higher end of this spectrum. A Licensed Vocational Nurse tends to make between about $16 and $22 an hour which comes out to about $35,000 to $49,000 each year. As you will soon see, this is less than registered nurses make but there are many reasons for this. And being an LVN does not have to be the end of your educational journey.

Registered Nurse Average Salary

A Registered Nurse tends to make between $22 and $31 an hour which comes out to about $46,900 to $67,500 each year. Suffice it to say, registered nurses make more money than licensed vocational nurses do. This may make you wonder why anyone pursuing a degree in nursing would stop at an LVN when they could obtain their RN and make more.

Perhaps you need to start making money now or you wish to begin helping people instead of pursuing more schooling or you wish to gain experience in the field. There are many reasons why individuals pursuing nursing as a career path stop at an LVN degree but you should realize that the stop does not have to be permanent. Programs that take you from your LVN degree to an RN degree are becoming increasingly popular and allow you to put your first degree to work while you set out to obtain the second one to increase your earning power.

An RN makes more than an LVN but and LVN can always work toward becoming an RN. Or you could just enjoy a career as an LVN. You help people either way.

Best Online LVN to RN College Programs

For the licensed vocational nurse looking to earn a higher salary and undertake more responsibility, becoming a registered nurse is usually the preferred path. Nowadays, it is possible to make this career transition by completing an online LVN to RN degree program. Below are several such programs from accredited online colleges.

LVN to RN Degree Programs

LVN to RN

Indiana State University — Indiana State is the only online LPN to RN/BSN training program in the country. Applicants must already be licensed LPNs or LVNs to apply. After completing their general education and elective college credits, students will complete 43 hours of upper-division nursing courses online with Indiana State University. Clinical hours can be completed locally, and there is no waiting list. Read in-depth review of Indiana State University.

LVN/LPN to RN LVN/LPN to BSN LVN/LPN to ADN

The College Network — With the various online universities listed within the College Network, you can earn your LVN to RN degree completely online with no campus attendance. These NLNAC-accredited associate's degree programs can be earned in half the time and cost of traditional campus-based college degree programs.

Other Online Nursing Degree Programs

RN to BSN RN to MSN MSN - Nurse Admin MSN - Nurse Education	Kaplan University — The Nursing Program at Kaplan University features programs that are designed to meet individual goals and the online courses afford flexibility in managing one's educational goals. Students seeking both a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Science in Nursing have the option to a condensed format, allowing them to complete both degrees in less time and for less tuition that obtaining each degree separately.
RN to BSN RN to MSN PhD in Nursing	University of Phoenix — The University of Phoenix features numerous nursing degree options, including a bachelors, masters, and doctoral program. Students continue to return to the University year after year for its convenient course options that are taught by dedicated faculty. Graduates are successful in a variety of healthcare positions, from small clinics to large hospitals.
RN to BSN RN to MSN MSN - Nurse Education MSN - Nurse Informatics MSN - Nurse Mgmt	Walden University — At the Walden University Nursing College, students can achieve degrees at both the bachelor's and master's levels. The curriculum was developed by nursing experts and focuses on evidence-based medicine. Graduates achieve success throughout the healthcare industry.
RN to BSN MSN - Nurse Education MSN - Nurse Mgmt	Herzing University — Offering programs at the associates, bachelors, and masters level, the Herzing University School of Nursing focuses on clinical experience with a curriculum across these programs focus on mental health, pediatric, and obstetric nursing. Herzing offers an RN to BSN degree, as well as MSN degrees. Online MSN degrees are offered in the specializations of nurse education and nurse management.
RN to BSN	Liberty University — Liberty University is a Christian-affiliated college that offers a BS in nursing online. Students often go on to graduate nursing programs and become clinical nurse specialists, nurse practitioners and nursing faculty. Some required science courses cannot be taken online and the units must be taken at the Liberty campus or transferred from another college.
RN to BSN RN to MSN	South University — South University offers a BS and an MS in Nursing. The BSN prepares graduates to work in every healthcare setting, from hospitals to school health clinics, and teaches a wide variety of healthcare concepts, including gerontological nursing and alternative nursing methods. The MS in Nursing prepares students for more advanced positions and for clinical teaching and research.
RN to BSN	Grand Canyon University — Grand Canyon University offers ten nursing degrees in different areas of healthcare, all of them online, and starting with a BS in Nursing, Pre-Licensure. Online Masters degrees are available with specializations in education, leadership in health care systems, clinical nursing, and working as a family nurse practitioner among others.
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