What is the difference between a CNA, LVN, and RN?
A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) is a health professional who works under the supervision of Registered Nurses (RN’s) and Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVN’s) to provide a wide variety of basic hands-on patient care. CNAs perform basic nursing functions such as personal care, taking vital signs, positioning patients, and ambulation. An LVN provides basic bedside nursing care to patients under the direction of a physician or registered nurse. Duties within the scope of practice an LVN typically include, but are not limited to, provision of basic hygienic and nursing care; measurement of vital signs; basic client assessment; documentation; performance of prescribed medical treatments; administration of prescribed medications; and, performance of non-medicated intravenous therapy and blood withdrawal. An RN’s duties may include everything a CNA and LVN carries out, in addition to administering an IV, assessment of patients, skin care, and process doctors orders. Furthermore, RN’s typical
