What is the difference between an RPN and an RN?
An RN (Registered Nurse) and RPN (Registered Practical Nurse) are two separate nursing credentials regulated by the College of Nurses of Ontario, differing in education length, licensing requirements, and clinical scope.
In Ontario, the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) regulates both Registered Nurses (RNs) and Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) as distinct professions. Both are licensed nurses, but they have different educational pathways, regulatory requirements, and scopes of practice.
An RN completes a four-year bachelor's degree in nursing and passes the NCLEX-RN licensing exam. RNs are educated to assess complex health situations, diagnose nursing problems, design and implement comprehensive care plans, and evaluate outcomes. In long-term care and retirement homes, RNs typically work in leadership roles such as charge nurses or supervisors, manage complex clinical cases, coordinate interdisciplinary teams, and handle medication administration and wound care.
An RPN completes a two-year practical nursing diploma and passes the NCLEX-PN licensing exam. RPNs are trained to provide direct patient care under the direction of physicians or RNs. In aged care settings, RPNs perform hands-on activities of daily living support, assist with personal hygiene, monitor vital signs, administer medications under supervision, and report changes in resident condition. RPNs often form the front-line care team in long-term care homes.
Both roles are essential in aged care facilities across London, Ontario. RNs and RPNs work collaboratively, with RPNs providing consistent resident contact and RNs overseeing clinical decision-making. Understanding this distinction helps families and residents understand which staff member holds which responsibility.