LVN stands for Licensed Vocational Nurse while RN stands for Registered Nurse. One of the most basic differences is that the LVN will have a less formal program as compared to the program that will be done by the nurse.
There are some medical duties that the LVN will be required to do, but they will not be as extensive as the medical duties that will be given to the RN. AN LVN would be required to take a course that will take about a year to complete. The RN would need to take a 4-year course and will also need to take a licensure exam in order to start practicing as a nurse.