text: what is the difference betewwn an nac, rn, lpn, nar? want to take nac classes, not sure what the difference is with the other nurse trades. nac is the same thing as a cna or certified nursing assistant/aide. an nar is a registered nurses aide, so basically a cna also. they assist nurses by performing patient care such as bathing, taking vital signs, changing soiled linens etc.   an rn is a registered nurse. rn's have either a bachelor of science in nursing degree or an associate degree in nursing and become licensed (registered nurse) when they pass the state licensure examniation, the nclex.  an lpn and rn are required to pass the nclex in order to practice. their duties vary from state to state and in some instances they cannot perform the same tasks as an rn can.