I Am thinking of becoming a CNA. I haven't worked as an LPN in several years and my license lapsed 2 years ago. I want to return to nursing. I have looked into refresher courses, but my husband was laid off and so we can't afford it at this time. I'm wondering if anyone has done this (worked as CNA after LPN)? I thought it may be a good way to "get my feet wet" again so to speak and figure out if I truly want to get my license back. And we need the income. Of course it may be very awkward being a cna and working with some of the same people I worked with as an LPN. Could it also be difficult finding a job (wondering if it could be seen as a liability)? Can i be held to a license I no longer have?

It will be held against you, overtly or otherwise, by the employer. Depending upon how you carry yourself and how much you say to your coworkers, your job could become impossible. Just because you keep your mouth shut, does not mean others will, and you say that there are people who worked with you when you worked under your license. As they say, get ready to put on your armor if you decide to follow through on this, or try to work in the next town over, if possible. Or work in home health care where there is little to no interaction with other healthcare workers. Good luck.

Why not just do your required continuing ed online (your state should specify the required # of hours in each subject) and renew your license? Mine expired and went to inactive status while my husband was in the military and we travelled so I took a 5 year hiatus. All I had to do was pay $50 for unlimited online continuing ed on a website specified by my state board, and do the required hours. Took me about 2 weeks. Once I emailed the certificates of completion to the board my license showed as active online the next day. I had no problems finding a job, I had several offers. Good luck.

What state?

I would work on ensuring my LPN license was active again if I were you.

No offense, but the role of a CNA is grueling and backbreaking. I would not want to bust my butt for relatively paltry pay as a CNA when I could earn twice as much as an LPN for performing less physically demanding duties.

I completed my CEUs as Andipan suggested and my license has been reinstated. Now just hoping to find a job.