Nursing Experience

[nerdynurse7, ASN, CNA, LPN, RN]

I was a bit confused with the experience question when applying to jobs. Is it misleading to say I have nursing experience even though I just received my PN license? I say this because I have experience as a CNA for 4 years and I had clinical experience in school but never had a job as an LPN yet. What would be the correct thing to say regarding experience? HELP !

[Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN]

Yes, it is misleading. CNA experience does not count as "nursing" experience and clinical components are a mandatory part of nursing school. Just stating that you've graduated from LPN school is sufficient. If you try to pass off clinicals as job experience, you'll be quickly found out and stopped right in your tracks.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Since you do not have licensed nursing experience, it would be very misleading to say that you have nursing experience.

CNA experience and nursing school clinical rotations do not count as licensed nursing experience in the eyes of employers.

[amoLucia]

Experience is also usually expected to be ""PAID" experience. Providing nursing care for family and/or friends is NOT generally considered in the same view as paid experience.

(Altho I have seen an occ post where some nurses have applied to Medicaid (?) for reimbursement for services that were provided to family. I never pursued any further details though.)

Volunteering doesn't count either.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Moved to the LPN Corner forum for more replies.

[CNAAJ]

Yes you never want to seem as though you are being misleading when I was applying for jobs I said experience "in nursing field" and then Id specify what I actually did but in a answer where you are filling out an app and you select, I selected 0-1 years experience because clinical is nothing like real life.

[Cactus Nurse]

I wrote my resume emphasizing Clinical experiences. Just make sure you are saying your work experience is clinical which was in school and you shouldn't run into any issues.