LPN to RN wage in current LPN position

[sallyjane]

I am just curious how other facilities deal with this situation: I have worked for three and a half years as a LPN in a long term care facility, while going to school to get my RN. In the past, when an LPN got their RN, my employer automatically paid them RN wages. This was regardless of working in a RN position (because there are very few within my facility) and continuing working in a LPN position. It was awesome for the many new RN's to be able to get the pay increase until they found an RN position elsewhere. Many of these people are still there actually unable to find a RN position and still receiving RN pay while working in a LPN position. Very nice for them and I was pleased to know that I had that option and was looking forward to it when I got my RN. However, as luck would have it, last May and due to "cost efficiency", they stopped doing this for new RN's within the facility. I am the first one that this would apply to and I am really disappointed. I am wondering what the norm is for this situation and if others have experienced this? I understand my employers reasoning for having to finally put a end to this practice, but had hoped that they would look at years employed and possibly still do it for me. Has anyone else out there a situation like this?

[noctanol]

there is nothing in TX nursing practice act that I could find that says it is "illegal" to do LVN duties if you are licensed as RN. But I am not a lawyer. LVN's can do all the CNA can do, plus more. RN's can do all the LVN can do, plus more. The thing is, if you are an RN you are liable for whatever you do the same as any RN, regardless of job title. Your scope of practice does not change just because the title changes.

i guess you didnt get the picture i was trying to portray, i didnt say it was illegal, but an RN, getting paid LVN wages is still responsible and is expected to act as an RN, therefore most duties that RN's can perform, blood transfusions, PICC line/Midline removal etc would still have to be done since there is an RN, in the building, only question arrises when something happens and you are asked in court "what were you acting as, an Rn or an LVN" lawyers are tricky and thats what i was pointing at. If you replied RN, then the question would be who hired you as an RN, since your tiltle and pay is for an LVN, if you reply LVN, then why did you perform duties as an RN?? get the picture, i guess it depends on which angle you look at the situation. Overall, getting paid LVN wage while working as an RN is just outright wrong, i bet a majority of us can agree with that.

[smartnurse1982]

When an ad in the newspaper reads"rn or lpn" and an rn applies and gets the job,she would still get rn wages whether an lpn can perform the job or not.

Personally,I have not seen these lpn position and rn positions. As I I have stated,the ltc facilities around here don't. Specify an lpn or rn position. It will just say 'lpns and rns welcome to apply. I didn't know there were a set number of lpns and rns a facility could hire,only that the person getting hired has a license,and then the person gets paid depending on the license. (Even though I'm back in the northeast which is actually trying to get rid of lpns in ltc.)

[caliotter3]

Depending upon the number of beds, a facility has to have X number of RNs on duty or available by phone at any given time, so there would conceivably be an "RN" slot to be filled.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

"When an ad in the newspaper reads"rn or lpn" and an rn applies and gets the job,she would still get rn wages whether an lpn can perform the job or not."

Doubtful. In my experience, an ad that reads that way intends to pay a very low wage with little to no discernment between whether the applicant is an LPN or RN. Most often, the job description will read "MA/CNA or LPN," with the salary hovering between the highest MA/CNA pay scale and the very lowest going LPN rate.

Besides, the OP didn't answer that ad. She took an LPN position. The facility did not hire an RN, they hired an LPN.