Any other new RN grads being told to apply for LPN or NA positions?

Nurses General Nursing

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Just curious - a lot of places out here (in Hawaii) are suggesting new grads apply for LPN or NA positions. Has that occurred anywhere else out there? Just wondering how kosher it is to do that. I know there are a lot of RNs currently out there working as aides because they were already aides while going to school and just haven't been able to get hired as an RN.

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Specializes in MICU/SICU/CVICU.

If you are an RN I don't understand how you can work as an LPN. You don't hold an LPN license; you hold an RN license. Could it be they're asking you to take a position normally held by an LPN and get paid at that rate, as opposed to RN scale? Sounds confusing.

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Specializes in Critical Care,Recovery, ED.

Wouldn't do it under any circumstances. And I counsel everyone else not to do it either.

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Specializes in OR, peds, PALS, ICU, camp, school.

Back in the day when I was a new RN and worked in peds, they used to want to float me to work as an aide on med-surg when our pedi census was low. Made me nervous as once I was reporting a pt's s/s to his primary nurse who was blowing me off. It was very clear to me as a fellow educated RN that this pt needed attention. Who's license was on the line there? Just hers? I doubt it, no matter what I was told! I was an RN and I was in that room. I'm legally responsible to act as a "reasonably prudent RN" Do you want a job where acting as a reasonably prudent RN means stepping on toes (and heads as you're going over them)?

An "LPN" position- where they are budgeted to hire an LPN, for instance an LTC med nurse or tx nurse, but choose to hire an RN who will work for an LPN salary, call the nurse an RN, and give them RN authority, may be a different story. It was done a lot in the early 90s when I was an aide.

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I wouldn't take a position at a lower scope of practice. My understanding is that the BON would hold you to the same responsibility level as an RN.......

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Maybe they mean u can work as an rn with lpn pay? Is thay legal for employers to hire you as an lpn with an rn license? Employers are trying to get more for less. I posted something similiar and some replied that if you work as an can or pca u would still be held to the higher rn standard. That means u would still have to make decisions about what a resonable nurse would do

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Back in the day when I was a new RN and worked in peds, they used to want to float me to work as an aide on med-surg when our pedi census was low. Made me nervous as once I was reporting a pt's s/s to his primary nurse who was blowing me off. It was very clear to me as a fellow educated RN that this pt needed attention. Who's license was on the line there? Just hers? I doubt it, no matter what I was told! I was an RN and I was in that room. I'm legally responsible to act as a "reasonably prudent RN" Do you want a job where acting as a reasonably prudent RN means stepping on toes (and heads as you're going over them)?

An "LPN" position- where they are budgeted to hire an LPN, for instance an LTC med nurse or tx nurse, but choose to hire an RN who will work for an LPN salary, call the nurse an RN, and give them RN authority, may be a different story. It was done a lot in the early 90s when I was an aide.

This is exactly the scenario I think about when I hear about new grad RNs working below their scope of practice. I just dont think that "but I was working as a CNA, not the RN".. will hold up as a valid excuse in a court of law. Because No, you may have been working as a CNA but you ARE an RN. I just think the whole idea is a little messy. And quite frankly, I could be SO wrong, but I thought it was illegal to work below your scope of practice. Am I wrong? *** I do know that people do do it though, I just thought it wasnt allowed by the brn

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Wow - thanks for the feedback. This has been bothering me for awhile. I need to double check w/our BON. I'm just surprised so many employers are telling new grads especially to just take an aide job and then "hopefully" you can move into an RN job. It could be they just want to pay you LPN pay vs RN pay on some, too. I figured I was on the right track in feeling uncomfortable about it.

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Specializes in ER.

This is happening here in Georgia as well. There is a huge backlog of techs who are actually RNs waiting for positions to open up in certain hospitals. As students, we have been advised against this practice by our faculty due to the issues mentioned on here.

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I would look at the motives for anyone giving this advice. If it is employers, they are most likely trying to pass the buck and are not really placing the job seeker's well being foremost. No employer who has denied me employment has ever given me any good advice or hints to obtain employment elsewhere. I can't see the benefit in this. Instead of telling me to occupy myself as a CNA, I would much rather prefer for them to tell me when they anticipate having RN positions available. JMO

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i wouldn't give up on RN yet. keep trying :)

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I wouldn't take a position at a lower scope of practice. My understanding is that the BON would hold you to the same responsibility level as an RN.......

Yeah to this.....In Missouri, once you become a RN, you are an RN.....I applied for NA jobs and was turned down flat because of the RN license.....as one recruiter put it, "RN job or no RN job, you hold the same responsibilities level as a RN."

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