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

[redeyefan214]

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.

[jlcole45]

WHAT AN INSULT. You just spent all those years becoming and RN then you deserve to work as an one. If there are no jobs there then perhaps you need to consider moving.

And I have to wonder how legal that is as well. You need to call the board of nursing and ask.

[Psy_sci, BSN, RN]

They're doing that here in Maryland as well. I've actually thought about putting getting my RN license off if this is the only avenue to get into a position. I was told that they hire from within, and had Techs with RN licenses waiting for the New Grad positions and then filling them, rather than outside applicants.

[labtecbunny]

I know at two hospitals I worked at they would have nurses working as aides every once and a while, but not full time. But the only reason they would do that was because they were short an aide and the cencus was to low to use them on the floor as a nurse. I know the nurses who did work as aides occasionally would still get their meds if they asked for them while they were in their rooms doing aide work.

Hell I even had a charge nurse and nursing supervisor who would work as an aide once a month just for overtime hours and just wanted a break from nursing responsibiltys. They used to always say, " same pay, less responsibilitys"

I do agree with a lot of the posters that even though your working as an CNA under a LPN/RN license your still looked at and still have the legal responsibilitys of an LPN/RN.

One thing my two aunts who are also RN's always told me is that no one will ever back you up not even your hospital cause all they have to do is get rid of you and sometimes your license and hire someone else to take your place before your even out the door.

[jorjaRN]

I think that this is happening everywhere. I actually delayed taking my boards because I had a job as a PCT and the hospital that it was at told me that I couldn't continue in that position once I had my license. I was really surprised to see that in the hospital I just started work at, pretty much all of the CNA/PCT work is done by RNs who also work in the RN role...apparently once every couple of shifts, an RN will take a turn doing that because they don't have enough aides. I would totally feel uncomfortable doing this, especially as a new grad, because I feel like my assessment skills, etc, still need practice, and I would feel really uncomfortable being accountable for the number of patients that an aide would be assigned.

Good luck with the search, hopefully something will happen soon for you!

[smartnurse1982]

one question i have is whats wrong with an rn working as an lpn capacity if both are nurses?

[caliotter3]

one question i have is whats wrong with an rn working as an lpn capacity if both are nurses?

Tendency to take advantage of the RN in two respects. More than likely will be expected to act within scope of RN when needed. Being paid as an LPN instead of RN. RNs do LPN work quite often, particularly in an area like home health, but they don't necessarily get paid as an LPN. This is not fair to the individual and it drives down the bargaining power of the RN license for pay in the area. You aren't necessarily going to be able to get RN pay when the prospective employer tells you that X number of other RN employees are satisfied with LPN pay.

[redeyefan214]

I'm really glad I posted this question. I'm getting a lot of good feedback. I did contact our BON and they didn't know some facilities were suggesting new grads do that. Thanks so much for all of your responses. I'm gonna keep checking back.

[smartnurse1982]

Tendency to take advantage of the RN in two respects. More than likely will be expected to act within scope of RN when needed. Being paid as an LPN instead of RN. RNs do LPN work quite often, particularly in an area like home health, but they don't necessarily get paid as an LPN. This is not fair to the individual and it drives down the bargaining power of the RN license for pay in the area. You aren't necessarily going to be able to get RN pay when the prospective employer tells you that X number of other RN employees are satisfied with LPN pay.

regarding another thread i made earlier this month it seems this area of the country is famous for that. actively looking for another job:lol2: b/c of that

[caliotter3]

regarding another thread i made earlier this month it seems this area of the country is famous for that. actively looking for another job:lol2: b/c of that

I remember that thread. Seems most people responding preferred to make it about LPNs vs. RNs instead of addressing your topic!

Glad to see you are looking for another job. I suppose you decided not to pose the question to the accounts manager or did not like the answer they thought you would fall for. Good luck finding a better employer. Should not be too hard to improve on that one!

[86toronado, BSN, RN]

i graduated in may, got my rn license in june, but did not start working as an rn until july. but in the meantime, had bills to pay, so i kept my job as a tech. my facility knew i had my rn license, they actually congratulated me on it...

only once did i feel a little nervous about my tech vs. rn scope of practice, and that was when i was floated to another floor to work as a tech, and had a patient continually asking me to get her nurse to give her pain meds (dilaudid). but her bp was in the toilet. so when i told her nurse, i stated that the patient in room xx is asking for dilaudid, but here is her most recent bp reading, so you may want to call the doc and see if we can get her something else." fortunately the rn was someone who i've known for years, and listened to me. if she had just gone ahead and pushed the dilaudid and the woman's pressure bottomed out, i don't know if my license could have been on the line or not.

[color=gray]grey area!

[caliotter3]

i graduated in may, got my rn license in june, but did not start working as an rn until july. but in the meantime, had bills to pay, so i kept my job as a tech. my facility knew i had my rn license, they actually congratulated me on it...

only once did i feel a little nervous about my tech vs. rn scope of practice, and that was when i was floated to another floor to work as a tech, and had a patient continually asking me to get her nurse to give her pain meds (dilaudid). but her bp was in the toilet. so when i told her nurse, i stated that the patient in room xx is asking for dilaudid, but here is her most recent bp reading, so you may want to call the doc and see if we can get her something else." fortunately the rn was someone who i've known for years, and listened to me. if she had just gone ahead and pushed the dilaudid and the woman's pressure bottomed out, i don't know if my license could have been on the line or not.

[color=gray]grey area!

you did well. this is what is expected of an rn working as a tech. you took good care of your rn license on that one. keep up the good work.

[kcochrane]

In my state you cannot take be hired as a LPN or CNA unless you have a license. But when I worked in LTC I did a CNA assignment about 2 days per week when I was on days. I did get the same pay as a LPN and was required to act as a LPN if something happened to my resident.

I am currently a graduate RN and will continue to renew my LPN license. I continue to work per diem at my LTC facility as a LPN while I work in the hospital as a graduate nurse. Not a big deal since the scope in the LTC setting isn't really that different between a RN and LPN.

Check with your board is the best advice. Each state is different.