Any reason for me to renew my CNA license after RN license?

Nurses General Nursing

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This will be my first time renewing my license and wanted to get some advice before I give up my CNA license. Is there any reason for me to keep my CNA license after I have been licensed as a RN? Cost is $50 for CNA and $100 for RN renewal. I only got CNA license to see if I can get a job as one during the school, but I never even looked for one because the school was so busy... By the way, I'm still unemployed and looking for a first job out of nursing school :(I don't think any benefit in renewing CNA license, but I want to hear from others before I commit to letting it go. Thanks!

I live in NY state and if you have your RN you can work as a CNA. You can always work below your status never above it, is what were always told. You'd never be hired as just a CNA but if they were short that night and needed someone to fill in theyd let you. At least where I'm from they do.

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I was disappointed to see my CNA state certification was on a cheap flimsy piece of paper. The supermarkets give you a stronger plastic rewards card.

This is exactly what I said when I got my RN license! Cheap piece of paper (corner of a piece of paper really) and I had to cut it out myself even! Really I did all that hard work, crying, stress, sleepless nights, weight gain.... for this?! LOL my grocery card is way nicer! :( Ah well. it is what it is, glad I'm not the only one that feels that way though. :up:

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In many states once you are an RN you may not hold any lower licenses, they become null and void. You are subject to the regulations of your states Board of Nursing and they can give you a quick answer to your question

This will be my first time renewing my license and wanted to get some advice before I give up my CNA license. Is there any reason for me to keep my CNA license after I have been licensed as a RN? Cost is $50 for CNA and $100 for RN renewal. I only got CNA license to see if I can get a job as one during the school, but I never even looked for one because the school was so busy... By the way, I'm still unemployed and looking for a first job out of nursing school :(I don't think any benefit in renewing CNA license, but I want to hear from others before I commit to letting it go. Thanks!
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They hired ten RN's where I work last week many of them fresh grads

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Specializes in Neurosurgery, Long Term Care,.
Common error made on here... They really mean CNA "certification." The words license and certification are not interchangeable, but license sure sounds better :) Either way, the state takes your money. Lol. I was disappointed to see my CNA state certification was on a cheap flimsy piece of paper. The supermarkets give you a stronger plastic rewards card. Okay, now I am rambling off topic... Lol

Actually I am a licensed CNA. I paid for, tested, and hold a state licensure through the VA Board of nursing to work as a nurse aide. When i finished Nurse Aide school I was given a certificate of completion on flimsy paper but after I tested for a state license they given me a hard plastic license with all my info on it and a small paper license to put in a frame kind of like when you get your nails and hair done how they have their license in a frame at their console. I get paid more than people that aren't licensed. Here in the commonwealth of VA you can not give hands on care unless you have a license or are within 120 days of getting a certificate. AFter 120 days, you can only be like a sitter.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

Actually I am a licensed CNA. I paid for, tested, and hold a state licensure through the VA Board of nursing to work as a nurse aide. When i finished Nurse Aide school I was given a certificate of completion on flimsy paper but after I tested for a state license they given me a hard plastic license with all my info on it and a small paper license to put in a frame kind of like when you get your nails and hair done how they have their license in a frame at their console. I get paid more than people that aren't licensed. Here in the commonwealth of VA you can not give hands on care unless you have a license or are within 120 days of getting a certificate. AFter 120 days, you can only be like a sitter.

I think the issue here is that licensure indicates a specific state regulated sphere of practice and responsibility. It indicates a level of expertise and privilege recognized by state authority as having its own regulatory and professional standards as well as a defined scope of practice which is particular to it and which though certain elements may be delegated down, the bulk of duties may ONLY be performed by the licensees in the ordinary course of care.

It does not refer to the material the documentation is made of.

In short, licensure has nothing to do with paper and plastic and everything to do with scope and responsibility and regulatory oversight.

I would be very surprised if your documentation has the word "license" any where on it. A certification and a license are not the same thing.

A quick look at the State of Virginia's website bears this out:

http://www.dhp.virginia.gov/nursing/nursing_forms.htm#CNA

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I would be very surprised if your documentation has the word "license" any where on it. A certification and a license are not the same thing.

Actually, there are States in which a nurse's aide is an actual license, not a certification. While a certificate may be issued, a LICENSE--one with a number and registration information to track online--might indeed be bestowed.

I remember this coming up in a thread a few months back, in which a news article about a disgusting human being (who happened to be a nurse's aide) mistreated/photographed a nursing home resident (posted photos online). People were taking issue with the word "licensed" in the article as it referred to the creep in question, I myself among them. Turned out she WAS licensed by her State (was it Nevada? Does anyone remember??).

Most States, it's true, it's merely certification. But not always.

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Specializes in Transitional Nursing.

Becoming an RN trumps your cna. Being an RN allows you to do all that a cna does which is also your job anyway.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

Actually, there are States in which a nurse's aide is an actual license, not a certification. While a certificate may be issued, a LICENSE--one with a number and registration information to track online--might indeed be bestowed.

I remember this coming up in a thread a few months back, in which a news article about a disgusting human being (who happened to be a nurse's aide) mistreated/photographed a nursing home resident (posted photos online). People were taking issue with the word "licensed" in the article as it referred to the creep in question, I myself among them. Turned out she WAS licensed by her State (was it Nevada? Does anyone remember??).

Most States, it's true, it's merely certification. But not always.

Interesting...Thanks for the insight.

We learned something different in NS...

Anyway, the State of Virginia consistently refers to CNA'S as certified, Nurses as licensed.

That said, it also looks like there was some confusion based on the material used for the document.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

Let me hurry up and adds that I have worked as an "Unlicensed Assistive Personnel" both as a Nurse's Aide and a Nurse Tech, and that I fully recognize that the good ones are worth their weight in gold...

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dude the best thing you can do is apply for hospitals who offer an internship program.. most hospitals nowadays require 2 yras exp...

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Specializes in CMSRN.

I think letting go of the CNA makes sense. Once you have your RN that's the level you're held to anyway and you don't want to work as a CNA. Good luck!!

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