Does your area consider LPN experience when you transition to RN?

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Specializes in Allergy/ENT, Occ Health, LTC/Skilled.

Just curious. I am 18 months away from graduating with my RN and am finding many hospitals will not consider LPN as any type of nursing experience which I find crazy.

By the time I graduate, I will have 7 years experience as an LPN. Many of the patients I take care of skilled are similar to the patients I see in med-surg clinicals. My state just passed laws that LPNs can do certain skills with PICC lines (flush, ATB) so in LTC/skilled the job differences between the LPN and RN are hardly anything anymore. I efficiently care for 25 patients, 10 of those skilled w/ wound vacs, IV ATB, etc. Granted, we do not have codes there obviously, if someone is full code all we can do it CPR and suction if needed till the ambulance arrives.

I have seen nurses come from med surg at the hospitals who can't hang for more than a week on their own because they are used to 10 or so patients. As an LPN, I know I have much learn but I have worked out a lot of the new nurse kinks that non LPN new grad nurses will have not.

Funny thing is I do want to do a new grad program because of all the extra teaching you get but not getting any type of experience for all my hard work as an LPN to bump me up the pay scale is a bummer...

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Specializes in PACU.

Some places give credit for LPN experience. A couple hospitals I used to work for would divide the years LPN experience by 3 when deciding pay rates, etc.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

They don't count it in my area. Partly because the RNs and PNs are in different unions.

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Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.

It is a shame, ...I have worked with exceptional LVN/LPN in critical care over the years......personally I would consider it, but there are facility, and health care systems that I have seen not value as much........just does not seem quite right.....

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

In the area where I live, some hospital systems will grant new RNs credit for any LVN experience they might have. For instance, six years of LVN experience would be credited by HR as three years of RN experience.

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Specializes in med-surg, IMC, school nursing, NICU.

I think as far as being interested in hiring you, yes, absolutely most managers will see how much valuable experience you have as an LPN. In terms of length of orientation and pay... I don't think it makes a difference. I'm pretty sure if you are new to the RN field, they will treat you as a new grad when orienting. A long orientation can be nice.

As far as the ease with which you will transition... I am jealous of your preceptor. I had an LPN to RN student do her senior practicum with me and she was a DREAM. God, she made my job easy. She already had the time management, communication with patients and "instinct" down pat. Everybody on the unit absolutely adored her, she was such a great nurse. Experience is invaluable and I know she is a fabulous RN today.

Your skills will take you far. Good luck!!!

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