Hired as a PNP, forced to work as an RN

So I was hired as a PNP at a pediatric urgent care. Then COVID happened. I have never been trained to work as an RN at an Urgent Care clinic... but they are forcing me to work as an RN. Are they allowed to do that? I have spoken up about not being OK with this... all that has bought me is a meeting with the director about meeting their standards of behavior. When I talked to my manager, the response was "at this time we need RNs more than we need providers." Let it also be known that 2 new doctors were hired in December. They start this month meanwhile our doctors and myself are not getting our hours as providers. What do you think?

Do you feel strongly enough about this to resign? I would go along with the plan if they had not hired the new doctors, but they are flaunting that their excuse to you is a crock. It bears serous reflection about other ways they will treat you in the future. Can your career take a resignation on principle?

[babyNP., APRN]

I would be looking for a new job. They don’t see you as a provider

Well, my mortgage can't take a resignation on principle....so I am aggressively looking for another position.

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

Did you work as a nurse prior to getting your PNP? Seems weird that they would pay an NP salary for an RN position unless it was just until they could hire a nurse.

I did not work there as a nurse. It's a hospital system that has urgent care clinics. I worked at several departments in the hospital throughout the years. But I never worked at urgent care. From what I've heard they have asked previous nurse practitioners to work as RNs, they all said no. Dummy me said yes initially, although they never trained me to work there, and now they're not letting me say no.

[sleepwalker, MSN, NP]

Are you being paid as a Provider? If so, I would start looking and see what shakes free while being in no particular hurry.

If not...I'd be looking to leave ASAP. In this scenario, you're wasting your time at this facility.

Yes I am, its not even the max pay for an RN at the hospital.... but its $8ish more than the max for their RNs... but they don't give me the shift diff they give the RNs on the weekends.. Agreed. I am looking like crazy... PNP jobs are scarce in my area.

[sleepwalker, MSN, NP]

5 hours ago, HelloNurse80 said:

Yes I am, its not even the max pay for an RN at the hospital.... but its $8ish more than the max for their RNs... but they don't give me the shift diff they give the RNs on the weekends.. Agreed. I am looking like crazy... PNP jobs are scarce in my area.

You're being taken advantage of and in the process losing time that you could be gaining experience as an NP

Agreed. I had some meetings today. There's no end in sight. I've been sending out my CV like crazy. We'll see how it goes. There's slim pickings for PNP slots@Central Florida

[tonyC77]

Also, remember the liability issue, you're always seen as your highest license credential in legal cases.

Totally brought that up at my meeting today.... somehow the conversation just kept circling back to me not having the establishment's values.... the clinic comes first 🙄

Are you willing to relocate?

I wish.... it's not possible at this time.

[babyNP., APRN]

If the clinic comes first, I would ask if the doctors are expected to act as medical assistants as well...

[tonyC77]

Well shouldn't they value your career as well, the establishment should have a policy and procedure manual stating what the rules are regarding this. I would contact your state NP organization about it and talk it over with them. It sounds like they could care less about NP providers.

[DizzyJ DHSc PA-C]

Doubtful a company has a procedure manual stating NPs can't do work that is beneath them. They can have you empty the trash and mop the floor if they wanted. They could have just laid you off, but instead kept you on. Being that you already work at this urgent care, what is the argument about not being trained? I worked in many urgent cares and wouldn't need any formal training to pick up nursing duties in a place I already work. Agree that if they are short, then both NPs and Physicians should pitch in with nursing/MA duties. Being that your an NP, and by default an RN, then nursing duties fall under your scope of practice. Your state organization can't do anything about it.

The liability issue mentioned...does anyone have a case in which an NP working as an RN got sued because s/he didn't do something that they would of as an NP, but didn't because they were working as an RN. I'm just trying to figure that out. If you're working as an RN you don't have privileges to perform NP duties right? I am trained to do things from working in prior specialties that I am not allowed to do now because I'm not credentialed to do so.

You are nothing more to them than a warm body with a license.....