Is is good to have a CNA, LPN and RN license?

Nurses General Nursing

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Im attending a school that has the option of CNA certification after the first sememster, LPN after the first yr and RN/ADN 2nd year. I chose this school because of all the options, thinking I would be able to find a job doing 1 of the 3 if someone did not want to hire me as an RN at completion.

After reading this forum, Im learning alot about the HR politics of licensures etc...Please share the disadvantages of being (once again) overqualified due to licensure status-or advantages(if there are any). What a catch 22 world we live in

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I would hold all three. Then you can present the one you need for the job you are applying for. You would not be subject to the discrimination that some employers present when one is applying to a job that one is overqualified for.

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Specializes in Cardiology, Oncology, Medsurge.

The benefits this option your school provides is that you can be working in the field while going to school and an employer would be more apt to higher you RN than another new grad who had not worked at the facility or had the experience you had. Good luck!!

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GREAT perspective here! Thankyou. I thought I read a post where HR found out an MA or LPN passed her RN boards and immediately terminated the employee. Now that would succccccck! Please keep sharing!

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It was my original intention to do this when I first started out, for the reason I gave. However, my state took away the CNA certificates from people who went on to get nursing licenses.

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Specializes in Med Surg-Geriatrics.

I have a CNA certificate (somewhere) but my facillity will not let me work as a CNA,(I have volunteered when they were short of CNAs

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You will get differing opinions on this. But I believe in being safe and keeping both my LPN and RN license. You just never know what could happen.

Back in the '90s our county facility decided it didn't want so many RNs and didn't want to pay for them. Because on the RNs had her LPN, she was able to stay as a LPN and keep her benefits/senority.

Others have kept thier LPN because they have that option of applying for a job that maybe only hires LPNs.

Check with your BON to make sure it is ok. Remember that you may be required to work at the high level of your education if the need arises.

Those that oppose it worry over liability and scope of practice. So consider all these things.

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Certain places won't allow you to work as the other two once you get your RN license. So yes, it's beneficial while you're in school, but if you live in one of these places, once you get your RN license, the others may go to waste.

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See all of this is good to know-but it's a shame that in this economy we cannot get whatever credentials we want and GO FOR IT. It's either all or none and that's just not good. Thanks for sharing!

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Specializes in IMCU.

Will people hire an LPN they know is going to be an RN in 12 months? I understand about being an internal candidate when an RN job comes up -- but if they aren't big hirers of RNs will they be more interested in an LPN who intends to remain so at least for the foreseeable future?

Considering doing the PN NCLEX this summer and wonder if it would really be worthwhile.

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Will people hire an LPN they know is going to be an RN in 12 months? I understand about being an internal candidate when an RN job comes up -- but if they aren't big hirers of RNs will they be more interested in an LPN who intends to remain so at least for the foreseeable future?

Considering doing the PN NCLEX this summer and wonder if it would really be worthwhile.

Life happens. There could be a catastrophe that prevents you from graduating from RN school on time, or ever. Then the LPN license would be better than nothing. A good fall back option.

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Specializes in Med Surg-Geriatrics.

Most Nursing homes require only 1 RN in the building (Hospitals many times require nurses to have some exp. so LPN is good to have,depends what you want to do of course,BTW I have heard LPN's are going the way of the dinosaur for the last 30yrs..don't believe it! as a floor nurse they can get just as much out of you with the right certificates etc most times and pay you less and in todays economic enviroment companies would rather pay less than more

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