kicked out of tech job

Jolie, BSN · Jul 24, 2007

I belive u are responsible for whatever your job description says u r. if she is working under a tech license her passing the NCLEX doesnt make her responsible for the duties of an RN because her job description was that of a tech. that is the law i know and was taught in school.

I strongly encourage you to clarify this issue with your state BON. I don't believe that you were given accurate information in school.

An RN is held to the standards of practice of a professional nurse, regardless of the

title under which s/he is working. Simply stated, an RN can't take off her "nurse's cap" and be a tech for a day. While s/he may perform "tech duties", s/he will always be held to the standard of professional nursing practice.

April, RN, BSN, RN · Jul 24, 2007

I'm pretty sure it's legal in MA to work as a tech with an RN license, it might just be your hospital's policy to not allow it. Good luck with your job search!

honeykrown, MSN, NP · Jul 24, 2007

I strongly encourage you to clarify this issue with your state BON. I don't believe that you were given accurate information in school.
An RN is held to the standards of practice of a professional nurse, regardless of the
title under which s/he is working. Simply stated, an RN can't take off her "nurse's cap" and be a tech for a day. While s/he may perform "tech duties", s/he will always be held to the standard of professional nursing practice.

Note that she has a current tech license, the licensing center do not cancel ur tech license. U could choose to renew it whenever u want to. She was hired as a tech not an RN so she cannot be held responsible. SHe did not apply as an RN and was given the tech position. She was a tech who passed her RN license, it's up to her to perform the duties expected within the certain license not working as a tech an performing RN duties cos she passed. How do RN's who go to med or pharm school work two different jobs with the different license.

i could check ur state for their law

Nurseismade RN · Jul 24, 2007

Note that she has a current tech license, the licensing center do not cancel ur tech license. U could choose to renew it whenever u want to. She was hired as a tech not an RN so she cannot be held responsible. SHe did not apply as an RN and was given the tech position. She was a tech who passed her RN license, it's up to her to perform the duties expected within the certain license not working as a tech an performing RN duties cos she passed. How do RN's who go to med or pharm school work two different jobs with the different license.
i could check ur state for their law

thank you all again....

It is interesting that the law differs from state to state.......I would be curious what the law states regarding this matter in Mass, honeykrown if you have access to this. The good news is that I have 2 interviews set up for this week.....maybe this was a blessing to be kicked out of my tech job...but if it is illegal I will fight for at least 2 weeks salary which is how much notice I would have given them.

Jolie, BSN · Jul 24, 2007

I'm pretty sure it's legal in MA to work as a tech with an RN license, it might just be your hospital's policy to not allow it.

I know of no state where it is illegal for an RN to work as a tech. Legality is not the issue here, potential liability is. If the employer and employee are willing to accept the potential liability, there is nothing to prevent this newly licensed RN from working as a tech. I was merely agreeing with her employer that it might not be a good idea from a liability standpoint.

Jolie, BSN · Jul 24, 2007

she was hired as a tech not an rn so she cannot be held responsible.
sorry, but this is simply not true.
she did not apply as an rn and was given the tech position. she was a tech who passed her rn license, it's up to her to perform the duties expected within the certain license not working as a tech an performing rn duties cos she passed.
it is up to her to perform up to the standards of an rn, even while performing tech duties.
how do rn's who go to med or pharm school work two different jobs with the different license.

nursing is an entirely different profession than either pharmacy or medicine.

honeykrown, MSN, NP · Jul 24, 2007

nursing is an entirely different profession than either pharmacy or medicine.

nurseismadern, i just called the mass state boards of nursing

and for anyone who wishes to know, what they expalined to me was what i had explained. the man said if u r employed as a tech and u are within the scope of practice as a tech then u are not held responsible or accountable for whatever u do as a tech. so the employer is not risking anything hiring u as a tech.

jolie if u read the original post, she was working as a tech and then the employer found out she passed the boards and said they would not be requiring her services anymore. it is wrong. she was a tech and stil is even though she passed the boards, she would have still beeen practicing with her tech license, though the mass bon doesnt regulate that i was told, but it doesnt make her responsible or accountable for anything she does as a tech. it all depends on the job description and position. i'm schooled in md by the way but now in ny

i hope this has helped. nurseismadern good luck to u with ur job search

April, RN, BSN, RN · Jul 24, 2007

I know of no state where it is illegal for an RN to work as a tech. Legality is not the issue here, potential liability is. If the employer and employee are willing to accept the potential liability, there is nothing to prevent this newly licensed RN from working as a tech. I was merely agreeing with her employer that it might not be a good idea from a liability standpoint.

The OP originally asked about legality so that's why I posted that it is legal to work as a tech with an RN license in MA. I know it is because I am in MA and had looked into this issue myself. I worked as a tech for a few weeks after I passed my boards until I could move closer to the hospital where my new RN job was. That's why I said it could be her hospital's own policy. I can see how it could be a liability issue, but apparently some hospitals are OK with techs working with an RN license.

Nurseismade RN, I would still want an explanation from my hospital as to why they don't allow this rather than just "you should have planned better". I would also would want to know why they didn't make you aware of their policy beforehand. Obviously they knew that you had graduated and were taking the NCLEX because they knew to check the BON for your license, so why didn't they bring this issue up before instead of waiting until after the fact?

I'm sorry you have to go through this but it sounds like you are right in that maybe this is a blessing and that something better is in store for you! Good luck on you interviews!

pagandeva2000, LPN · Jul 25, 2007

The OP originally asked about legality so that's why I posted that it is legal to work as a tech with an RN license in MA. I know it is because I am in MA and had looked into this issue myself. I worked as a tech for a few weeks after I passed my boards until I could move closer to the hospital where my new RN job was. That's why I said it could be her hospital's own policy. I can see how it could be a liability issue, but apparently some hospitals are OK with techs working with an RN license.
Nurseismade RN, I would still want an explanation from my hospital as to why they don't allow this rather than just "you should have planned better". I would also would want to know why they didn't make you aware of their policy beforehand. Obviously they knew that you had graduated and were taking the NCLEX because they knew to check the BON for your license, so why didn't they bring this issue up before instead of waiting until after the fact?
I'm sorry you have to go through this but it sounds like you are right in that maybe this is a blessing and that something better is in store for you! Good luck on you interviews!

I also believe that the explanation of 'should have planned better' is inexcusable. How do you plan to remain unemployed until you can find a job? In fact, it would be a better advantage to have a tech, even for a temporary basis working, because her observation skills would be a bit better. She cannot act as a nurse, but she can certainly tell that a person is doing worse and may have a better insight as to what happened.

It is a blessing in disguise, but, their comments were idiotic. I see too many LPNs that have received their RN and worked as practical nurses until another opportunity either at their original place of work or elsewhere shows up. I didn't see anything like this happen to them...:angryfire

RNin2007 · Jul 25, 2007

Interesting you posted this. I took my NCLEX Monday and just found out I passed my boards today and ironically my boss called today and told me the same thing (the day I passed my boards). They had posted on the state BON website a few hours before he called me. However, for me it isn't a big deal b/c I hadn't planned on returning anyhow...(i'm only on call and he knew I was studying for boards)

I had heard in the past once you are an RN you can't work as a CNA/tech legally any longer. That would be really hard on people that didn't know that and were counting on the income! If your boss knew you graduated nursing school and NCLEX was in your near future I wonder why they wouldn't have clued you in on this??? Not everyone would know this information. How frustrating.

Jolie, BSN · Jul 25, 2007

I sympathize with the OP and the above poster's frustrations over the loss of their tech jobs upon passing NCLEX, and sincerely hope that I can make my point without coming off as harsh. That is really not my intention, but here goes:

This is a lesson in the importance of keeping oneself informed about job requirements, especially when they involve a change in one's "status". While I agree that the OP's manager's comments about planning better were unkind, it is possible that she was trying to make the point that it is the employee's responsibility to seek out information about job status changes, not the manager's duty to inform each individual employee of possible changes in their employment status based on education, licensure, etc. This is an issue that will be on-going throughout your nursing career, as licenses must be re-newed, CEUs and/or evidence of continuing practice must be maintained in some states, and should you decide to pursue specialty certification or further formal education, you may need a statement from your employer regarding your practice hours.

I understand that to a newly licensed nurse, it may seem ridiculous that there are liability concerns regarding his/her working as a tech. But after a few years of experience, including orienting new graduates, taking charge responsibility and over-seeing a team of nurses, CNAs, and techs, I believe that you will understand the potential liability more clearly.

To any senior students who may be reading this thread, please contact your employers prior to graduation and ask whether you will be permitted to continue working as CNAs or PCTs upon graduation, and upon passing boards. Your manager, Human Resources, or the Nurse Recruiter should be able to answer these questions for you and help you to plan your transition from student to professional nurse so that you don't find yourself out of work unnecessarily. Remember that some states allow graduate nurses to work in a professional capacity pending board results, while others do not. That may impact an employer's decision regarding CNA or PCT positions.

To the OP and the above poster, my sincere congratulations on passing boards! I wish you all the best in your job searches, and encourage you to take your time to compare positions without jumping for the first job that is offered. Be certain that the unit interests you and that you will have adequate support to successfully complete orientation.

Good luck!