This may seem petty to some but to me it's kind of a big deal. So I was at clinicals today with my RN program this just so happens to be the same hospital I work at on the weekends. My boss caught me walking in the hall today and asked me into her office. She asked if I was introducing myself to pt's as an lpn. I said yes I passed my nclex my badge says lpn I get paid as an lpn.
She says I cannot do that because our hospital does not employ lpn's. I am an lpn preforming cna duties and must introduce myself as such.
Now I have a problem with that, not a dig against CNA's I was one until 3 months ago. But I worked hard for this lpn if I mess up at work it's my lpn licease they will take not my cna why can't I call myslef an lpn. Her only response was a pt who became confused claims that that man nurse "I am the only guy in the whole hospital" told me I had gout and she was upset by this. Now what really happened is I was putting her Ted's on and she said oh honey be careful I have gout in that foot. My only comment was ohh really and continued with my work.
Now my question is should I fight back or just take it for another few months get my RN? I am really upset by this and what makes it worse is my boss then says we know you are proud of your lpn and we are to but you are a cna unless you are training and shadowing an RN.
I can almost assure you that if something goes wrong while you are performing in the scope of an LPN, the employer will not hesitate to state in no uncertain terms that you had no authorization to work outside of the scope of your job description as a CNA. Pose this scope of practice question to your malpractice insurance carrier, in writing, and see what kind of response you get. More so a reason not to do what your employer has been coercing you to do over the pay, "title", or "respect" issues.
Ask why you are allowed to pass meds if you are a CNA. In the facilities I worked in, they didn't utilize LPNs but gave LPNs advance nurse assistants and they could do some stuff like insert foleys. Exception is psych Lpns
Confusing. Let me see if I understand correctly...
You are employed as a CNA
Actively in a RN Program
Did you take and pass the NCLEX-PN (LPN)? Where did the LPN title come from?
If I have the above correct, when you are present at your job in clinical (RN program), your title should be Student Nurse. I'm still confused about why the LPN title is being used.
I think what OP is saying is that his boss approached him during clinicals to ask him about something that took place while he was working on the clock that weekend. From the way I'm reading it she is asking him if he is introducing himself at work as an LPN. I think.
OP, if I'm understanding you correctly then you are paid LPN rate of pay, the company gave you a badge stating that you are an LPN...and you ARE an LPN. Telling your patient you are a CNA (unless your company has you listed as a CNA, in which case you SHOULD NOT be doing LPN duties) is misleading. I know when I first got my LPN license I finished out my last few shifts as a CNA...I was licensed, but I didn't do anything within the LPN scope of practice as a CNA and I signed all my documents as CNA (I guess that was okay as I hadn't let my CNA lapse yet) I feel like you are being taken advantage of. Not only that, but are they charging the pt for your care as a nurse while ordering you to work as a CNA that also does nursing duties? I would talk to HR and find out what the company has on file for you.
Specializes in geriatrics, dementia and like, insurance.
I don't know about other areas, but here in the San Antonio area, LVNs (LPNs) are being interchanged with CNAs (called "techs) in the hospitals. While BON has licensed LVNs with all the duties and responsibilities of an LVN, they are not recognized as LVNs per se in the hospitals. You get paid a slightly higher wage and you have slightly more responsibility but many CNAs (techs) have been trained to d/c IV lines and do many of other duties that were strictly for LVN or higher levels of nursing.
I understand what you're saying. You work for the hospital and you obtained your LPN and continue to work for the hospital. The hospital increased your pay and changed your name tag job title but your boss doesn't want you introducing yourself to patients as an LPN while you working because they don't hire LPNs as a job category. They hire RNs and CNAs. So while you are having to perform the same level of care an LPN would perform, you can't introduce yourself like that to patients to avoid "confusion". It's ridiculous. I don't know if that was stated in your hiring paperwork or made clear when your job category was changed but I understand why it's upsetting to you. You worked hard for the LPN and deserve full credit for it. If you truly like working there, then just leave it be and continue until you finish your RN. I'm sorry they are treating you this way but it appears to be the standard for many hospitals now. Taking advantage of LVN/LPNs and utilizing them as CNAs AND nurses (combo!).
Where I work we have a special designation for people like the OP. They are called nurse-tech II. They can give PO meds except narcotics. They can start or DC IVs, but can't give anything IV. They are always student nurses past the first year, passed LPN boards, and the hospital is interested in them. It's a great program.
if you are working as a CNA they had no reason to have asked you for your license. Make sure they don't have it! Because if something happens they will throw you under the bus and say you are an LVN not CNA.
Ok to me this whole situation is messed up. First of all your an LPN not a CNA therefore no facility can hire you as a CNA if ur not one. You do not hold certification for CNA and did not attend the CNA program or take the exam. It's outside your scope of practice. Does that make any sense?
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
Ok to me this whole situation is messed up. First of all your an LPN not a CNA therefore no facility can hire you as a CNA if ur not one. You do not hold certification for CNA and did not attend the CNA program or take the exam. It's outside your scope of practice. Does that make any sense?
Oh, where to start. There is so much wrong in this post.
Anyone who has the qualifications or above the qualifications can be hired into a position if the facility is willing to do so. A facility can indeed hire an LPN into the role of a CNA.
CNA duties are never outside of the scope of a licensed nurse. What a CNA is permitted to do is simply nursing duties that may be delegated. Each and every duty a CNA does is within the scope of practice of a nurse.
caliotter3
38,333 Posts
I can almost assure you that if something goes wrong while you are performing in the scope of an LPN, the employer will not hesitate to state in no uncertain terms that you had no authorization to work outside of the scope of your job description as a CNA. Pose this scope of practice question to your malpractice insurance carrier, in writing, and see what kind of response you get. More so a reason not to do what your employer has been coercing you to do over the pay, "title", or "respect" issues.