LPN now CNA?

Published

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Hi,

I'm applying for a student nurse externship at a really nice hospital that does not hire LPNs. The nurse recruiter I spoke with said I will have to get my CNA license to be eligible for the externship because they do not hire LPNs. I realize that for this position I will be working as a tech, cna or whatever you want to call it and that is fine however for some reason I'm a bit put off that they want me to get a CNA license when I am already a nurse. I am huge fan of CNAs and respect the hard work they do for such little money so this is as much about having to spend money on the license fee as it is about my title. Bottom line is that if I get offered the position I'll do whatever I have to do but I would like to diplomatically try to get in with my current license. Anyone ever encounter something like this? Is it possible the recruiter I spoke with just hadn't encountered a LPN applying before and wasn't sure how it would be handled? Any tips you can share would be most welcome. Thank you, Jules

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

That doesn'tsound right. I mean you are a licensed nurse for goodness sake! I have been a CNA for 4+ years and recently became a LVN. I don't think I would go back to get my CNA if I was licensed.

here's to hoping that they aren't familiar ir whatever.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
I mean you are a licensed nurse for goodness sake!

That is exactly what I was thinking but trying not to say out loud, lol. Hopefully you are correct and the gal just wasn't thinking out of the box when we spoke. Thank you for replying.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

I know that in California you can apply for your CNA cert after you take nursing fundamentals... So you shouldn't even need to take the class at all.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
I know that in California you can apply for your CNA cert after you take nursing fundamentals... So you shouldn't even need to take the class at all.

Yes I'll just have to pay the licensing fee. It sounds like its a BON issue rather than the individual facilities. Since I will be working as a student and won't be oriented as a LPN it would have to be under a CNA license. I guess its another matter of just doing what I'm told...I'm getting so mature, lol.

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Sounds backward to me. In Cali, back in 94 or so, they took away the CNA certificates of RNs and LVNs, put out a paper stating why. I have applied for and worked as a CNA with my LVN license (fully knowing that I am held to LVN scope of practice for legal responsibility). As a matter of fact, the CA BRN has put out a position paper about RNs working in LVN or CNA positions and the legal implications.

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Hello,

i thought i just read something recently taht said an RN cannot be a CNA because a CNA cant do anything beyond teh scope of a CNA and thats too hard for RN's to do. I also read soemthing that made it wound like any place taht received federal funding or any place that received funding from medicare or medicaid or something had to reimburse tuition and licensing fees up to the first year, which makes it sound like you wouldnt end up having to pay for teh licensing fee?

im just looking into all this so dont take what i say as accurate, but it is what i read... maybe thats just in a certain area though or something?

- jason

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Thanks for the replies. I haven't gotten a definite answer yet but I'll keep you posted. Sheesh sometimes I really feel like the forgotten step-child as a LPN.

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just so you know the part about an RN not being able to be a CNA must be a state thing or something as i read something else today that talked about what an Illinois LPN didnt have to be on the NA Registry to work as one or something similiar.

- jason

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Specializes in Post Partum,Med Surg, Ob/Gyn.

That sounds like a way to pay you peanuts. I would try to work as an LVN somewhere else . After all, you are a nurse not a nurse's aide. Good Luck

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Specializes in TELEMETRY.

DON"T DO it!!! you worked hard for your LVN!! Be a LVN! If you are going back to school for your RN. Being a tech or CNA won't be as helpful as being an LVN. Find a job where they want your skills. It might be out of your comfort zone.; but its not being fair to yourself.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
DON"T DO it!!! you worked hard for your LVN!! Be a LVN! If you are going back to school for your RN. Being a tech or CNA won't be as helpful as being an LVN. Find a job where they want your skills. It might be out of your comfort zone.; but its not being fair to yourself.

Thanks for writing you were right, as it turns out we as nurses can't work below our scope of practice so its a moot point.

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