Lpn and RN at the same time??

BeautifulDoeLVN · Jul 12, 2011

If you are working off of a multitude of licenses that you must remain within the laws and scope of practice for which the license you are functioning.

exnavygirl-RN · Jul 12, 2011

I live in south Mississippi. I worked as a LPN for 6 months after I got my RN. I would call the Louisiana board of nursing to find out for sure.

Wishinonastar, BSN · Jul 12, 2011

Yes you can. You hold the license, it is valid, therefore you certainly can use it. Becoming an RN doesn't magically change you. Lots of nurses continue to work as an aide until they find a nurse job. Like the first poster said though don't function outside of the license or job description just because you can.

Weebee, LVN · Jul 12, 2011

I've been told that in California you must use the higher of the two, but this was related to CNA to LVN

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jul 12, 2011

You can certainly work as an LPN until you find an RN position. However, most state boards of nursing will hold you to the standards of your highest level of licensure (read: the RN license) if anything sentinel or unbecoming occurs while you are practicing as an LPN. Good luck to you!

AngelicDarkness · Jul 12, 2011

As far as I know you can, you just have to pay for each license and work within your scope of practice in that role.

ZippyGBR, BSN, RN · Jul 12, 2011

If you are working off of a multitude of licenses that you must remain within the laws and scope of practice for which the license you are functioning.

I would check this carefully with the relevant registration Authority. because in some places the reverse is the case and you will be held to the standards of your 'highest' registration.

serenity1 · Jul 12, 2011

Check with your state board of nursing.

Wishinonastar, BSN · Jul 12, 2011

I would check this carefully with the relevant registration Authority. because in some places the reverse is the case and you will be held to the standards of your 'highest' registration.

I am sure that if it were a matter of something you did wrong they would definitely hold you to the RN standard of care, your knowledge base is part of how you are judged. The function of the job would still have to be as an LPN. Whatever the job description is would be what you could do. It is a tricky situation.

I remember a long time ago there was this nurse at the hospital I worked at. Everyone called her "Snowflake". She was a wonderful person but could never get her work done. Tried to do everything, spent time counseling patients, etc. Well you know in the real world you pretty much hope and pray that no patients need you to spend time with them, because you can't get done if you spend time meeting their emotional needs or their socialization needs. Snowflake thought that it did not matter if she worked late all the time. Well, long story short they demoted her to the job of an LPN. No more IVs, no more orders or rounds with doctors. Just functioning as an LPN. I could not figure out how they could do this since she was not an LPN. I guess they made a special job description just for her or something. Of course the LPN role is just as busy and so she still could not get her work done and got fired.

It was very confusing for everyone though, which is my point. But, we have RNs in schools functioning as "Aides" even though they are not aides. Still, they are held to RN standards of care even if they are paid much less and are not allowed to do some things. And, there are RNs who work as EMTs on the side. Sometimes they started out as EMTs and went back to school so they just kept both up. Some places have nurses working as aides when the nurses can't find a nurse job, and I know some nurses who will take a private duty aide job just for some extra money. Confusing!

We are all supposed to be able to do the job of those we supervise, so in theory I guess it is ok. But the role blurring could create a legal issue if anything would go wrong.

Hope you find an RN job quickly so you can move on!

Nursejoymariea27, BSN, RN · Jul 13, 2011

thankyou all for for your replies...i wanted to make sure, i always thought that you could.... i will look into more when that time comes:D

rn/writer, RN · Jul 13, 2011

Be sure to check with the BON for your state. This is an issue that can vary greatly depending on where you live.

Hope you find an RN job soon.