lpn to rn at the VA

[sbtr50]

Hello,

I currently work for the VA. I am in an Lpn-Rn program. Does anyone know once I graduate and start working as an Rn will my lpn experience count at all. Here is what it says on USAJOBS]Nurse I Level I - An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional nursing practice/experience required

Nurse I Level II - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 1 year of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a bachelor's degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience; OR a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional nursing practice/experience.

I get conflicting information from so many people between the nurse recruiter and my supervisor and other employees. I would think my time as an lpn would count as the nursing practice as listed above, but the nurse recruiter that was here previously told me it would, then she said it wouldn't and the new recruiter doesn't know, the union will not answer me. My supervisor says that my raises that I received while here will be taken into account. I just know that starting pay is not competitive for the area however benefits are good.Does anyone have any experience with this?

[pfchang]

I think only RN experience counts to determine your RN pay.

[cs1827]

I was an LPN and transitioned to RN at the VA in 2010. This was taken from official VA Handbook

VA HANDBOOK 5005/27 MARCH 17, 2009

PART II

APPENDIX G6 (you can look this up on the internet)

LPN experience may be counted towards successful

nursing practice for an RN at the rate of ½ credit as compared to full credit for RN experience. The amount of time that may be credited toward RN experience may not exceed 5 years. For example, LPN experience would be counted as one full-time workweek of credit for each 2 weeks of such service. (A performance evaluation or reference covering the candidate's most recent employment as an LPN is

essential.)

Also when they do Board you and if you are not happy with the results you can send it back. I did and I got another step