Just a question out of curiosity. I have been reading posts from people saying they are both an LPN and RN and even seen someone's user name indicate that they are both an LPN and an RN. This confuses me. I went to school and became an LPN and then worked for a few years. I went back a few years later and obtained my RN. When I was in school I was told that once you obtained your RN, you were no longer an LPN. Also, as far as the state BON goes, I had to give up my LPN license when I got my RN license. Therefore, I was always under the assumption that I can no longer consider myself an LPN. Besides, the SOPs are different. If you say you are still an LPN when you are actually an RN, couldn't that muddy the SOP practices?
And, if I could say I was still an LPN (as opposed to an RN) this would be great! I could apply for all those LPN jobs that are advertised. But no, they will not hire an RN for a LPN position because they would have to pay you as such. Heck, there have been dry spells where I would have taken a CNA position just to have a job. Which brings about another thing: If I am an LPN and an RN, then I am also a CNA, LPN, RN. And to add to that, why not CNA, MA, LPN, RN...the list would just keep growing. I was told that you are only the highest rank that you have graduated because those others that have less skills are covered under your title. (Which in no way means you are qualified. I have met nurses that never learned basic CNA skills!)
So, anyway, can anyone answer the question of why/how you can be both an LPN and an RN?
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
Being as a CNM can be a doctorate-and actually all NPs including CNM will be required to get a doctorate starting in 2015.....that is the plan anyways.
Actually, that's not true. My understanding is that the licensing body that grants the CNM is different from that which grants other APN licenses, and thus far, they have given no indication that they're jumping on board the 2015 bandwagon.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
Given the choice, I would have kept my LPN so I could keep the title in addition to the title of RN for personal reasons that I chose not to list here as it would really offend some people.
Oh, come on. You can't say that and then NOT tell us!
as the op i would like to again state that this was not a choice for me. in the state in which i lived, i could not renew my lpn license once i obtained an rn license. i guess it must just be a state law thing. given the choice, i would have kept my lpn so i could keep the title in addition to the title of rn for personal reasons that i chose not to list here as it would really offend some people.
what state is this? i am planning on keeping my lpn license current for a couple of personal reasons as well. it's less than 150 bucks every two years and my job reimburses me anyway so technically it's for free.
I know of several people who maintain a LVN license with a RN license. Personally, this makes no sense to me at all. If you do any thing to jeopardize your license, wouldn't it affect both? And why pay the extra money to renew a LVN license when it ain't used? Who is gonna decide, oh I'll quit being a RN and work as a LVN again? Due to the pay difference around here, I wouldn't go back to a lower paying job...
i know of several people who maintain a lvn license with a rn license. personally, this makes no sense to me at all. if you do any thing to jeopardize your license, wouldn't it affect both? and why pay the extra money to renew a lvn license when it ain't used? who is gonna decide, oh i'll quit being a rn and work as a lvn again? due to the pay difference around here, i wouldn't go back to a lower paying job...
i have my personal reasons why i want to keep my lpn license current.
but i can think of two reasons why somebody else may want to keep the lpn license:
1. management decided to let go of some rns and replace them with lpns because of budget cuts. if one of the rns who is being let go has an lpn license, he/she can tell them she wants to stay as an lpn. (while looking for an rn job anyway)
2. there is an lpn position open that is very low key and the company is well known to treat its employees fair and that person is willing to have the pay cut for peace of mind then the rn can apply to it with her lpn license.
i am sure there are more reasons somebody may want to keep the lpn license active but my reasons is personal that i don't want to share on this board (just like the op).
Just remember you will always be held to the standards of the Rn license even if working as an LPN. Once you get that RN education you cant simply say "I didnt know".
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
Just remember you will always be held to the standards of the Rn license even if working as an LPN. Once you get that RN education you cant simply say "I didnt know".
In a practical sense, can you give me an example where that would be a true problem? I keep hearing "but you'll be held to the higher standard!" in a horrified voice whenever you hear about an RN working as a CNA or LPN. I've yet to hear a compelling argument as to why that's such a bad thing, or so potentially legally dangerous.
Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.
the reason i am keeping mine is because you never know what the future holds and since i am a ec grad my license will not transfer to every state. i have no intentions on leaving texas but life happens. if by chance i do have to move i wont be able to work as a rn in ca but can transfer my lvn license . my lvn license is cheap to renew so im really not out of pocket much......but there are other personal reasons as well but that is the main one.
just remember you will always be held to the standards of the rn license even if working as an lpn. once you get that rn education you cant simply say "i didnt know".
yes please give an example. i always hear this cautionary on this board and it really does not make sense to me how this can apply to an rn who is working as an lpn. thanks if you can provide examples or an actual incident where this happened.
When you have two licenses and you are working under the LPN (the RN is inactive), how do you handle a situation where something needs to be done that is not covered under the LPN but is covered under RN..... legally under LPN you can't.... but legally due to your advanced education and inactive RN license you will be held responsible in court..... sounds like a very sticky situation to me
(some of you will say that there should be an RN handy to take care of whatever, but we all know this is not always the case, esp. in an emergency situation)
Ok, Klone wanted to know what my personal reasons are for wishing I cuda kept my LPN license. I had stated that my reasons would probably offend people so I wasn't gonna disclose, but here goes, at the risk of being slaughtered.
There are some BSN and RN programs where I am from that are just that. There is no option to become an LPN after X amount of time. The program I attended is 2 separate programs. You cannot pass the LPN year up first. You can decide not to take your PN boards, but the LPN year(s) are different than the RN.
Anyway, those nurses that went from high school cheerleader to BSN in a few years at some programs in my area are known by the nurses at some facilities as being lazy. The nature of the BSN or RN program that they attended was focused on nursing theory. Those of us who went to the school which forces you to learn PN skills first are known as workers. We know to get up off our butts and make a bed, do a bed bath, etc. You won't find us sitting behind the desk browsing the internet while the CNA is knee deep in poop!
I like for my employer to know that I am a worker not a slacker. I have also heard patient families request the CNA who knows how to put a depends on correctly rather than the nurse who only knows how to sit behind a desk. I don't want anyone to associate me as being that nurse.
I worked my way up the ladder and am proud of it and do not feel any job is beneath me. I guess being able to claim the title of LPN would help me to "announce" this. Maybe I'm delusional and it would not, but so be it.
klone, MSN, RN
14,857 Posts
Actually, that's not true. My understanding is that the licensing body that grants the CNM is different from that which grants other APN licenses, and thus far, they have given no indication that they're jumping on board the 2015 bandwagon.