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.
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.
Ok-slaughter me if you will.
I see absolutely nothing that would make me (and hopefully anyone else) want to flame you.
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.
the most obvious example would be working outside your scope of practice as an lpn. if youve worked as an rn for a while i could imagine it would be a simple mistake to make. especially if you move to another state where the rules are different. just call your bon for a specific example from your area. they will have plenty.
a good lawyer can rip the hide of an rn working as an lpn in the face of a lawsuit. just place the mere thought of an incompetent nurse in the mind of a judge or jury and it might not turn out so great for the nurse or hospital. how would you explain working as an lpn while holding an rn license without looking a bit like your trying to avoid responsibility of some sort? just try to convince a jury your holding an lpn's job because you couldn't find one as an rn. you might be laughed out of the court room. such is the public perception of the nursing field.
i just believe its wise to understand the potential problems you might face.
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.
Ok-slaughter me if you will.
I completely understand what your saying but I think that if you truly are a "worker" your peers and patients and their families would recognize that no matter the title behind your name. Besides around here an RN makes a fatter check :)
In New York you can keep both your LPN and RN current. I did have both of mine for 9 months, but let the LPN expire. I considered keeping it but decided it wasn't worth it at this point.
Two reasons I have heard people keep it:
To apply for jobs they really want but will only hire an LPN
If the economy is bad and a job decides to replace RNs with LPNs to save $$$. That happened at a LTC facility I worked with.
The most obvious example would be working outside your scope of practice as an LPN. If youve worked as an RN for a while I could imagine it would be a simple mistake to make. Especially if you move to another state where the rules are different. Just call your BON for a specific example from your area. They will have plenty.
A good lawyer can rip the hide of an RN working as an LPN in the face of a lawsuit. Just place the mere thought of an incompetent nurse in the mind of a judge or jury and it might not turn out so great for the nurse or hospital. How would you explain working as an LPN while holding an RN license without looking a bit like your trying to avoid responsibility of some sort? Just try to convince a jury your holding an LPN's job because you couldn't find one as an RN. You might be laughed out of the court room. Such is the public perception of the nursing field.
I just believe its wise to understand the potential problems you might face.
The very first perception that the opposing attorney would try to place before the jury is that you don't work as an RN because you can't hack the RN job, you're not good enough, therefore, you make mistakes and your work is sloppy and of lesser quality than that of an RN.
klone, MSN, RN
14,857 Posts
I see absolutely nothing that would make me (and hopefully anyone else) want to flame you.