Published Aug 19, 2011
ProgressiveThinking, MSN, CRNA
456 Posts
Just wondering what everyone else's hospital's policy is on current LVNs or LPNs becoming RNs and working on their current floor as a RN. Current LVN here who is set to finish ADN in soon. My hospital requires that if an LVN wants to gain employment on their current floor they have to leave the floor for 6 months. They say your colleagues will always view the new RN as an LVN, which I think is bogus. My boss wants me to work on a different floor so he can hire me when I'm done, but I'm not sure I can handle learning a new workplace full-time while finishing up my last semester.
What is your employer's policy on this? Any thoughts?
Jules A, MSN
8,864 Posts
That is a shame although it might take some adjustments depending on how your team works together. When I went from LPN to RN I stayed on the same unit and didn't have any problems but, and I know people don't want to hear this, the job was the same so I'm sure that made it easier. We did have a tech become a nurse, she was welcomed by nursing and I don't recall any issues with her former peers I think everyone was proud of her. Good luck getting this rule changed and congratulations.
linearthinker, DNP, RN
1,688 Posts
If that is your institutional policy, what choice do you have?
Jenni811, RN
1,032 Posts
i don't agree with it. I was a CNA on my floor for 3 years before i got hired as an RN after i got my BSN. I got along with everyone and my coworkers liked me. So i would say 99% of them were happy i got the position. They went to my manager and told her to hire me over this other CNA that graduated same time as me.
Anyway...my first day as an RN, i get this other RN that has a horrible horrible attitude. She thinks her poop don't stink. (you know the type). Instead of congratulating me about my position she was like "I think it's a mistake we hired you. It's not a good idea to be a CNA on our floor then be an RN. People are always going to see you as a glorified CNA"
um....can you say RUDE?
and did i prove her wrong. the CNA's saw me as an RN. although i think once in a blue moon they would forget, asking me to do things i don't have time for. "Can you set Mrs. Smiths clothes out on the bed so they are ready when i dress her for discharge?"....um NO! why would i do that? I'm doing her discharge paper work.
still though, it's been a year and its gotten alot better. I don't think it caused any issues that affected my work. Again, it was just the occasional "Oh yeah, i forgot" type stuff.
Not much of a choice, but I think I will have to either A) work on a different floor closer to the end of or after my program since the only local hospital that hires a lot of NGRNs pays them less than I currently make or B) Hope that being an in-house candidate with good references from my coworkers increases my chances of landing a spot in my specialty of choice. Only time shall tell.
@Jenni: That's excellent. I definitely wish my hospital did the same.
eslvn
81 Posts
I think it may be a good idea. Some places are great and have a wonderful team work atmosphere. But my first LVN job I was a CNA there first. So one day I was an aide with the rest of them, and the next day I was their charge nurse, it was a bit uncomfortable. However there were some aides there that did not want to do their job, so suddenly I was the one responsible for writing them up. Anyways, LVN to RN is a bit different. Your a nurse becoming a nurse, so you shouldnt have problems. THink of working on a different unit as a learning experience.
Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN
1 Article; 2,816 Posts
I went from CNA to LPN to RN on the same floor, and without elaborating, I think your employer's concern is valid. On the other hand, there are some pros as well as cons, the main one being that you are already familiar with the unit and with the patient population and the type of care provided.
However, this is irrelevant considering your employer's policy.
~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN
5,259 Posts
We don't have any LPN/LVN's in our hospital. The same company has another smaller hospital locally and they have a handful of LPN's but they have a deadline to get their RN. When they get it they will continue on their same floor.
But the company is moving to stop LPN's/LVN's to all the hospitals they have nationwide, which is 23 hospitals.
There is another new grad on my unit that just got her RN from CNA and she was a CNA on the unit for 3 years. She hasn't had any problems transitioning and they allowed her to stay on the same unit.
Katie5
1,459 Posts
We don't have any LPN/LVN's in our hospital. The same company has another smaller hospital locally and they have a handful of LPN's but they have a deadline to get their RN. When they get it they will continue on their same floor. But the company is moving to stop LPN's/LVN's to all the hospitals they have nationwide, which is 23 hospitals.There is another new grad on my unit that just got her RN from CNA and she was a CNA on the unit for 3 years. She hasn't had any problems transitioning and they allowed her to stay on the same unit.
Congrats Jenni811:D:yeah:
Gold_SJ
159 Posts
Wow they've ceased hiring LPN/LVN's?
I couldn't imagine working without my EEN's (same as the LPN/LVN's), is it working out? Well this RN and aide only sort of workplace?
And for OP I don't understand why they have that sort of policy, at my facility you can be employed straight onto the same floor you worked at, as a EEN or AIN. I'm assuming they're doing it to protect the new staff, with some ideal you will be badgered at the start of your new role. By the sounds your floor loves you, so shall certainly transfer you back when you have done the six months, can you talk to your NUM about it?
ha! thanks
it's been a while but from time to time i still get the CNA's asking me to do thing. true story...just 2 days ago i'm doing a discharge on a patient going to a nursing home. The discharge paper work for a nursing home is much more time consuming, and i'm wrapped up in this discharge. the CNA has the nerve to come up to me and says "Do you mind getting mrs. smiths clothes out of her closet and setting them on the bed? i'd like her to be ready for me when i go in and get her dressed"
that is the first time i was like "excuse me?"