LVN to work as CNA?

[knexx]

I've been wanting to work at the VA hospital ever since school, the thing is after many applications and calls, I get no where. The LVN openings are very limited and I have limited experience, 6 months home hospice and 3 months charge nurse at ltc/sub acute, so I think I'm being overlooked for the more experienced nurses.

Well I was noticing that the CNA positions are abundant and the starting pay is the same for a CNA as an LVN!(34k/year) I know that once you have your foot in the door, transferring around is relatively easy..

So does anybody think the VA will hire an LVN as a CNA, probably knowing well that I will transfer to an LVN position as soon as I can?

Also does anybody have any experience in doing this with the VA or any other hospitals?

Also will I need to take the CNA test before applying? I know that in LVN school we had the option to take the CNA test after our first term.

Thanks in advance for the replies!

[NamasteNurse, BSN, RN]

Well, you may need to actually have your CNA certificate to be a CNA. In NY that's the rule. In my LPN school we actually HAD to take the CNA test and pass in order to go onto the rest of the LPN program. I was a CNA fro the remainder of the time in school and it helped tremendously in preparing me to be an LPN. You might as well go for the sure job and transfer when something opens up. They should be used to it.

[knottygirl]

ok, maybe I'm tripping, but where do they pay CNA's 34k a year???????? When I was a CNA in Kentucky the pay was around 8-10 range and that was during 2001-2003. I now live in Savannah and the pay is about the same for CNA's. Wow 34k a year for a CNA?

As far as your post goes, there are a lot of ltc that would hire nursing students as CNA's as long as the've done their clinicals. I have heard of LPN's working as CNA's when the LPN jobs weren't as abundant but wowsers!

[knexx]

NamasteNurse -I found a person asking a similar question on these forums, and they said they called around to the appropriate departments here in California and they found out with my LVN I can work as a CNA within a CNA scope of practice, without having to take the CNA exam. I think I'm going to apply to the VA hospital over here in Los Angeles for the CNA spot and see if I get it!

Knottygirl- I think only in acute hospitals in the Los Angeles area do CNAs get that type of pay. Because at the sub acute/ltc I'm working at now, the CNAs get 8-10/hr. But I do find it strange that Vetarans Affairs will pay an LVN and a CNA the same starting salary... LVN 34,944/CNA 34,881. The salary caps are different LVN 52k/CNA 43k.

[knottygirl]

knexx--oh ok, that settled it all, it's California so I get it lol. And yeah, how are they paying the same amount of money for a different skill set. That's crazy!!

[lillithmaximus]

I can't speak for that particular state/hospital, but starting CNA pay isn't $34,000. They operate on a GS scale based on your experience and SOME people can come in ("start") at that rate, but usually with several years of experience and/or education. (For example, MA, Combat Medic, Paramedic, etc., training- as several of the VA Hospitals do not recognize those titles and consider them either "NA" or "Health Tech"; the experience of drawing blood, inserting caths, etc, etc is taken into account when deciding on pay scale.)

I will say that a fresh PN graduate with less than 6 months experience will be sorely disapointed in his/her starting pay at the VA, but the benefits are well worth it and after 6 months, you are eligible for an increase.

On a personal note, I started here as a CNA, GS 4-1 (about $25,000 in my state) and after 3 years, I was a GS 5-2 (about $30,000). I opted to get my LPN after that and now am a GS 5-4 (about $33,000). Ironically, I think if I'd stayed a CNA and just gotten a couple of certifications here or there (LTC or Hospice) I might actually be making more as a "8 year NA" than I do as a "3 year LPN".

Eh.. hindsight. :)