Moving down in the world

garciadiego · Jul 12, 2017

I graduated long ago w/ an LPN, and worked through an agency for years. Sometimes I would do CNA work for a patient when I was working Home Health, and when I was through with his personal care, I'd 'change hats' and then did my nursing assessments, dsg changes, trach care, etc. That covered it for a patient who was difficult to cover on w/e's.
I think every state is different, though. With the agency I could switch back and forth, especially when it suited them . I do remember, however, the DON had to and did clear it with the BoN.
Doubt any facility would be that flexible, especially now w/ all the changes; and having to remember which scope of practice you are using could make things tricky.
Even after I retired my license, but still worked doing PD as a CNA, I had to remind myself WHEN to bow out, even if I 'knew' what to do. It isn't always easy.

I something work as a CNA now but I don't understand stand, if I have a LPN liscene and am hired as an LPN that's what I am,not a RN or MD.

caliotter3 · Jul 12, 2017

OP is an abbreviation for original post or poster. Don't confuse license with job description. If you use your LPN license to obtain an LPN level job, you will be held to your RN license as far as your critical thinking and decision-making skills, but you are expected to fulfill the LPN duties per the job description. You don't do the job of the RN, you do the job of the LPN. And don't think for one minute there is less stress in the LPN role. In fact you will have more, because you will now be worrying about your RN license and the fact that you now have two licenses to protect instead of just one.

garciadiego · Jul 13, 2017

OP is an abbreviation for original post or poster. Don't confuse license with job description. If you use your LPN license to obtain an LPN level job, you will be held to your RN license as far as your critical thinking and decision-making skills, but you are expected to fulfill the LPN duties per the job description. You don't do the job of the RN, you do the job of the LPN. And don't think for one minute there is less stress in the LPN role. In fact you will have more, because you will now be worrying about your RN license and the fact that you now have two licenses to protect instead of just one.

Hmmmm......is this true? I'm hired as an LPN but held to RN license? That doesn't compute...and where I work LPNs have less responsibility than RN hence less stress.

caliotter3 · Jul 13, 2017

Address the LPN vs. RN issue with your malpractice insurance carrier.

Editorial Team / Admin · Jul 13, 2017

This talks about TX, but the premise would likely be the same. Medscape: Medscape Access

However, the definition of standard of care is: what a reasonably prudent clinician of similar education and experience would have done in a similar situation. This definition indicates that an RN working as a CNA would be held to the standard of care of an RN.

Orca, ADN, ASN, RN · Jul 21, 2017

Does your state allow those who haven't completed an LPN program to sit for NCLEX-PN? You might want to double check that before you make any decisions.

I completed RN school in Oklahoma. Several of us took PN boards after the third semester. It allowed me to start orientation on my job earlier, as I waited for my RN license. Somewhere in the deep recesses of a suburban Oklahoma City hospital are some records I signed as an LPN.