Hello, I am a new grad, (June 2009), on Long Island, have applied everywhere with no luck, no call back nothing!!
Have been working flu clinics on and off as needed. Applied for a job at a LTC facility in Queens, during the interview she told me she would be hiring me as an RN but would be paying me LPN salary. She would not continue with the interview unless I agreed. I agreed because something is better than nothing, but now I am thinking maybe I should not have. $21.00 an hour is better and $0.00 an hour, and I am getting experience too. Initially she told me 7-3 but when I called to confirm, she said you have to be flexible the schedule is already made up for the month of December, etc. First you train and then we will see. I just don't have a good feeling about this. Also, I have to pay for parking, because there is no parking around $10.00 a day. Just need some feedback.
I know that $21/hour sounds good to people living in low COL states but it's a rip off wage for an RN in New York. I make more as an LPN on day shift and even more than that with the 10% differential for evenings. With studio apts starting at $900 or better a month that money will not go far unless you pick up extra shifts or a second job.
Take it if you are truly desperate but don't be surprised by anything that happens while you are working there. A place that is willing to undercut the wages of their employees by that much is likely to be up to other shenanigans as well. They aren't interested in a quality nurse rather they just want a warm body with a license.
That said ^^^ the fact that she graduated 7 months ago doesn't negate the fact that $21/hour is a rip off wage and it won't go far in NYC. Sigh, I know...I know the OP needs experience so what else can she do? Hence my tears this economy has employers holding a lot of us over hot coals with little choice other than accepting substandard wages and working conditions.
Like I said before take it if you're desperate OP but keep looking.
koi310: The OP has to work as an RN because that is the license she holds and even if she had an LPN license (Do you have an LPN license OP?) scope of practice always holds a nurse to the standard of the higher license.
a new grad n NYC makes about 32 dollars an hour (ADN) and 34 dollars an hour (BSN)on the day shift and more on nights. You should try NYP they are opening a new heart center in febuary and they are hiring.
I think in a different thread, someone suggested to check the BON for your state if you can work as an LPN. But as others have said in this thread, watch for your license. 7 months is a long time (believe me, I know what you are going through...a lot of us do), but 7 months is a short time vs. 4-5 years of nursing school and the blood, sweat and tears put into it to get your license just to risk losing it for a sketchy-sounding job.
Definitely keep looking for other options.
Sometimes, when it really comes down to it, trust your gut.
Yep.... Load-O-Crap, but you're making $ (notice only one dollar sign) while looking elsewhere, I assume. I admire that initiative, but don't get used for too long. They certainly aren't deserving your loyalty, so take care of your patients, meet your own needs and then move on. keep growing!
two issues here; the first is whether to have a job or not, the second is in regards to your scope of practice.
if you're hired as an lpn, that means you can only practice as an lpn. if you perform rn specific functions, then you're practicing beyond your scope. this may open many issues. i suggest that you investigate more into what your actual position is, and what your legal vulnerabilities are.
on the other hand, if you're being officially hired on as an rn, to perform rn functions, there would be no scope of practice issues; but if your salary is significantly lower than that of other rn's then that would constitute unfair labor practice.
the other problem of course, is that the job market is bad and having a crappy job under crappy conditions is better than no job at all. but, you're being royally used. i would suggest that you get everything in writing, and once on the job, to quietly check with your other rn colleagues (once you get to know them) about what their pay status is. buy yourself one of those small mp3 voice activated recorders, and have it in your pocket to record everything that they (the bosses) tell you (...and no, i'm not kidding).
don't stop looking for jobs; as soon as you find something else worth your while, drop them like the hot potato that they are. good luck.
addendum: i just read your post again, and realized that you're writing in from queens, new york; listen $21/hr even for an lpn is so underpaid that it's laughable...
Thank you for all the feedback, really appreciate it. One question, in order for her to pay me that wage she has to list me as an LPN on her records, I don't understand.
Thank you for all the feedback, really appreciate it. One question, in order for her to pay me that wage she has to list me as an LPN on her records, I don't understand.
Do you have an LPN license? If you don't, then they're using an unlicensed LPN.
Thank you for all the feedback, really appreciate it. One question, in order for her to pay me that wage she has to list me as an LPN on her records, I don't understand.
You CANNOT take this job!!!
You don't have an LPN license so you cannot work as an LPN. It's as simple as that and if you take the job and the state finds out about it you will be in just as much trouble as the DON.
6903. Practice of nursing and use of title "registered professional nurse" or "licensed practical nurse".
Only a person licensed or otherwise authorized under this article shall practice nursing and only a person licensed under section sixty-nine hundred four shall use the title "registered professional nurse" and only a person licensed under section sixty-nine hundred five of this article shall use the title "licensed practical nurse". No person shall use the title "nurse" or any other title or abbreviation that would represent to the public that the person is authorized to practice nursing unless the person is licensed or otherwise authorized under this article.
If you want to work as an LPN you have to apply for an LPN license which means taking the NCLEX-PN and paying the $135 for the license. An RN license may be "higher" than an LPN one but according to the NYS OP it is not interchangable.
However, under artical 6906 it states that if you graduated from a professional school of nursing that you may take the licensing exam for LPN.
2.Education: have received an education including completion of high school or its equivalent, and have completed a program in practical nursing, in accordance with the commissioner's regulations, or completion of equivalent study satisfactory to the department in a program conducted by the armed forces of the United States or in an approved program in professional nursing;
this economy has employers holding a lot of us over hot coals with little choice other than accepting substandard wages and working conditions.
Lovely_RN, MSN
1,122 Posts
I almost choked when I read this thread.
I know that $21/hour sounds good to people living in low COL states but it's a rip off wage for an RN in New York. I make more as an LPN on day shift and even more than that with the 10% differential for evenings. With studio apts starting at $900 or better a month that money will not go far unless you pick up extra shifts or a second job.
Take it if you are truly desperate but don't be surprised by anything that happens while you are working there. A place that is willing to undercut the wages of their employees by that much is likely to be up to other shenanigans as well. They aren't interested in a quality nurse rather they just want a warm body with a license.