New Grads that wear RN on badge before licensure

[Nurse-o-Matic]

Okay, this is driving me mad! The new graduate RN's are working as nurse techs in my hospital until they pass thier boards...but they are allowed to walk around with "RN" posted on thier name badge. Excuse me? I was made to cover my "RN" with tape until I was official. Any other hospitals allowing this insanity? These grads even introduce themselves as RN's. I'll say congrats and ask how the NCLEX was. They reply: Oh, that's not for another month. ?????

[suebird3]

until i found out i passed boards, i just used my lpn title.....when i found out i passed and all, well.... hot dang and hallaluia!

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

In the dinasaur days +pre interm permit, graduates of nursing school were GPN =graduate practical nurse or GRN =graduate registered nurse in Pa and most states.

PLEASE check your states nursing laws to see what is required as now varies. What you are signing is a LEGAL NAME and can land you before the BON if any mishape during orientation/pre nclex.

List of eash states Boards of nursing found under links top right corner yellow toolbar: https://allnurses.com/forums/boards-of-nursing.php

[michellebsn]

Same here when we graduate we will NOT wear RN until boards and That is at every hospital I know of in this city. I may have a BSN when i am done but no-one is an RN until the boards are passed!

[Gompers, BSN, RN]

How is that really screwing things up??

Because they've already started nursing orientation. Most places, if you don't pass your boards, they have to demote you to being a nursing assistant because they're not going to keep you on orientation for another couple of months until you get your next chance at the boards. And what if that unit doesn't NEED any more nursing assistants (yeah right, but it can happen!).

I'm just saying, what is wrong with hiring someone but not having an orientation start date until after they have passed their boards? I worked as a nursing assistant until I got my license, then I was hired as an RN and started orientation. I've worked places where they hired GNs, were DONE with orientation, and then they failed their boards. Very uncomfortalble situation for everybody involved.

[AuntMeggie]

My Badge said RNA (RN Applicant) for the month before I took boards.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

I'm just saying, what is wrong with hiring someone but not having an orientation start date until after they have passed their boards?

In that case, i would have gone a month w/o a job.

[Gompers, BSN, RN]

In that case, i would have gone a month w/o a job.

Well, I understand that, but why should the hospital be responsible for making sure unlicensed nurses have jobs? The people I know who waited to start their nursing jobs until after they passed their boards either got temp jobs (non-nursing, but making enough money to pay bills) or continued working at whatever job they had during school. I was a CNA during school, and I kept working as a CNA until I started working as an RN post-boards, even though I had already graduated with my BSN. I know I could have been making more money during those months had I tried to get a job as a graduate, license-pending nurse, but I didn't want to start a nursing job and then have to face everybody if I failed my boards - plus since it was at a different hospital than my CNA position, I wouldn't have had that job to fall back on in the meantime had they decided to postpone my nursing orientation.

[Pitbullgirl]

In Kentucky, beginning January 1st (I was the last class to be exempt, graduating in December), all new graduates will be required to WORK 120 HOURS with a preceptor before taking NCLEX. So at least in Kentucky, everyone will have to begin work before taking NCLEX.

I talked with someone at the Board when I thought it applied to me, and she said it was to try and ensure that everyone had at least 120 hours of orientation before being on their own. This means everyone graduating this coming May and forward will have to work as RNAs or GNs before taking NCLEX. The "provisional license" is good for 6 months.

[cajunrn05]

RN Applicant is spelled out on our badges, and we are not allowed to do anything (except NA duties) without the oversight of an RN. That means no assessments, meds, taking of verbal orders, everything has to be done with the oversight of an RN. Once I actually received my license, I then brought this to HR and received a new badge. I was not practicing as an RN prior to that. When I introduced myself to a patient they were told that I was a nurse in training, I actually took boards before I started working so, I only had to wait like 4 days to get my results.

Cajunrn