Nurse working as an aide.

[ironman53]

Hello all, I rarely post on here, but I really wanted to hear some opinions on this. I have been in LVN in CA almost a year now. I work in a LTC sub acute, where I pass meds, trach care, GT care, wound care, etc..I recently got an opportunity to work in a great area hospital on the floor in the following units: Tele,Neuro,ICU floor as a CNA, since i still have a valid CNA cert. Duties are strictly CNA.

Most of my coworkers at the LTC think I'm crazy, but I see this as an amazing opportunity to explore acute care. I get awesome benefits. + tuition reimbursement, hourly pay is 3$ short than LVN job. Already been inspired by awesome ICU nurses I worked with. Want to go back for RN now and do critical care.

I still work at the LTC PT. No, I am not interested in outpatient work. Most LVNs have been phased out of this hospital, except clinics.

What's your opinion?

[Sour Lemon]

Hello all, I rarely post on here, but I really wanted to hear some opinions on this. I have been in LVN in CA almost a year now. I work in a LTC sub acute, where I pass meds, trach care, GT care, wound care, etc..I recently got an opportunity to work in a great area hospital on the floor in the following units: Tele,Neuro,ICU floor as a CNA, since i still have a valid CNA cert. Duties are strictly CNA.

Most of my coworkers at the LTC think I'm crazy, but I see this as an amazing opportunity to explore acute care. I get awesome benefits. + tuition reimbursement, hourly pay is 3$ short than LVN job. Already been inspired by awesome ICU nurses I worked with. Want to go back for RN now and do critical care.

I still work at the LTC PT. No, I am not interested in outpatient work. Most LVNs have been phased out of this hospital, except clinics.

What's your opinion?

CNA experience in a hospital may not get you where you're hoping to go. Even LVN hospital experience "doesn't count" (for RN jobs) in many places.

[MrNurse(x2), ADN]

Ride the tuition reimbursement, it normally comes with mandatory employment, not a negative when new grad jobs are scarce. Be secure in who you are and listen to that voice inside.

[ironman53]

Ride the tuition reimbursement, it normally comes with mandatory employment, not a negative when new grad jobs are scarce. Be secure in who you are and listen to that voice inside.

Yeah, there was a little regret in me when completing the LVN program, i already knew LVN jobs were hard to find and most job opportunities for VNs are in LTC, which isn't where i want to be career wise. I may be working as a CNA, but i'm proud to be an LVN. Thanks!

[beekee]

I'd check to see if your state had a requirement to keep your LVN active that involves working as a LVN for a certain number of hours in a time period. Like a pp, use that tuition reimbursement to get your RN. Good aides are worth their weight in gold. If not a job, you hopefully will at least get some recommendations!

And I'd probably get a very PT LVN job to have on the resume. It'll raise an eyebrow in HR that you weren't working as a nurse.

[FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN]

Deleted....

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

I was under the impression that nurses are held to their highest license. If things go wrong, will you be held to CNA standards or LVN standards?

[elkpark]

I was under the impression that nurses are held to their highest license. If things go wrong, will you be held to CNA standards or LVN standards?

The dilemma of working below your highest level of licensure is that the employer restricts you to the job description of the role in which you're working (CNA, in this case) but, if anything goes wrong enough to end up in court, the courts will hold you to the standards and expectations of your highest level of education and licensure (LVN, in this case). That doesn't mean no one should ever work below their level of licensure, but I think it's important to understand the legal ramifications of doing so.