Lpn working as phlebotomist or ER tech?

Nurses Career Support

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Specializes in Rehab, LTC.

OK here is my situation. I am a nursing student and will have my LPN very soon and plan to go right into the RN program. I currently work for a great hospital as a CNA/unit secretary. Of course, they don't hire LPNs on the floor. I don't really want to leave the hospital to go to a nursing home to work as an LPN, so is it possible to work as a phlebotomist or ER tech as an LPN until I finish my RN? and does anyone know if they make around the same pay starting out or not?

Thanks!

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Idk about your hospital but in our ER, we have several LPN's working. They are technically for our "Immediate Treatment Center" which is exactly the same as our ER, only with certain beds designated for ITC (if we're not full lol). However, they basically do all the tech duties. It's very rare that they are actually doing patient care. I would think, though, that if you stayed on as a "tech", you'd get paid as a tech, not a nurse.

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Specializes in LTC Family Practice.

Working as a Tech or a Phlebotomist after you get your LPN would be a waste of your education. Working as an LPN while getting your RN would be a better fit and better pay.

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Specializes in cardiac.

the hospitals around me hire emts to be er techs and in my state lpns can not start ivs unless they get an additional iv certification. that still doesn't make you a licensed phlebotomist, that is a totally differernt thing. i agree with the above poster, work as an lpn when you get that license. then you are getting familiar with medications and nursing interventions, and doctors orders and such. it will really help you learn time management too. plus it pays better than a cna/tech job!

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If you don't want to leave the hospital you are at. They have accelerated CPT programs. I'm not sure where you are located, but in Berkley, CA there's a school called "Fast Response". The program is 3 weeks long, 2 weeks of classes, and 1 week of an externship. I believe the tuition is approximately $2600 for everything. Hope this helps out. I may be doing the same thing as well. There's a class that starts Feb 21.

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.

I've known LVNs who worked as ER techs so they didn't have to leave their hospital. Some hospitals depending on policy, if you are IV certified will let you draw blood and so forth, others will not. If you want to be in ER, it'd be good experience. It kinda depends on your long term goals.

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Specializes in Med/Surg,Geriatrics, Pediatrics, and Family Med..

Did you ever work this out? LPN with 13 year experience here thinking about working while in RN, just to get hospital based experience.

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