RN to ... LPN?

[hotflashion, BSN, RN]

Every RN I have mentioned this to has looked at me like this was a very bad idea.

But I'm serious. I've got the RN BSN and I cannot find a job. I've considered working away from home but am very reluctant to seriously pursue this option. The spouse has the good job and the good income and we have a house and a pet, family ties, etc., we are firmly settled where we are. I flunked an interview for an away job yesterday and was half humiliated and half relieved. The humiliated part of me is still tearful; the relieved part is thinking of new ways to approach the Job Search.

I would like (no, LOVE) a job as a nurse and I don't care if it is at the LPN level of responsibility and accountability. In fact, I might even prefer at this point in time, after having been out of school for so long (grad May 2009), to begin work at the LPN level. I'm willing to do almost any job in healthcare, just to get into the industry. However, my only option for work seems to be outside of healthcare -- because I have the RN, no one wants to hire me because they know I will quit as soon as I find that RN job. That might have made sense a year ago, but here I am still unemployed. I NEED A JOB.

I have asked my BoN and I can take the NCLEX-PN. I have also asked if I can work "below my license." There is no rule that says I cannot work below the license. This doesn't mean anyone would hire me to be an aide or an LPN if I had that license, too, but they are not prohibited from doing so; I understand the difference.

Thoughts, dear readers?

[elkpark]

While most states don't have a rule prohibiting anyone from working "below their license" (apparently, a few states do specifically prohibit it, from some posts I've read here), several state BONs have developed and published position statements saying that they strongly discourage nurses from doing this. There are risks and complications (of the legal variety) involved and that's why lots of employers simply refuse to hire someone in that capacity (in addition to the "you'll leave as soon as you get an RN offer" factor :)). The employers who are willing to hire someone to do this aren't really doing you any favors -- they are basically looking to get an RN at an LPN salary.

The catch is that, even though you're hired into an LPN (or CNA) position, your employer tells you you're only allowed to function as an LPN (or CNA), and your job description says that you're only supposed to do what's within the LPN (or CNA) scope of practice defined by your state, if anything ever goes wrong enough to end up in court, the courts will hold you to the standard of your highest level of education and licensure (so, if you failed/neglected to do anything that a prudent and reasonable RN would have in the same situation, you're negligent), regardless of what your job title was at the time.

Granted, the risk of that actually happening is v. low, but it is a risk, and it's important that you understand that before you put yourself in a situation like that. You can't "turn off" your RN license (even if you also have an LPN license) -- if you're an RN, you're an RN 24/7.

On the other hand, I certainly "feel your pain." These are v. hard times for new grads (for everyone), and sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do. Best wishes for your journey!

[hotflashion, BSN, RN]

Thanks, elkpark. I'm not sure exactly where I was in my journey/ordeal 10 years ago now, but I didn't pursue whatever offers I was considering at the time. I did eventually work for a podiatrist who'd advertised for a medical assistant and did not use me to my capacity. I took some criticism from my nursing friends, but I looked on it as a paid educational experience -- I'd learned that foot care was a legitimate nursing specialty and I was actively pursuing it. I did learn a lot from that podiatrist and wished I could have convinced them to use me as a nurse but to no avail. Why podiatrists don't use nurses is beyond me. I've worked for 5 years as a foot care nurse and I like it very much. My clients appreciate what I do for them, it's hands on care, and I'm my own boss. There is more demand than I can accomodate, and podiatric nurses are rare.