Retaining LPN as an RN

elkpark · Feb 1, 2008

Legally, you are held to the standards of your highest level of education/licensure/credentials, regardless of your title or job description for a particular job. This is why hospitals/facilities are usually v. reluctant to hire peopple to work in a lower job classification (e.g., RN working as LPN) -- it creates all kinds of confusion and complications for the organization.

hikernurse · Feb 1, 2008

Where I live, getting an RN license nullifies the LPN license, anyway. What kind of LPN job are you interested in?

VikaRN · Feb 1, 2008

i also heard that if your a NP.. and lets say work as an RN for a while.. during that time you still have to have NP malpractice as well as if you get sued.. you will be sued as an NP...... moral of the story, unless your planning on working as such (RN, NP) dont bother getting that advance license;)

pagandeva2000, LPN · Feb 1, 2008

I have friends that have been maintaining both licenses. One told me that while being an LPN, she saw more opportunities and interesting positions for RNs; then, when she became an RN, it seemed to revert back to more LPNs having opportunities in things she was interested in doing. I also have a friend who is an NP, but still maintains her RN license because at times, she says that the malpractice as an NP is too high.

I can see me doing that in certain settings. I still maintain my phlebotomy license...I earned it, and still wish to be able to carry a current certificate stating that I am one. I assume I would feel the same if I were to become an RN.

Jolie, BSN · Feb 1, 2008

I also have a friend who is an NP, but still maintains her RN license because at times, she says that the malpractice as an NP is too high. QUOTE]
I believe that APNs are required by the Nurse Practice Act to maintain their RN licensure. An APN can't be licensed as such without also having an active RN license.

Woodenpug, BSN · Feb 2, 2008

Thank you all for your input. I get many mixed messages. My insurance company told me I needed two separate policies. Since I'm working as an RN, I decided to have protection for that license. When I received my policy, it showed me as covered for both licenses. No increase in premium. LPN vs. RN is a different consideration than is NP vs. RN. I would see no problem in retaining RN as an NP, kinda think it is mandatory. Thanks again!

pagandeva2000, LPN · Feb 2, 2008

I also have a friend who is an NP, but still maintains her RN license because at times, she says that the malpractice as an NP is too high. QUOTE]
I believe that APNs are required by the Nurse Practice Act to maintain their RN licensure. An APN can't be licensed as such without also having an active RN license.
I heard that, but wasn't sure. This NP told me that she is finding more work as an RN moreso because she really can't afford the insurance. Thanks for the clarification.

MIA-RN · Feb 2, 2008

this whole issue is why I was always scared to work as a tech when I was a floor nurse. When we were short techs, nurses would be assigned to work the shift as a tech. Which is great to help out, but we are all still nurses and held accountable at that level. So where a tech can report that a patient doesn't look right or has bad vitals or whatever, a nurse working as a tech is still somehow accountable to be sure something is done about it. It just makes things confusing and worrysome, in my mind. Like if the nurse working as a tech finds a patient with a low b/p, and the assigned nurse doesn't get to it right away, and something happens to the patient, the nurse who is being the tech is still held accountable as well...never mind that the nurse/tech might have 15 other patients to get vitals on and acted her assigned role as tech by alerting the nurse.

Just makes me nervous.