RN going back to work as an LVN

caliotter3 · Nov 18, 2011

Make certain that you obtain malpractice insurance and watch yourself. You are aware that even though working as an LVN, you will be held to the standards of the RN license. I would think twice before going through with this kind of an arrangement, particularly since the employer is stating that they intend to be dishonest when reporting on you in the future. Sounds like a good way to be taken advantage of.

Bubbles · Nov 18, 2011

I agree. :crying2:

agldragonRN · Nov 18, 2011

you need an lvn license to work as one. your are licensed as an rn and do not hold an lvn license, correct?

if so, then you would be working as an rn with lvn pay. nothing wrong with that if you are willing to get the nursing experience. but just remember to sign anything with rn not lvn. you need an lvn license to sign as one. this would be forgery if you do so.

this place sounds fishy but please be careful and watch out for anything "illegal."

good luck!

allnurses Guide · Nov 18, 2011

I think you should hire on as an RN - there is nothing binding you to any particular wage so when you go to apply for another job it will be "RN" experience and there will be no need to be less than truthful with your prospective new employers. I don't think you can sign an LVN after your name if you haven't taken and passed the NCLEX-PN (LVN) and have a license in good standing.

You may run into hiring managers who don't count clinic experience as experience for a job in an acute care hospital, or a highly specialized area like NICU as well.

I don't tell you this to discourage you, but to maybe help you avoid big disappointment later on.

It's a huge accomplishment to learn English and pass the NCLEX after such a short time here in the US. Best of luck to you! :)

Silverdragon102, BSN · Nov 18, 2011

Moved to the General Discussion forum

**NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN** · Nov 18, 2011

First off, Congrats on passing your NCLEX! Competition is fierce in this economy. I would definitely insist she hire you as an RN if you do not have an LVN license. Additionally, if you were working as an LVN, that's not RN experience, and hospitals would not count that towards experience. If you are an RN in an Urgent Care, you have a better shot. As for the wages, tell her you are ok with that, my guess is she's trying to hire you as an LVN but without the ability to, she may have to pay you more based on HR requirements.

You never know til you ask.

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Nov 18, 2011

It sounds like she's trying to take advantage of you. Her whole plan sounds awfully fishy. Be careful.

BluegrassRN · Nov 18, 2011

That horrible woman is taking advantage of you! She is getting an RN for LPN wages, and she knows it! Watch out, because if they are sneaky about that, then they likely will have other suspect practices, as well.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Nov 18, 2011

You're in a VERY sticky area.

First, to work as a LVN, you need to be licensed as a LVN; it's not as though a RN can double as a LVN because the RN has a more advanced license. A RN can do a LVN's job, but an RN can't be a LVN without a LVN license.

Second, officially you will be listed as an LVN by the hiring company, so when it comes time to verify your employment there, HR will tell employers that you worked there as an LVN. It will seem pretty sketchy if this woman goes around saying you have worked as a RN when your legal job title is a LVN.

Third, there's that liability issue: even though you are hired as a LVN, you will still be held to the standard of a RN by your local BON.

I agree with the others: it does sound like she may be trying to take advantage of you. That being said, RN jobs of any sort are hard to come by. If you really want this job, insist you be hired as a RN into a RN job, even if you have to take the LVN pay rate. This will protect you as well as guaranteeing that any experience you get is officially considered RN experience.

maelstrom143 · Nov 18, 2011

BE CAREFUL. This lady sounds as if she is trying to do you a favor, but she is getting an RN under false pretenses and as my grandma used to say,"para muestra, un boton." If in the little things there is dishonesty, beware of bigger things. In the end they can all come back and bite ya. PROTECT YOUR LICENSE AT ALL COSTS.

You have worked long and hard at getting your license. Keep applying...acute care, urgent care, etc...don't give up. Prayers and hugs going your way.:hug:

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Nov 18, 2011

Hi Everyone!
I graduated in Argentina 10 years ago, and I worked there as a NICU Lvl III RN for 4 years. Then, I moved to US, and it took me 3 1/2 years to learn English to be able to pass the NCLEX, which I did 1 1/2 years ago.
Ever since, I have been looking for a job, without any luck until now.
Last Saturday I was introduced to a clinic's administrator. This lady could not believe that I hadn't been able to find a job given the "nursing shortage" in the country. She said her daughter, who is also an RN, has to turn down many shifts because she doesn't have time to work all the days the registry wants her to!
The lady then offered me to work at her clinic as an LVN as they don't hire RN because of their budget. She said she could have me train in many different areas and get experience. Thus, after 6 months or a year, I will be able to start looking for an RN job. When that moment comes, she said that she will say I was actually an RN, so I won't get that "oh, but you still don't have RN experience" Also, she said that after a while, she might even be able to help me get into a NICU setting because of my previous experience in that field...
As she was telling me all this, I could not believe what my ears were hearing. It sounds unreal, like a dream. I will go Sunday to get to know the place; I'll start training in Urgent Care :)
OH!!!, WOW, I am so happy, so, so happy!!! I'll be wearing scrubs and working as a nurse again!!! :heartbeat:yeah:

I am so happy for you....and congratulations on your passing NCLEX. Good Job.!

Now...there is NO nursing shortage in the US. Those who still believe there is, is either.....

#1 Delusional or

#2 a conspititor into making a surplus market of nurses so that the hospitals can lower the compensation to the nurses themselves.

#3 There is NO real shortage due to the economic status right now.

That administrator is getting away with paying you an LPN wage when legally you will be held responsible as an RN. They're getting off cheap. Trust me when I say she will be using you and what you can legally do as an RN for an LPN's pay. LPN's here have MANY restrictions on their license and the RN is who is held ultimately held responsible. Believe me when I say that you will be used as a RN and held accountable as an RN. The director is perfectly aware of this......She may say that she will represent you as an RN later but the cynic in me says for me to tell you NOT to believe her. Here in the US there are many laws that protect the employer and not the employee....and without getting what she says in writing.......later on techincally it didn't happen.

All that being said I would still take the position. I would ask her to hire you as an RN since by law you will be held accountable as one, but that you accept the LPN pay....work to get the experience but start looking for another job. It's always easier to get a job when you already have one....she may be acting as your best friend and doing you a favor but I'm afraid to say...she isn't your freind.

People like this emabrass me..........the other thing I suggest is malpractice insurance to protect your new license....it's cheap but worth every penny when you need it. NSO is pretty much the standard....I have had them for years....http://www.nso.com/......God Bless.