RN as a LPN

I have been a RN for 4yrs now. I have had 3 jobs, two in med/ surg one home health. Not sure if I am suited for home health. I do my best see my Pts, do hours of paperwork that at times is still not god enough. Always worry about my Pts and if I am truly helping them or not. I have been asked if I would be interested in a position that is classified for a LPN $24/ hr. at a ALF that I see Pts at daily. I have made friends with the staff and many residents know me. It is 10 min from home, it would be 10-6 mon-fri with possible OT at times. This would give me the time to go back to get my BSN and spend more time with my kids. Not sure what to do.

Not much different than doing LPN level work in home health. If this provides the benefits for you that you talk about, I would say to go for it. You can continue to do an extended care shift or two on the side if you care to maintain employment with the home health agency.

I am intermittent home care but I am sure they would accept me as weekend help. But left this company once and came back.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

Check with your board of nursing, if you are in USA. In most states you will be held to the same level of care as an RN regardless of your job description (and pay!). That means you have higher level of responsibility without appropriate compensation.

[Seas]

Why would you want to work under the title of LPN while you are already a RN? Wait until they open up a RN position, or find a RN job I think. Working as a LPN if you are RN can have bad consequences, and legal issues. I would never do it.

[nursel56]

Best to check with your state BON. I've worked with several RNs in home care in my state. They accepted the lower pay because the lifestyle issues (ie more time with kids) are more important to them at that point in time. I know another RN who was told that to work within the scope of practice of the LPN (LVN) she needed to maintain an active license as an LPN/VN as well. It's always best to get your information as close to the source as possible. Best wishes whatever you decide to do!

[amoLucia]

Good info from previous posters. But a question - what level of license does the DON have? Maybe some conflict there.

It would not be a DON just a nurse. The nurse that is the substitute said it is alot like home health. Med monitoring, follow labs, md appointments, chart setup and assess when needed. The nurse doing the job now is a RN.

[NurseCard, ADN]

With jobs like that, I worry about job security. As in, "why continue to pay an RN to

do this job, when we can pay an LPN less to do the exact same job."

Being an LTC nurse who works the floor and does not work in administration, I tend

to worry about job security myself. In the two LTC's which I have worked.. in both

cases, I was one of only 3-4 RN's working the floor, in the whole place. Everyone

else was LPN.

I agree that checking with the state BON is a good idea... Maybe even send the ad or the correspondence you've had with the potential employer for review. (I've seen this same wording lately "currently looking for RNs willing to take LPN responsibility" but the hourly rate of pay was less). Just be mindful of that perennial rule "If you have to ask then it should probably should be avoided". Their HR job description person is either on extended vacation and they don't realize how odd that sounds, or they're trying to get away with something that's not quite right. I would not sign a contract for a license I do not hold, would rather sign one for RN at the stated pay rate instead. Good luck!