RN to LPN?

Marisette, BSN, RN · Aug 4, 2013

If you can activate your LPN license, why not give it a try. The economy is bad and nursing jobs are hard to come by, even for the LPN.

You will not get called to interview for an LPN position, with an RN license. Employers will try to figure out why? Age, problems in the workplace and so on. Can a nurse have both, an LPN and RN license in any state?

BrandonLPN, LPN · Aug 4, 2013

No, a RN doesn't need to have a LPN license to do the work that a LPN does.

By definition, a RN can do anything a LPN does.

If a RN really needs a job, he/she can always apply for a job that was posted as a LPN position. This is perfectly legal. The pay probabbly won't be great, and the employer may (justifiably) be suspicous that the RN will jump ship when a better opportunity arises, but many employers will be happy to hire a RN in a position originally intended for a LPN. Espeically if the RN is willing to work for near-LPN level wages.

Why do you think there's so many new RNs pushing med carts in LTC? It's 100% due to the economy.

It's the same principal by which a LPN can apply for a job posted for a medical assistant. A LPN can do anything a MA does, its very common for LPNs to apply for jobs posted for a MA.

So, long story short, a RN does not need to retain his LPN license to apply for LPN jobs. They'll simply be a RN doing a job that was originally posted for a LPN. It's all nursing, and it's all within the RN scope of practice.

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Aug 4, 2013

Can a nurse have both, an LPN and RN license in any state?

I currently hold an active and valid RN and LPN license.

I did not do this on purpose. My LPN license was up for renewal 1 month prior to my graduation from RN school and before I took the NCLEX-RN. Both have expiration dates of next year.

I know of several LPN's who became RN's who had both licenses active basically for the same reason as me. Now I wonder if the State will even bother to send me a renewal for my LPN when the time comes next year. I can't see that I would renew it and pay the crazy fee for it when my RN license allows me to work in either capacity.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Aug 4, 2013

I currently hold an active and valid RN and LPN license.
I did not do this on purpose. My LPN license was up for renewal 1 month prior to my graduation from RN school and before I took the NCLEX-RN. Both have expiration dates of next year.
I know of several LPN's who became RN's who had both licenses active basically for the same reason as me. Now I wonder if the State will even bother to send me a renewal for my LPN when the time comes next year. I can't see that I would renew it and pay the crazy fee for it when my RN license allows me to work in either capacity.

I will see in 2014 if they send for my LPN renewal...otherwise both my licenses are active for the same reasons as you stated CT. :yes:

I renew my RN this October in my state.

I plan on contacting the board to make the best decision on how to deactivate my LPN license, or to let it expire.... :whistling:

june2009 · Aug 13, 2013

I have both an RN and LPN license. I renew them both when they are due. I figure, I worked hard for my LPN, why not keep it? I work as an RN but both licenses are active.

lindseylpn · Aug 13, 2013

Idk if it's the same for every state but, when I was in school we were told that you can't technically have both an LPN and an RN license, that when you get your RN your LPN license basically becomes obsolete. Even if it shows up in the board of nursing website that it's still valid the board of nursing only views it that you have an RN license. The higher license is the only one that matters. Even if you hold an lpn, cna license etc you will still be held accountable as an RN no matter what. An RN can apply for LPN jobs though, where I work there is only LPNS but, we have an RN working here now. It was advertised as an LPN job in the paper and she took a chance and applied for it and was hired.

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Aug 13, 2013

Idk if it's the same for every state but, when I was in school we were told that you can't technically have both an LPN and an RN license, that when you get your RN your LPN license basically becomes obsolete. Even if it shows up in the board of nursing website that it's still valid the board of nursing only views it that you have an RN license. The higher license is the only one that matters. Even if you hold an lpn, cna license etc you will still be held accountable as an RN no matter what. An RN can apply for LPN jobs though, where I work there is only LPNS but, we have an RN working here now. It was advertised as an LPN job in the paper and she took a chance and applied for it and was hired.

Not true in CT. If you are an LPN or RN and you are working in a CNA capacity, you are only held to the CNA as long as you stay within the scope of practice for CNA. We had an issue where the LTC facility I was working at was very short staffed for CNA's, the DON came to the LPN's and had said that anyone who wanted to come in on their off shift, come in early or stay late to work in the CNA capacity was welcome to. Many of us refused to do this b/c of being held accountable for a patient we were caring for but was technically under another nurses 'care'. We contacted the BON and we were informed that LPN's and RN's can work as a CNA as long as they do not perform duties that are only to be done by a licensed nurse.