RN wanting to work below license

JulieCVICURN, BSN, RN · Jul 13, 2010

Receptionist is not a job in the medical field, even if you do it in a doctor's office. You should be able to take an administrative assistant position or similar without any danger to your license.

klone, MSN, RN · Jul 13, 2010

As a receptionist, you're not providing direct patient care, so I would think it would not matter.

Working as an LPN or MA, whether it's allowed depends completely upon your state's nurse practice act. In some states it's allowed, and in some it's not.

KayteRN · Jul 13, 2010

I really feel for you. I have been in the same situation (in WI) since LAST MAY. Of 09! So for me it's been over a year. I just started volunteering at an STD clinic and a free clinic I start volunteering at within 1 week to try to network and make connections. I have had some really good interviews but no hires. I have background issues as well which I think is my problem primarily. As the last 2 interviews I had were excellent, but have yet to hear back from them. And both sounded like they really wanted to hire me. 1 knew about my background and I still got called for a 2nd interview, the other didn't, but of course I disclosed everything. But neither has checked my refs yet. It's very depressing. Hang in there. Everyone else tells me to do the same, but I'm running on a short fuse these days with regards to having an upbead attitude about it all. Good luck.

kcochrane · Jul 13, 2010

I agree to check with your BON. But big thing to remember is that if an emergency happens, you will be held to the higher standard. I totally understand the need to work and pay bills. I would try for the receptionist first.

diane227, LPN, RN · Jul 15, 2010

If you have an RN license you will be held to the standard of an RN, period. You may take less pay and you may have a different title but under the nurse practice act you are still and RN and you will be held to that standard. Don't do it.

kaliRN · Jul 15, 2010

Asked a very similar question because of a similar struggle. Working in a non-clinical position does not put your license on the line. A unit secretary in a hospital does not need to keep their BLS current. :clown: If you can find a non-clinical position, it eliminates your risk. Just don't let on you are an RN to those you work with, the first time someone asks you to "check that IV, please, I am so swamped" you are in the same sticky place. The risk you take when taking a position as an unlicensed assistant (when you are in fact licensed) is high. Working below your license ties your hands, you see and want to do, what your education has taught you - but your scope is limited by your job title. I am in CA, but I got relevant feedback and insight in my thread:

Held to highest license? - Nursing for Nurses

I wish you well in finding an RN position soon. Please look into the community as deeply as you can, especially less conventional RN roles, its helped me greatly.

pers · Jul 15, 2010

I posted in the other thread and nobody responded but I don't understand the concern unless you plan on pulling the "I'm just a PCA" bit and walking away from a patient in obvious distress.

If you are a PCA and take a bp that is really low but the nurse ignores it, what can you do as a PCA? You can't call the dr because you don't have the ability to take orders. You can put their feet up but you can't give a fluid bolus even if it's the protocol because you don't have access to those protocols. Aside from documenting and reporting up the chain of command (to CN, NM or supervisor) and rechecking the pt frequently, what options do you have as a PCA? What more would be expected of you as a nurse working as a PCA?

I can't think of a single situation where I would be concerned for my license while working as a PCA. It's not like you are going to be worried about meds or missing something that would only be found on a complete assessment. Granted, if you walk in the room and can hear a pt gurgling then I'd hope you'd grab a nurse and listen to lungs if the nurse ignores it. Calling a MET or Rapid Response team may be an option in some facilities. As a PCA though, your options are very limited when it comes to actually dealing with things because your job title restricts your access. I think this would be like holding me responsible for something that happened with the patient of another nurse working on my floor--unless I could have done something and didn't, how could I be held responsible?

I must be missing something since people always say you shouldn't do it but I have never seen a good example of why it's a bad idea. Nurses are routinely pulled to work as PCAs at my facility and while that doesn't really worry me either, it feels like more of a concern than being hired as a PCA since then I'm employed as a nurse but not functioning as one.

kcochrane · Jul 15, 2010

I posted in the other thread and nobody responded but I don't understand the concern unless you plan on pulling the "I'm just a PCA" bit and walking away from a patient in obvious distress.
If you are a PCA and take a bp that is really low but the nurse ignores it, what can you do as a PCA? You can't call the dr because you don't have the ability to take orders. You can put their feet up but you can't give a fluid bolus even if it's the protocol because you don't have access to those protocols. Aside from documenting and reporting up the chain of command (to CN, NM or supervisor) and rechecking the pt frequently, what options do you have as a PCA? What more would be expected of you as a nurse working as a PCA?
I can't think of a single situation where I would be concerned for my license while working as a PCA. It's not like you are going to be worried about meds or missing something that would only be found on a complete assessment. Granted, if you walk in the room and can hear a pt gurgling then I'd hope you'd grab a nurse and listen to lungs if the nurse ignores it. Calling a MET or Rapid Response team may be an option in some facilities. As a PCA though, your options are very limited when it comes to actually dealing with things because your job title restricts your access. I think this would be like holding me responsible for something that happened with the patient of another nurse working on my floor--unless I could have done something and didn't, how could I be held responsible?
I must be missing something since people always say you shouldn't do it but I have never seen a good example of why it's a bad idea. Nurses are routinely pulled to work as PCAs at my facility and while that doesn't really worry me either, it feels like more of a concern than being hired as a PCA since then I'm employed as a nurse but not functioning as one.

ITA. I still hold my LPN license and sure as heck I would find a job as a LPN if I needed to pay the bills. It is possible to work as a CNA/LPN and be smart about it.