RN working as CNA under an LPN?

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Im a relatively new RN who works per diem at a hospital on a rehab unit but im usually floated to their eden centered nursing home (set up like cottages with 20 elders to a cottage) though. I only worka once a month here (i have a FT job elsewhere).Theres one nurse and 4 shabaz on each shift. Today I was assigned to the rehab unit but at the last minute the supervisor floated me over to the cottages. Well they put me on as a CNA working under an LPN whos on as the nurse. Im uncomfortable because im not sure i can legally do this. I live in NY, where can I go to find out??

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

What's a shabaz?

I've seen plenty of posts where RN's or LPN's worked a shift as a CNA or unit secretary. Is it the "reporting to an LPN" for one shift that is worrying you?

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

You weren't hired as a CNA so you're technically not working under your license. You are being floated to help out a short-staffed unit and assigned to do CNA-level tasks instead of being the nurse overseeing things. Everything that the CNA does is within the RN's scope of practice, so you're not going to be running afoul of nurse-practice acts.

If you have a question about the legality, you can always contact your state BON for the definite answer for your state.

I agree with the prior poster. Based on what you write, you seem to take issue with having to take direction from and report to the LPN. Keep in mind that they may have opted to keep the LPN as the nurse and assign you the CNA tasks since she's probably a FT employee and more familiar with the role, while you're there only monthly.

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LPN thing doesnt bother me that its an lpn... Just wanna make sure its ok. Thats all. Ill just check with my BON I thought people here might know though which is why I asked.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
LPN thing doesnt bother me that its an lpn... Just wanna make sure its ok. Thats all. Ill just check with my BON I thought people here might know though which is why I asked.

It's fine. AN LPN can be "in charge" of and RN but she cannot delegate your "RN nursing practice". If you are just being assigned CNA duties.... those duties are within your scope of practice.

According to the NY BON site

  1. Can a Registered Professional Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) work in a position that is below his/her level of licensure? Answer: Yes. A licensed nurse may work in a position that he/she has the training to do and that is within his/her scope of practice. RNs have the training to perform LPN, Certified Nurses Aid and Home Care Aid functions and therefore could accept a work identified for these levels. An LPN has the training to perform Certified Nurses Aid and Home Care Aid functions, and could accept work identified for either of these positions. However, the nurse that does so would still be required to act prudently based on his/her educational preparation and would be held to that standard. In addition the nurse cannot refer to themselves as an “LPN” or “Certified Nurses Aid” unless it is, in fact, true.

I think this page may help you answer your questions....NYS Nursing:Practice Information:FAQ
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I think the only thing that could potentially worry me (if it were me) would be if I were expected to do RN tasks because, after all, I'm an RN. And you can't "turn off" your license; if you fail to recognize a situation or respond appropriately in a situation in which any RN would do so correctly, you would have a problem.

Other than that......CNA away :)

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
I think the only thing that could potentially worry me (if it were me) would be if I were expected to do RN tasks because, after all, I'm an RN. And you can't "turn off" your license; if you fail to recognize a situation or respond appropriately in a situation in which any RN would do so correctly, you would have a problem.

Other than that......CNA away :)

Whenever I'm floated as the tech, I tell them that I can't be both the tech and the RN; if I'm doing the tech work, I can't be assigned patients to care for. This is usually because we only have one tech--two if we're lucky. Same thing if they float me as the LVN.

Of course, this doesn't mean that I'm not going to act if I see something wrong--if I see a patient in distress, I'm going to be doing at least a quick assessment and let the nurse assigned to the patient know what's up. But unless it's a code or other emergency, I'm going to be deferring the RN/LVN tasks to the assigned nurse.

IMO, OP: enjoy the temporary change in role and let the LVN deal with all the stress :)

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

Still dying to know what a "shabaz" is...

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Still dying to know what a "shabaz" is...

Lol me too!

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Nurse aides to get new titles and duties at Loretto's Green House project | syracuse.com

A “shahbaz,” which means the “King’s Falcon” in Persian, will do the caregiving. That’s the title for a new breed of certified nurse aide who will take on extra duties such as cooking, cleaning and seeing to the overall welfare of elderly residents. The plural version of the term is “shahbazim.”

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I actually Googled it, thinking maybe it was a job title we don't use in my area of the U.S. (or the world)....no luck. :cautious:

Thanks for your reply, hherrn.

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I'm sure the overburdened CNAs reading this would wholeheartedly agree that adding cooking to their job descriptions will make the load so much easier.... :dead:

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