RPN misleadingly applies for RN position

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Dear Nurse Beth,

I recently applied for a RN position even though I'm a RPN in Ontario. It's also called LPN. It is for occupational health which I have been doing for the last 5 years and have numerous extra certificates in this field. I just don't have the OHN certificate, which was mentioned in my interview. It clearly says on my resume that I am an RPN, and I mentioned it 4 times in the online survey about my experience.

Example would be "In my experience as a RPN, I have done this, this etc.". I can't remember if I mentioned that I'm a RPN in the second interview and when they asked about the OHN certificate, I did say that since I am unable to get the certificate, I have taken the following courses to make up for this deficit. (RPNs are currently unable to take the full OHN course).

Also when looking my registration number up it also says RPN. I have gone through 3 interviews and 2 clearance checks where they were also checking my educational status. I have been offered the job and have a starting date, yet no letter of offer yet. I was told that I would get that the first day. Can I get fired for not being an RN, even though I have mentioned that I'm an RPN on several occasions and in writing?

My attitude is for the job that I applied for. I am more than qualified based of my last 5 years of experience doing the same job they just hired me for especially given the extra courses I have taken. Overall I have taken 30 additional courses.

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2 Answers

Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.

Dear RPN,

You are not an RN but you applied for an RN position. Yes, they will let you go because you do not qualify for the position.

Mentioning that you are an RPN is not the same as saying you are not an RN. Just tell them clearly. You do not want to mislead them.

Best wishes,

Nurse Beth

RPN stands for Registered Practical Nurse in Canada, which is similar to Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) in the United States.

OHN stands for Occupational Health Nurse certification overseen by the American Board of Occupational Health Nursing.

Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

In some places, RPN can be used for Registered Professional Nurse; I believe that title is actually used in some of the northern US states. If this job was in the US, I wouldn't expect people to know what an RPN is; if they are in Canada, they should know the difference, I would think.

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