SHHHHH, dont tell anyone I'm a RN

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For the past four years I have worked as a CNA putting myself through school and I can officially say I am a RN. However-a few months ago my manager told me that I had to tell him immeadiately after passing my boards because I could not work for my organization as a tech if I'm a license nurse. I checked with my state BON and it says I can but I'm still avoiding him because I need my job. My nurse residency doesnt start for another month (at another location) and I still have bills to pay. Whats worst is that my co workers have been asking me, so I have been honest and tell them that I passed my boards but some of them have gone out of their way to question how do I still have a job as a tech where as the organization usually let techs go once they become nurses who are not staying with the company. I also wanted to stay with the same organization to earn some extra money prn because I'm sure I will not be eliegible for overtime for months at the new Hospital. I'm so confused right now because it's like I have to hide the fact I'm a nurse to justify my needs for survival.

Specializes in ED, med-surg, peri op.

You need to tell him straight away. You've already told nurses there you've past, so I can guarantee you. he will find out before you month is up. And there will be consequences.

He's told you already you can't work as a cna once licenced, and is obviously it's the hospitals policy if the nurses are surprised you are still allowed to work. Either you be honest and uphold your reputation or lie and get fired once he finds out and suffer the consequences. But both ways you won't be working for a month.

I know you have bills to pay, maybe try sort something with your bank like an over draft or credit if needed. It's only a month, and then you'll be earning again. Plus he did let you know before you had done boards, so maybe you should have talk to him before about your situation, or sat boards slightly later, or sorted out a plan in advance. He gave you a few months notice!!!

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
2cooldeans said:
Your RN is public. Anyone can look it up online. However, I don't see a problem here. I have worked in a non RN role for a year and a half in a hospital. You simply work within your scope as employed. So don't touch IVs or do assessments or anything. You are not working as an RN while a CNA or an MA or anything. I see no conflict. And my bosses and co workers all know that Iam an RN.

And yet, the BON will hold you to the standards of the RN license regardless of your job title

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Integrity vs money

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A couple of people seem to be confusing two different situations.

When you are hired into an RN role, working as a tech may be undesirable for a variety of reasons, but does not at all pose the same issue for the hospital as someone who is only employed to do the tech role but now is a licensed RN. I would imagine that, when hired as a tech, the hospital could have a different level of malpractice/liability coverage associated with that employee than they would for their RNs, for example (maybe not, but it's an example of the kind of technicalities they may be concerned about that aren't even on your radar). In this latter situation, you have an ethical and legal obligation to function as a prudent RN would function should the right situation arise, but you are expressly not on your employer's premises to do those things - they are nowhere in your job description because that is not the employment agreement you have with your employer. And if you had to do nursing functions, you haven't been properly oriented to perform them according to your employer's policies. You haven't completed any orientation, nor any of the annual and specialty RN competencies that all RNs in that facility must complete, etc., etc., etc. Your employer is accountable for these kinds of housekeeping items and more, I'm quite sure!

I am sorry that this poses a financial hardship; your worries are completely understandable. Just the same, you have discussed this with others so you're likely well on your way to being out of there sooner rather than later, and potentially with an "ineligible for rehire" departure status. Try to save yourself by talking to your manager ASAP. Beg, if you need the position that bad. Suggest you can do whatever they think is reasonable: Stocking, maybe work on a special project your manager hasn't had time to get to, sitter/companion, de-cluttering, maybe a simple auditing project, ??? who knows. But you will get no consideration if you can't level with them.

Good luck with this and with your upcoming RN position ~

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I have witnessed CNA's who became RN's & attempted to still work on the floor as a CNA quickly lose their job. One of the other RN's checked the state registry & reported the CNA. If the policies at your place of employment states you can't I wouldn't risk it. My advice to you is to speak to your manager & see if it's possible to work as a unit secretary if they're not willing to hire you on as a nurse. I know integrity won't pay your bills but it will take you very far in healthcare. Good luck to you!

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The problem is that he confronted you well in advance to let you know that you couldn't work as a CNA at that facility while being a licensed RN. Hospital policy is different than scope of practice. Your license has a definition for what is legally acceptable within your state, but beyond that, your hospital can make their own rules for what they'll allow you to do on the job. For example, some facilities allow RNs to pull chest tubes, while others require different licensure. So in this case, it doesn't matter if you've pulled 3 chest tubes a day for the last decade, you are not permitted to perform that skill within that facility. As RNs, it is our responsibility to uphold policy. It's ok to question it, and even to disagree with it, but it is never ok to ignore it. If you continue to do so, your facility could possibly put you on a no-hire list. I had a friend who worked in a facility's kitchen when she was 19, and quit without notice. When she applied for a job (when she was 35) not only was she blacklisted from that facility, but also every other facility within that hospital chain. I'm sorry you're in such a tough situation, maybe if you explain your situation to your manager they can find a way to help? One thing is for sure, news travels fast at the hospital, and if you've told co-workers about your licensure it's only a matter of time before it gets back to your manager. It won't look good at all if your manager has to be the one to confront you about this situation, especially when you were told (well in advance) to disclose your new licensure immediately upon receiving it.

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As a RN, I have been utilized as a " tech" several times when staffing needs required additional techs...The hospital used the title " task nurse" and paid me RN wages...

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As I mention before the BON specifically addresses this issue it states nurses can work as techs but he or she could be found liable as a RN if that said nurse did something wrong. I know my role as a CNA and I'm sure I'm not going to put any diapers on wrong to jeopardize my new shiny license. BTW did I mention I'm licensed in completely different state than the facility I'm working at. My manager has not shown me any policy but I have provided him with the literature from BON. But if he does miraculously come up with a policy does it trump board of nursing

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You should have the integrity to come forward and tell him. The repercussions of not doing so could be much worse and come back to adversely affect you down the road. You will be held to a higher standard even working as a CNA. because you are an RN. We have all been in financial situations but a month is only 30 days and your career as an RN will be much longer. You know at least one of your coworkers won't keep your secret. The grapevine does exist as you should know.

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Barbie8808 said:
As I mention before the BON specifically addresses this issue it states nurses can work as techs but he or she could be found liable as a RN if that said nurse did something wrong. I know my role as a CNA and I'm sure I'm not going to put any diapers on wrong to jeopardize my new shiny license. BTW did I mention I'm licensed in completely different state than the facility I'm working at. My manager has not shown me any policy but I have provided him with the literature from BON. But if he does miraculously come up with a policy does it trump board of nursing.

The employer's employment policy doesn't "trump" the BON's position -- the two have nothing to do with each other. The BON says that CNA duties are within the scope of practice for RNs, which is true, and it has no objection to RNs working in CNA positions. However, the BON cannot require or force any employer to employ RNs in CNA positions. Your employer, like many others, has a policy that it does not permit people to work in positions below their highest level of licensure, and it is entirely free to have that policy. The BON isn't going to have any objections.

It sounds like you don't really appreciate the gravity of what you're doing. It's really going to be a shame for you if this comes out at work (which, as others have pointed out, is likely to happen, either before or after you leave) and you have to start out your career with a DNR and bad reference from this employer because you knowingly lied to them about violating their established policy. That's going to follow you for a long time. It also says a lot, as already noted, about your personal ethics and honesty.

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Specializes in Surgical, CVICU & Oncology, Med/Surg.

Well this is interesting because I've seen RNs in my hospital who've passed their boards for NP or CRNA and remained or returned as RNs & worked as RNs part time or per diem while they were waiting on starting their NP or CRNA careers. So I'm not sure why this circumstance is so special. I would suggest you just be open with your manager since it seems that your policy is different & you already decided to tell your peers, of course that word will get around. So the sooner you tell her the better. She might actually be understanding, it's all how you present your case & half the time our fears are just magnifide illusions. Hopefully everything works out. Wishing you the best.

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Maybe I did not type it correctly. My manager has not shown me ANY policy related to this matter. I even search myself and I couldn't find anything

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