SHHHHH, dont tell anyone I'm a RN

broughden · Jul 9, 2018

elkpark said:
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.

1. Im actually laughing at all the people here who think as employees you owe anything to your employer. Corporations care about MONEY and profits. They don't care about patient safety. They don't care about safe nurse to patient staffing ratios. They don't care about doctors making medical mistakes but the nurse being the one blamed. They don't care about any of that, and they certainly don't care about you. They will cut your salary, your hours, your benefits or simply fire you, all in the name of profit. So why you think you owe some faceless corporation "loyalty" is a total 1950's outdated way of thinking.

2. No it won't follow her. She already has her future job lined up and most corporations don't give any "references" other than simply verifying past employment due to fear of litigation.

3. She ends up fired either way. A. She tells them she is an RN and is fired. B. They find out on their own and she is fired. Either way she is fired so she might as well wait for B.

The only mistake she made is telling coworkers about her change in status. She should have kept quiet about it. Coworkers are not your friends and will gossip about you in a flat second!

broughden · Jul 9, 2018

Barbie8808 said:
Troll LOL you must not know the meaning of troll! First off all I come to a community of "nurses" who instead of giving helpful advice some spew words of discouragement or some type of unworthiness like I didn't work my butt off for the last four years, so if you have a problem you and her can kiss my sarc-***-m. Thank you have a bless day

There are a LOT of older nurses here with some very old fashioned ideas about employer "loyalty" as if drinking the kool aid results in your employer caring more about you.

elkpark · Jul 9, 2018

broughden said:
1. Im actually laughing at all the people here who think as employees you owe anything to your employer. Corporations care about MONEY and profits. They don't care about patient safety. They don't care about safe nurse to patient staffing ratios. They don't care about doctors making medical mistakes but the nurse being the one blamed. They don't care about any of that, and they certainly don't care about you. They will cut your salary, your hours, your benefits or simply fire you, all in the name of profit. So why you think you owe some faceless corporation "loyalty" is a total 1950's outdated way of thinking.
2. No it won't follow her. She already has her future job lined up and most corporations don't give any "references" other than simply verifying past employment due to fear of litigation.
3. She ends up fired either way. A. She tells them she is an RN and is fired. B. They find out on their own and she is fired. Either way she is fired so she might as well wait for B.
The only mistake she made is telling coworkers about her change in status. She should have kept quiet about it. Coworkers are not your friends and will gossip about you in a flat second!

Where did I (or anyone else on the thread) say anything about her owing "loyalty" to the employer? I simply expect her to conduct herself with honesty and integrity as a licensed professional, which she is not doing.

One of the pieces of info most employers do disclose is whether or not the individual is eligible for rehire, and she can easily end up on the "do not rehire" list, even if the employer only finds out about her deception after she's gone, and that will follow her for years. It might create problems for her, it might not, but it will be there and she will never know when it might create a problem for her.

allnurses Guide · Jul 9, 2018

broughden said:
1. Im actually laughing at all the people here who think as employees you owe anything to your employer.
2. No it won't follow her.

1. It is called integrity: whether reciprocated or not. When you take a job, you agree to abide by the policies set by the people paying you.

and FYI: my hospital stood by me during the 4 months I was gone during my husband's final illness, and paid me sick leave donated by my coworkers. My manager donated 2 weeks worth. Then a different set of managers stood by me when I was out for 7 months with my own cancer. Used my leave hours, kept getting paid.

2. Yes, it can follow her. See Elkpark's very good reply.

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Jul 9, 2018

You may have passed your boards, but you can hold off on activating your RN license as long as you want. Tell him you are going to wait to pay your final dues so you can continue your present job.

Editorial Team / Admin · Jul 9, 2018

canoehead said:
You may have passed your boards, but you can hold off on activating your RN license as long as you want. Tell him you are going to wait to pay your final dues so you can continue your present job.

There are states where that happens? Mine requires all payment at time of application for licensure in order for the ATT to be sent, and then automatically issued the license upon passing NCLEX

broughden · Jul 9, 2018

elkpark said:
Where did I (or anyone else on the thread) say anything about her owing "loyalty" to the employer? I simply expect her to conduct herself with honesty and integrity as a licensed professional, which she is not doing.
One of the pieces of info most employers do disclose is whether or not the individual is eligible for rehire, and she can easily end up on the "do not rehire" list, even if the employer only finds out about her deception after she's gone, and that will follow her for years. It might create problems for her, it might not, but it will be there and she will never know when it might create a problem for her.

Where?

You and everyone else judging her for not complying with some supervisor at work, who hasn't shown her a written policy, for not being "honest" nor having "integrity".

If there is no such written policy she doesnt actually have to tell her supervisor anything and it has nothing to do with her integrity or honesty.

Some even laughingly called it a "lie of omission" LMAO. Are you kidding me?!?

Based on that ridiculous assertion I completely lied my way into nursing school then and have no integrity.

When they asked during the interview for us to talk about a time we failed or a "negative" personal character flaw we need to keep working on, do you think I brought up the my biggest career failure? Or my most heinous character flaw?

Nope.

When interview coaches told me to not mention my desire to ultimately pursue my DNP, because BSN admissions interviewers want to know we are focused on bedside nursing and just being a RN, guess what? I kept my mouth shut about my future DNP desires.

Florida is an "at will" employment state. I can be fired for any reason or even no reason (unless protected by EEOC) so if my boss is a raging political conservative, when he asks what I did for the weekend (attended a women's right to choose rally) do you think Im going to be honest with him?

Nope! Im going to lie my butt off and say "Not much."

Edit- I've had employers ask in interviews about my social media accounts. If I have them, what the account names are so they can check them out, etc. Guess what I did? LIED! I wanted the job but simultaneously I don't think my employer needs to be monitoring my social media activity, so I lied and said I didn't use them.

All of these are "lies of omission."

Unless it involves patient safety or a specific written policy (thats not in violation of state or federal labor laws), we don't actually have to tell our bosses or employers ANYTHING. And claiming we do or that its some "lie of omission" is outright laughable.

broughden · Jul 9, 2018

JBudd said:
1. It is called integrity: whether reciprocated or not. When you take a job, you agree to abide by the policies set by the people paying you.

He hasn't shown her any such written policy despite her request that he do so.

She isn't obligated to follow made up nonexistent policies.

Ambersmom, BSN, RN · Jul 9, 2018

Its not an issue of them wanting to let you go because the tech would be leaving, many hospitals won't let you work as a tech or cna if you have your RN, the simple reason being liability. If something happens you are held to the highest level of training you've had, so even if you're working as a cna if a patient complains about a sx or you notice something you're held to the RN standard, you can't take the RN hat on and off at whim. Also if you're now an RN your facilities insurance will no longer cover you. Do the right thing for your facility and yourself and let them know you passed your boards, its not like they won't find out anyway.

JudyB88 · Jul 11, 2018

The ethical dilemma is that you are not telling your manager, but only if the hospital policy says you must and IF hospital policy says you can not work under you actual degree. Don't guess, ask HR to see the policy. Maybe your manager doesn't actually know there is NOT a policy but rather this has been common practice. On another note, give a written resignation of the last date you can work before starting your next position and do it NOW. If they let you go before that, then you will definitely be eligible for unemployment and they get penalized for every approved unemployment case so doubt they would let you go before your last date. If there is a policy and you do not tell then they can let you go and not only will you have to answer yes to the question, "have you ever been terminated" but will not be eligible for unemployment. If that happens, just explain your dilemma to future employers, they will understand why you did what you did. Hopefully, a resignation letter with the truth that you passed will fill the gap of time before starting your new job, will let you celebrate your success with current co-workers and bring you peace of mind. I doubt you could be in danger of practicing out side your scope of practice since you have had no job training as an RN so would not be expected to handle those situation independently until you have a a good 6-12 weeks of orientation. BTY, what kind of place would not want you to stay as an RN, this whole thing says volumes about your current employer and why you are leaving. CONGRATS on becoming an RN!!!!

Shanua · Jul 17, 2018

It's routine for recent graduates who pass the NCLEX to work as a CNA or PCT until they start the nurse residency or move for a new job where I work. No one has a problem with it. I think hiding it may get you into trouble there though.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jul 19, 2018

Barbie8808 said:
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 immediately 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 doesn't 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 eligible 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.

The honest thing to do would be to contact your manager immediately and tell him that you are now licensed. It is unlikely that he'll ask you to drop everything and leave immediately. In fact it is likely you'll be asked to work out the current schedule. At the very least, you can give 2-4 weeks notice. It's the professional thing to do.