stupid question alert...

Inspired By Silence · Dec 8, 2009

No. You would be considered over qualified. It's also illegal to work in a profession you are not licensed to work in.

45whenimdone · Dec 8, 2009

I don't understand why, if you're licensed as an RN which is more experience than an LVN???? (correct me if I'm wrong) to get experience on your resume and if jobs are more available?

Sooo then upon graduating until you pass your NCLEX and are "officially" an RN -- can you work as an LVN??? Or will no place hire you as an LVN since you are almost licensed as an RN?

It's like working as a Caregiver (without your certs as a CNA/CHHA). You do everything that a CNA/CHHA does, technically, except medicine dispensery.

Just a little confused, sorry, as to why it wouldn't be possible to do LVN work as an RN. If the RN doesn't mind, why should it be a big issue?

Again, I'm just curious, don't mean to offend anyone with these questions.

JB2007, ASN, RN · Dec 8, 2009

You can apply for and work in a position for a LPN. However, you will legally be held to the higher standard of practice that an RN would be held to. Also, your title would still be RN. It is up to the employer if they will hire an RN for a job that they wanted to hire an LPN for, but do not expect the pay that an RN would make. Most places have a set amount that they are willing to pay a new employee.

Up2nogood RN, RN · Dec 8, 2009

I believe you should check with your state BON. Having an RN license is not the same as having you're LPN license. While I was in an LPN- RN bridge program I worked as a CNA in my hospital since they don't hire LPN's BUT I still had my CNA certification and made very very sure I worked within my scope of practice. I would network network network when you get into a nursing program and it's possible the job market will turn around by then too.

45whenimdone · Dec 8, 2009

Thank you to those who replied! I appreciate it. I was just curious.

Emergency RN · Dec 8, 2009

IMHO, I don't think that this is an issue with your employer, but rather with the state. You can only be hired as an LVN or LPN if you're licensed as such.

A tangential issue related to this that I remember from years ago, was a student strategy to take the LPN test first after 3 semesters of the RN program (as this was allowed by the state). This allowed one to get a sense of what sitting for the state boards would be like, and if you passed it, became unemployment insurance should one then flub the RN boards. That is, if you failed the RN boards, and don't even have an LPN license, you can't work at all while you're waiting to retake the RN boards. But if you've already passed the LPN boards, then you can still continue to work as an LPN (in essence, this would allow the scenario as suggested by the OP's question).

I actually recall a good friend and classmate who had failed the RN boards twice (she passed on her third round). Luckily, she had also taken and passed the LPN boards beforehand so that she could continue to work. I recall her telling me that it was a good thing not just from the employment perspective, but rather, working as an LPN over the course of the year, with real patients, allowed her to see and better understand what the questions on the RN board related to. In effect, working as an LPN actually gave her the experience and insight she needed to pass the RN boards.

elkpark · Dec 8, 2009

There are other, older threads here about this same question (working in a position below your level of licensure). There are legal and liability issues with this practice -- some states just don't permit it, period; some employers won't hire people to work in positions below their highest level of licensure because of the legal/liability concerns; and, if you have the opportunity to do it, you need to be v. clear on your legal and professional responsibilities. The bottom line is that you are not supposed to work outside the scope of practice and job description of the "lower" position in which you're working, BUT, if something goes wrong enough to end up in court (which can happen to any of us at any time), the courts will hold you to the standards of the highest level of education and licensure you hold. That's where it gets complicated ...

Orca, ADN, ASN, RN · Dec 9, 2009

We were allowed to take PN boards after the third semester of RN school. I took the test mainly for the experience of taking the licensing exam, but in the end it allowed me to start orientation at my hospital earlier than I otherwise would have. I deactivated my PN license when I got my RN.

MississippiLPN09 · Dec 9, 2009

If you have a RN license I dont think you can practice as a lpn because in school you learn a RN's scope of practice you would spend more time wondering during your shift if you can or cant do something and may end up losing your license Its not a good idea.

XingtheBBB, BSN, RN · Dec 9, 2009

Early in the days of managed care this happened. Hospitals (maybe just in this area were trying to make floor RNs salaried and impose mandatory OT) I knew several RNs who applied for positions posted as LPN. For instance, dressing nurse or med nurse in an LTC. They took a paycut to work those jobs, generally had different responsibilities than the "regular" RN's (who worked charge, did the monthly assessments, medicare forms, etc) If there had been an emergency, yes, they would have been held accountable as the RN's they were. Of course, their name tags said "RN" and they would introduce thenselves as an RN. Their pay simply reflected their more routine duties.

Clear as mud??

tlc2u · Dec 9, 2009

originally posted by 45when i'm done:

sooo then upon graduating until you pass your nclex and are "officially" an rn -- can you work as an lvn??? or will no place hire you as an lvn since you are almost licensed as an rn?

you would not be able to work as a nurse "period" without a license. so if you had only graduated from rn school but did not have an lpn or rn license you could not work as an lpn.

some students started working as an rn after graduating from rn school but if they did not pass their nclex within so many months they could not continue as an rn until they passed their nclex.